The Anointing to Finish Well by Dr. Sandie Freed

Bedford, TX

I received a phone call just the other day from a dear friend. Panicked, she began to tell me that she felt as if she were at her wits' end! I instantly related to her words. I have used that phrase before, haven't you? In fact, I believe we're in a season right now that the enemy would love to have us confess that we are hopeless and helpless...even feeling as if we were losing our minds! But, that is a lie.

Let's examine where this phrase originated and then we will discuss the fact that: God wants us focused on His ability to empower us and equip us to experience victory and finish well.

Have you even wondered where that idiom came from: "I'm at my wit's end!?" Actually, it means that you've been worried and upset and have tried every which way you knew to solve a problem, but couldn't! Sometimes people might say, "I'm at the end of my wits!" It still means the same – you've tried everything, you're so upset and you've reached your limitations, both emotionally and mentally while attempting to complete a task or solve a problem.

Are You at Your Wits' End?

Believer, amazingly, the phrase originated in the King James Version of the Bible and is documented in Psalm 107:27: "They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end." This Biblical verse is referring to people who go back and forth in their devotion and passion to the Lord. I believe that we are in a season where the enemy is trying to quench our passion by trying to wear us out! We are facing decisions that need answers, building projects that need finances, physical illnesses that need healing, right? Yet, if we do not remain focused on His Word and His truths concerning His ability to watch over His Word and perform it, we might be tempted to waver in our faith and our trust in Him.

The ancient definition of "wit" is "knowledge" and "wisdom." Therefore, we can say that this phrase means that many people could be at the end of their knowledge and wisdom in finding answers and solutions. We all want to fulfill divine purpose and finish well. To us, as Believers, it means we must have faith and seek God's divine wisdom for this season and the seasons ahead. It is easy to become frustrated right now, especially with so many different prophetic voices and opposing views concerning these times.

We Need God's Divine Wisdom to Finish Well

Do you know who the wisest man (other than Jesus Christ) was that ever lived? Sure you do; Solomon! This man started his walk with the Lord with tremendous zeal and passion, only to waver later and lose his focus. I want to share something that will keep us on track and help each of us end well.

Solomon was King David's son. When David grew older, God designated Solomon to succeed his father as king. However, Solomon recognized his inability to govern the people of Israel. I suppose you might say he felt "at the end of his wits!" as he attempted to govern well. So, early in his reign, Solomon offered a sacrifice in Gibeon and waited there all night long, hoping to hear from God. Well, as you know, God was faithful and appeared to him in a dream.

God told Solomon that he could ask for anything and God would give it to him. In humility, and I love this part, this young inexperienced king asked for an "understanding heart" to judge the people. In receiving this, Solomon hoped that he might be empowered to "discern between good and evil." God was so pleased with his request, He not only gave him a wise heart (wisdom), but also he added multitudes of material blessings!(1 Kings 3:4-13). (Photo via Pixabay)

Solomon used this divine wisdom in his handling of the case of a disputed baby (1 Kings 3:16-27). He identified the real mother in the dispute by threatening to cut the child in half, fully waiting for the child's real mother to relent and give up the child to the other in order to spare her child's life. This is an awesome example of how Solomon had God's wisdom- who would think of that? Yes, it had to originate with God!

We also know that Solomon was knowledgable in natural science (1 Kings 4:33) and had general marked levels of intelligence (10:1-9). In the book of Proverbs, we read the demonstration of Solomon's wisdom that we treasure today (see Proverbs 8:32-36). There is no doubt that Solomon provided us many practical guidelines for successful living. Yet, though for a while he may not have felt he was at his wits' end because he had sought God for wisdom. I believe he was eventually feeling that way later in life when satan found his Achilles' heel.

Solomon's weakness was when he sinned and disobeyed God's commandments by marrying foreign women. God was explicitly clear about this commandment in Exodus 23:32-33. The issue was this: he married foreign women and then worshiped their foreign gods! Thus, Solomon backslid right into the sin of idolatry.

Believer, whenever we go astray from God's directives, it is satan's plan to cause us not to use wisdom and, especially, not to finish well. Not putting God first is a form of idolatry. Solomon was given wisdom in response to his asking for wisdom. The same wisdom is available to us. James 1:5-6 tells us to ask for it, but always asking in faith that we've received. We will be at our wits' end if we don't put God first and use His wisdom every day of our lives. We are in a season where we must be like Joshua and remain focused on our assignment. Let's talk about Joshua and how he maintained passion to finish well.

Joshua Finished Well

Joshua proves to us that it is wisdom to heed God's commandments and directives. Joshua, Chapter One, is one of my favorite passages. The book starts with God telling Joshua that Moses is dead and that it would be he, Joshua, who would lead God's children into their Promised Land. Several times within the very first chapter, God instructs Joshua to be strong and to have courage.

This tells me that Joshua might have been tempted with fear; after all, he was leading the entire nation across the Jordan River and into their Promised Land. However, they were going to have to go to war to take that land. Courage needed? Absolutely! Remaining strong? A must have! But, how would he do that...how was Joshua to remain encouraged and have strength to move forward?

