An American missionary went to a foreign country where he was to go out into the bush and replace a missionary who was already there. As he was being led through the jungle, it became so dense that the big trees hid the sun and it was utterly dark.

The American said, “What are we going to do? How will we find our way out of here?” The missionary who was guiding him said, “I am your way. Just follow me and I’ll take you through.”

That’s an illustration of Jesus. He said, “I am the way.” When we come to that part of life where the sun is blotted out—in effect, we have no light, no understanding, no comprehension of what to do or what to be—Christ says, I am the way.

When we come to where we feel that we really have no life that is worthwhile, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father; but by me” (John 14:6). We live with people all the time. And people lie to us. Those who don’t lie misrepresent. Sometimes they just don’t know. But Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life.

This is what Zacchaeus knew. Although he was a sold-out man to the Romans, he was still a Jew, a descendant of Abraham. He had been to the synagogue, and he knew the Scriptures. He had been taught about the Messiah coming. He believed that Christ was the Messiah. He knew that Jesus was all these things and he sought to see Him for himself to learn who He was. But He could not get close to Jesus because of the multitude of people following Him. Zacchaeus was of small stature, but a powerful man. However, he still couldn’t get through the crowd to where Jesus was.

Zacchaeus learned that Jesus was going down a certain road and would appear at a certain place, so he ran ahead. He wanted to get up close to look at Him, to feel His spirit, to hear Him up close.

When the urge comes in you to seek to know who Jesus is, you too, will take action. There is a time when you will seek the Lord. There is a time when you will realize you don’t know Him so well. And those of you who really don’t know Christ will seek Him. You will not want to go one more hour without knowing who Jesus is.

People today are looking for signs and wonders. They are looking for the supernatural. They see stories on television of tables and chairs moving and things flying across rooms, but that’s the counterfeit. We look to God for the real supernatural.

I once was preaching in Jamaica in a great crusade, and on one particular night thousands of people had gathered in a stadium in Kingston. After the service was over, I went out to get in my car to go back to the hotel, and some men brought a demon-possessed young man to me. Two men were holding him on either side. When I got near to him, I could see that his eyes were like slits. His pupils were not round; they looked as you would expect a snake’s eyes to look. His tongue was darting in and out of his mouth. When he came closer, he doubled up his fist to hit me, and the Spirit of the Lord spoke to my heart: He won’t hit you because none of those evil spirits will have any power over you.

I put out my hand and said, “I rebuke you, you bad spirit. In the name of Jesus, you come out!” Suddenly the boy’s eyes went back to normal shape and his tongue went limp and went back into his mouth. He looked around as if to say, “What happened?” I put my arms around him and said, “Son, let me lead you to Jesus.” He prayed the sinner’s prayer and his life was transformed.

We’re just human. We’re not God. We have no power to cast out devils, but God has. The good news is that we’re hooked up to the One who has all power. Our job is to believe the Word and to agree with people for their needs to be met and to pray for them this sinner’s prayer:

O God, be merciful to me. God, I have sinned. I ask You to forgive me. I repent. I turn my back on sin. I renounce the devil and all of his works. I turn from it and I turn toward You, O God. Forgive me. Cleanse me. Create in me a new heart. Wash me whiter than snow. Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation. I ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen and amen.

I love music, and I’ve always loved to sing. But anyone who has ever heard me sing knows that I am not a singer. Even my children know that their mother can’t sing.

Years ago, when Jordan was having a nightmare one night, I went into her room. I thought, poor little thing…if I can just do something that’s familiar, it will soothe her. I held her and began to softly sing, “Yes, Jesus loves me.”

Jordan stopped screaming, looked straight at me, and said, “Oh, Mother, please don’t sing!”

I thought, well, if Jordan doesn’t appreciate my singing, Olivia will. Later, as I held Olivia in my arms and began singing to her, she looked up at me with a sad little face and said, “Poor Mommy, don’t cry!”

