CHECK THEM OUT

10/31/2023

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

Saints, we must understand that life is spiritual. Wrong thoughts and confessions can drown a person in no time. There should never be a time when we justify wrong thoughts and confessions, more so when tangible evidence appears to support these wrong thoughts. In circumstances where we may feel they are justified, we must refrain and instead affirm God's Word using scriptural texts such as 1 John 4:4 as a guiding light. 

At one point in his life, David faced an extremely dire predicament. The Bible records that when David and his followers reached Ziklag, they discovered that the Amalekites had ravaged the city, reducing it to ashes and abducting all the women and children (1 Samuel 30:1-3). To compound the tragedy, David's men contemplated stoning him, overwhelmed by the sorrow of losing their sons and daughters. They laid the blame on David despite the fact that he had also suffered the loss of his own family. David found himself in an exceedingly challenging situation, one that could have easily led to self-doubt and despair. Nonetheless, the Bible tells us that "David encouraged himself in the Lord his God" (1 Samuel 30:6). 

Beloved saints, we must master the art of self-encouragement in the Lord. Allowing feelings of depression, frustration, and moodiness to persist creates an opening for the adversary to complicate our circumstances further. When thoughts of disappointment and discouragement are not countered by words filled with faith, they can inadvertently lead us to frustration, bitterness, and defeat. David, in his time of great distress and deep sorrow, faced not only the loss of his wives and children but also the disheartening prospect of his trusted allies turning against him. In the face of such adversity, David demonstrated what we all should do when confronted with discouragement: he found strength and encouragement in the Lord.

Child of God, whenever frustration grips your heart, encourage yourself in the Lord. When despair looms, direct your thoughts to the Lord for strength. Reflect on God's enduring love and boundless grace bestowed upon you. Recall the triumphs, whether in your life or others, attesting to the Lord's power, and passionately declare your faith-filled confessions.

Relentlessly combat every errant thought with God's Word. Tear down the opposing thoughts that intrude on your mind. Refuse to let discouragement take root, even for the briefest moment. Handle every adverse thought decisively and promptly, relying on the power of God's Word because the Word works! Declaring that you have reached your limit or magnifying the situation over God's abilities is a sure path to invite defeat. Proverbs 15:13 says, "A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken." And when a man's spirit is broken or discouraged, it's like a city without walls (Proverbs 25:28). In other words, discouragement allows for one bad situation to lead to many others. 

Dear Child of God, failure does not belong to you. Therefore, do not be afraid. God has a specific Word for every situation you encounter. When David inquired of the Lord, God gave him a word, and with that word came his miracle. The Bible says, "...And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away."

God bless you!

Faith-Filled Confession:

I am full of the life of God. I am not defeated. I am not moved by what I see, hear, or feel. I know that all things are working together for my good. I am a victor in Jesus' name. Amen! 

Prayer Points:

Psalm 122:6, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you."

• Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. 

• Pray against plans to use the crises in Israel to launch other attacks in the United States.

• Pray for Washington and all who are in positions of authority in the United States.

ONE YEAR READING PLAN: Jeremiah 27-28; 2 Timothy 4