God gives more instruction to Joshua and this, my friends, is the insurance policy for Joshua and us as well in our season of moving forward and finishing well:

Joshua 1:7-9 Be careful to obey all the law My servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Meditating on God's Word

Dear ones, the way to fulfill destiny and finish our race well is to do just as Joshua had to do. Joshua remained strong and courageous by meditating on the Word of God day and night and did what the Word said. As new Covenant Believers, we are not under the Law of Moses; so for us, today, to be successful is to meditate on the Word of God. To meditate means to "ponder, keep in mind, imagine, speak and utter." This means that we are to keep in mind only what God instructs and says.

To finish this race, remain strong and encouraged, we cannot meditate (ponder, utter, etc.) upon anything other than the Word. The word "meditate" is connected to the word "consider." I know that in this season that the Lord instructed me to consider only what He has said concerning issues which I am facing on a daily basis. I travel and speak a lot, and this is one of the main messages I speak to the Body of Christ: Consider NOT what it looks like in the natural! only consider what God says! (Photo via Pixabay)

The New Testament uses Abraham as a very good example for us. At the time God first spoke to them concerning having a child their names were Abram and Sarai. (God later changed their names to Abraham and Sarah). Though at first, when God told Sarai and Abram that they were to have a child, they actually laughed at God. They were both skeptical because they were both old.

Yes, like many of us, they focused on and considered the natural. So, in a desperate attempt to have a child, they came up with their own plan and birthed Ishmael. (I think maybe some of us have done that also; I know I have!) However, God would not honor Ishmael and so He spoke to them once again and confirmed that they would have a son together. You know the story; they had Isaac who was later named Israel. What happened? Where did the shift come from? After Abraham was even older now and Sara was older also?

The Book of Romans is clear that Abraham finally chose to "consider" (meditate, ponder, imagine, speak and utter) what God had said! Romans 4:19 "And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb."

Believers, maybe many of us have messed up a bit and wavered in our faith and maybe even birthed an Ishmael. However, it's never too late to make the wise choice to "consider" and "meditate" on what God said. Abraham fulfilled destiny by considering God's promise. Joshua had to continue to consider and meditate on the Word of God in order to shout down the seemingly impregnable wall of Jericho!

Think about it. Joshua was to use only the weapon of a SHOUT in warfare. He was not allowed to use any other weapon than the obedience of marching around Jericho for seven days. They marched once a day for six days and seven times on the seventh day. They were not allowed to mutter a word. But, I'll bet Joshua was meditating and considering constantly! Yes, he kept imagining that wall falling down; he kept meditating on God's promise and at the right time, he led the army in a great SHOUT. And just as God promised, the Jericho wall fell and they took the city. Now that's a good example of finishing well in a certain season. (Photo via Wikimedia)

Let's Finish Well

Precious saint, I know these are difficult times, but in spite of that God is empowering us with a shout! Though walls, even mountains, stand before us, God is faithful to deliver us. Let's decide today to only consider the Word of the Lord. Let us meditate on His greatness and His faithfulness. Psalm 91 is clearly given for times such as these. Taking time to meditate on that passage will prove comforting for every Believer, no matter what challenge we are facing.

Instead of being at our wits' end, let us ask for God's wisdom and then passionately meditate and consider the fact that what He says He will do – He will do! I have written several books that would encourage you, but the one that I believe would be well worth reading in this season would be Silencing the Accuser: Eight Lies Satan Uses Against Believers. My latest book, Faith After Failure: Reconnecting With Your Destiny would be very helpful as well. Both books are faith builders and also give time for self-reflection so that you can shift into victorious living.

In closing, I want to get back to Jeremiah. Jeremiah was a man who at first focused on his weaknesses. God, however, focused only on Jeremiah's strengths and potential to fulfill destiny. God touched Jeremiah in such a way that he was able to "see" his destiny. Yes, Jeremiah saw a new season, meaning that he was able to see himself as God saw him. Rather than focusing on his disappointments in himself, Jeremiah's eyes were opened to see himself as a victor.

Believer, God wants to touch you today as well. God wants you to consider (meditate on) the fact that He will watch over His words and bring them to pass!(Photo via Pixabay)

Allow me to pray for you and impart strength and courage to your spirit:

Father God, I pray for each reader. I pray that You would touch their eyes so that they would see that their future is in Your divine hands. Lord, I pray for an impartation of strength and courage and that each person would have confidence in You and Your Word. Father, You state that You will watch over Your Word to perform it. I pray that You will watch over the destiny of every reader. Thank You for empowering us to meditate and consider the Word of the Lord and thank You for the SHOUT that you are placing within each person's spirit. Thank You, Lord, for a strong finishing anointing and the impartation to finish well. In Jesus mighty name! Amen!

Sandie Freed
Zion Ministries
Co-pastor, Lifegate Church, Hurst, Texas
Email: zionministries1@sbcglobal.net
Website: www.lifegatechurch.org