God has given each one of us our own unique talents in areas where we can really excel and let our light shine. I may not be much of a singer, but I can rock a baby to sleep faster than just about anybody I know. And that’s something I’m proud of. God gave me that talent, and I use it with joy.

Don’t disdain the talents that God has given you. Like the wise servant in Jesus’ parable who invested the talents his master gave him and received even more, look for ways and opportunities in which to use your God-given talents…whatever they are.

We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.— Hebrews 4:15

We see Jesus Christ in the Four Gospels as being moved by every emotion common to us as human beings, except two — the emotions of fear and personal hatred. Jesus felt love, joy, compassion, humor, and even grief. But fear and hate were never able to touch His matchless mind and spirit. Though people rejected His message, repudiated His claims, neglected His salvation, and caused Him to weep and sigh, they never made Him afraid, nor caused Him to hate them, in any way.

The forces of nature combined in a furious storm at sea did not frighten Jesus. Neither did evil men who conspired against Him. He simply stood upon the rock of His faith, saying to His disciples. “Fear not. Believe only.”

He could issue the most scathing denunciation in the face of sin and hypocrisy, but Jesus never hated his fellow men—even when they put Him to death. Instead, He asked God to forgive them.

Jesus knows and understands how you feel and what you go through each day. And because He was able to rise above fear and hatred, He can enable you to do the same (Philippians 4:6˗7).

Do you remember what Jesus said in Mark 11:23˗24?: “Whosoever shall SAY unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart … he shall have whatsoever he SAITH.”Jesus was saying, “You can activate My miracle power by the words you speak!”

When you say God’s Word, your ears hear it and it gets down in your heart, because faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Then you speak it again, because the Bible says, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34).

You get a rhythm going. Your mouth begins to say it and your ears hear it, then it gets down in your heart. The more you say it, the more you act like you believe it, until you come into a position where your faith is STRONG. I’m talking about a spirit of faith that can cause God’s miracles to literally burst forth in your life!

I’m believing for your faith to grow tremendously today and for you to come into the greatest expectancy for miracles ever!

And [God] Who provides seed for the sower…will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing. – II Corinthians 9:10 (Amplified)

Several years ago, I was asked to speak to the children in my grandson’s third-grade class. I was going to speak on Seed-Faith, but it is a pretty big subject for a third-grader to understand. Then the Lord gave me an idea. Somebody had given me a plant that died. So I stirred up the dirt that was left in the little basket and planted some seeds in it.

I took the basket to school and the children were very excited and curious. I told them that I had planted seeds in the basket. I said, “I brought this so I could talk to you about Seed-Faith. Seed-Faith is something you do, and when you do it, you do it as unto the Lord, and you expect something to come back to you.”

I explained, “When you go out on the playground and see a little girl or boy off in a corner and they have nobody to play with, you can plant a seed of faith in their life by saying, ‘I’ll play with you. I’ll be your friend.’ The Lord will bless you for that good seed you plant.”

“But, if you go over to a lonely little child and kick him; that is a seed too. It’s a bad seed. When you plant good seeds, you’ll get them multiplied back to you in the form of something good. When you plant bad seeds, you’re going to get back something bad.”

“I’ll leave this basket here with you,” I said. “If I planted good seeds, you will see them come up. If I planted bad seeds, nothing good will happen.”

When I left, the teacher had each child write a sentence or two about what they had learned from my talk and she sent them to me. I shall never forget what one little boy wrote: “Down with bad seeds and up with good seeds!”

That’s what I’d like to say to you today, “Down with bad seeds and UP with good seeds!” Sometimes you don’t want to plant good seeds into the lives of people who aren’t good to you. But your seeds will bless their lives. And God, in turn, will bless your life.

Turn over a new leaf and say, “This year I’m going to make a change. I’m going to put the past in the past and press on toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. God is my right hand and I’ll not be shaken in my conviction.”

#2. Acknowledge that you cannot change by yourself. To do that, you must have God. Jesus said in Matthew 6:27 NIV that you can’t lengthen your life even one hour on your own.

