1. You have to Tithe

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. – Malachi 3:10

The people of Malachi’s time probably feared losing what they had worked so hard to get, and withheld the tithe. You can be operating in fear and faith at the same time.  When you don’t have faith to believe God even for your basic needs, then you will not have the faith to believe him for greater.  And tithing is part of the covalent that God has established with us.

2. Have the Right Priorities

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:33

What this means is to trust God first for help, to fill your thoughts with His desires, to take his character to pattern your own after, and to serve and obey him in everything.  People, objects, goals, and other desires all compete for priority in our lives and any of these can quickly bump God out of first place.

3. Enjoy the Presence of God

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. – Psalms 37:4

To delight in someone means to express great pleasure and joy in his or her presence.  This happens only when we know that person very well.  So, to delight in the Lord, we will have to know him better.

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. – Psalm 16:11

God knows that path that was created for you to follow through out your whole life.  Along that path, he has placed joyful experiences and pleasures.  In order to experience these things in this life and for eternity, you will need to stay close to Him.  This is one of the reasons the psalmist writes, “At his right hand there will be eternal pleasures.

4. Cast out unbelief

Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness?  And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed?  So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. – Hebrews 3:16-19

The Israelites failed to enter the promised land because they did not believe in God’s protection, and they did not believe that God would help them conquer the giants in their land.  So God sent them into the wilderness to wonder for 40 years.  Lack  of trust in God always prevents us from receiving his best.

5. Operate in Faith

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. – Hebrews 11:6

Believing God exist is only the beginning. God will not settle for mere acknowledgement of his existence. He wants a personal dynamic relationship with you that will transform your life.  Those who seek God will find that they are rewarded with his intimate presence.

6. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said.  Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” – Matthew 14:28-30

 God will call you out of your comfort zone to step out in faith, but when you do step out, you have to remember to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.  Other thinks may try to come into our lives to distract our focus, but it’s important to keep our eyes on Jesus.  As with Peter here, he had the faith to get out of the boat and walk on the water, but as soon as he moved his focus on Jesus, he began to sink.  Be sure to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and not the distractions of life.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.. – Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV

The Christian life is hard work.  It requires us to give up whatever endangers our relationship with God.  To live effectively we must keep our eyes on Jesus. We will stumble if we look away and are distracted by our circumstances, but others have run the race and have won and we can also.

7. Walk in Love

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:30-31

According to Jesus, these two commandments summarize all God’s laws. Let them rule your thoughts, decisions, and actions. When you are uncertain on what to do, ask yourself, “what action best demonstrates love for God and others?”

8. Watch your Confession.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. – Proverbs 18:21

The words that you speak have creative power.  If you want to heavens to open over your life, then speak God’s Word over your life. 

9. Be a Doer of the Word

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. – James 1:22-25  

It is important to listen to what God’s Word says, but it is much more important to obey it.   To do what it says.  We can measure the effectiveness of our bible study time by seeing the effect it has on our behaviour and attitudes.

10. Be patient and Pray

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7

Paul’s advise here is to turn your worries into prayers.  If you pray more than you worry you will be less anxious and more confident in God’s ability to come through for you.

11. Avoid Willful Sins

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. – Galatians 5:19-21

Since we are living in a falling world, we may have evil desires. In order for us to follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we must deal with them decisively. (Crucify then in verse 24). Those who ignore such sins or refuse to deal with them reveal that they have not received the gift of the Holy Spirit that leads to a transformed life.