It is time for us to roll our cares and burdens over onto God. One of the great things that has ever happened to me is when God baptized me with a fresh touch of His Holy Ghost joy. The joy of the Lord is your strength!

How do you become strong in the Lord? By rejoicing in His Name, by rejoicing in His goodness and mercy, and by asking God to overtake you with His joy.

You may feel like you’re in prison, like circumstances have you down, or like sickness is gripping you. You may feel as if you are carrying a load of sin, or as if you’re in the middle of a very negative situation. But God has not fallen off the throne. He is still the Lord. He is still reigning on high, and He has a miracle for you.

You have to acknowledge that you cannot change by yourself, but you can take the first step. You can’t do it all, but you’ve got to do your part. Without God, I cannot; but without me, He will not. Don’t sit around waiting on God to do everything. Do your part. Acknowledge that you cannot change by yourself. You must have God’s help. What the devil intended for harm, God will turn around for good!

(For more information on “going over when you feel like you’re going under,” request a copy of my book “The Good News Is the Bad News Is Wrong!” It’s available in paperback at oralroberts.com/bookstore and also in ebook format through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, and other ebook retailers!)

Let me take you to the Word of God in Psalm chapter16.

#1. Acknowledge that you need to change and purpose in your heart that you are going to change. Psalm 16:8 says, I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

This means that in recognizing your need for change, only the Lord can help you. I have set the Lord always before me. In other words, “I’m looking to God as the total Source of my supply. He is my help, He is my strength, He is my provider, He is my Lord, He is my Savior, He is my guide. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. I will not be moved. I will not be shaken from this resolve” You have to decide to do something. You cannot allow life to just pass you by.

They say there are three kinds of people—people who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who say, “What happened?” You have to make up your mind that you’re going to change. The word “repent” means to change your mind. Only you can change your mind, but only God can change your heart.

Acknowledge that you need to change and then purpose in your heart that you’re going to change. In Philippians 3:13˗14, Paul says, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

With the New Year here, many people are geared up to make resolutions… life-changing resolves. For some, it is an exciting challenge, a new start. For others, just thinking about resolutions can be a nerve-wracking experience. The practice of making these promises to ourselves stems from ancient customs of luck-bringing rites. Evidently, almost every culture found some way to “off with the old and on with the new.’”

Experts tell us, “The process of making resolutions is a good and healthy one, but life changing in one fell swoop… probably not” I disagree. I want to take you to the Word of God for I believe that you can make a New Year’s resolution that will stick. A New Year’s resolution is a declaration of your faith that you’re going to change something in your life. It is a declaration of faith that you are going to change something, which means you have to stick with what you decided to change. You’ll never change where you are in life until you change what you’re doing.

In the next three days, I will share with you three things you can do with a New Year’s resolution that can bring change in your life. Many people are looking for change today, and I believe that God has a way for you to change. I want you to remember that faith without works is dead. It’s one thing to make a New Year’s resolution; it’s another thing to keep that resolution — to work at it, to be diligent about it.

How many of us make New Year’s resolutions that last only a couple of days or a few weeks at most? When you make a resolution relying on self-determination to pull you through… however well intentioned, it almost always fails. Jesus said, The Spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41). Is it any wonder then that success based on our willpower eludes us?

Most resolutions are remarkably similar. We vow to lose weight, get in shape, begin a savings plan, read the Bible through in a year, or have an established time with the Lord every day. All of these are worthwhile goals that would bring honor to the Lord. Why, then, are we unable to make lasting changes in the areas in which we desire to see victory?

I think it’s because rather than making a resolution, we need God to give us a revelation of our need to change. When God reveals His will to us through His Word, and we ask Him to empower us with His strength and might, we can succeed.

Romans 8:27 NKJV says, We are more than conquerors through Him [Jesus Christ] who loved us. Suddenly, a New Year’s resolution that didn’t have a chance to succeed becomes a New Year’s revelation that is successful through God’s power within us. Then the lasting changes we desire are definitely possible.