KEY SCRIPTURE: Judges 1:19 KJV And the LORD was with Judah; and he drove out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.

After the death of Joshua, the children of Israel inquired from the Lord about who should lead them. The Lord said Judah shall go up against the Canaanites. Judges 1:2. Judah indeed took the lead and started conquering.

In verse 19 of Judges 1, the Bible said, “And the LORD was with Judah; and he drove out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.” They drove out the Canaanites in the mountain, but could not drive out those in the valley. The Lord was with them all the same. Why did they turn back when they met the people in the valley? They met a stronger opposition and so doubted the word of God, which he had given.

Doubting or unbelief in the word of God is one of the major causes of discouragement. Reading through the accounts of the expedition of the Israelites to annexe the promised lands, we realise they left quite a large area not annexed because of unbelief. In numbers 13 and 14, the report of the ten spies was a statement of unbelief, which created a great sense of discouragement among the Israelites. Num 14:1 KJV “And all the congregation lifted their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night”.

Unbelief would rob a person of any superior source of strength to keep moving on. In cases when the opposition appears greater than your perception can, unbelief in the Lord will make you very helpless.

Take time to feed your faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Rom 10:17. Put your faith into work by acting on the word. This will strengthen your faith so that in difficult and challenging times, you will not doubt God but rather trust him.

CONFESSION

I thank you, Father, for your word. I constantly feed my faith, and so I am ever ready for any opposition. I do not give in or give up. I am more than a conqueror.

FURTHER STUDIES

Hebrews 10:35 KJV “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward”

Hebrews 11:33 KJV” Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,”

Pls read Prov 4:20-26

In our previous study, we considered the seriousness of discouragement. We concluded that one’s discouragement takes over one’s heart, then one’s path with the Lord is seriously affected. IF this is so, then we must learn how to stop it or deal with it when it begins showing its ugly head.

Our chapter of study, that is Prov 4:20-26, gives a step-by-step approach to handling it.
Verses 20 to 22 teach about preparing the heart. It says give attention to the word of God. This involves making time to read, meditate or reflect on the word. In doing this, you must incline your ear to the word. To incline means to submit or approach God’s word with an attitude to obey whatever it says. It also says Let your eyes look at the scriptures. Looking at the words makes it printed in the mind. The last is to keep the word deeply in your heart. Please note that one is discouraged when the word is overthrown from the heart, or it does not hold any significant influence over you.

In verse 23, the scripture admonishes us to guard our hearts with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. You must be very alert to throw out any contrary idea, image, or impression. Do not argue or reflect over anything that opposes the word of God. Our hearts are the soil in us that various living or dead seeds are sown.

The next set of verses teaches us how to guard our hearts.

Verse 24 says, “Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.”
The very first door to our hearts is words from our mouths. Your words create a similar image in your heart. This point is very significant. Words from your lips have impacts in the spiritual dimension as well as the natural. If you add your voice to a negative thought, that word is established. Remember that whatever you believe in your heart and confess makes it a reality. Let every word that proceeds from your mouth rather affirm what the word says. The seed of discouragement can not take root if it does not have a corresponding agreement from your mouth.

Verse 25 instructs us to let our eyes look straight ahead. This means focus your attention on what the scriptures say, irrespective of what you feel, think, or what others may say..This aspect requires a great sense of discipline. Your ability to. Being very successful depends on how much you feed your heart with the right words, as well as your decision to stay committed to that course.

The last but not least says ponder the path of your feet and let it be established. Your actions go a long way to affect the strength of your will. The sensual man cannot stick to the way of the spirit and so can easily become discouraged.
If you stay with these truths, you can’t become easily discouraged

THOUGHT: TO BE DISCOURAGED IS A CHOICE AND TO BE ENCOURAGED IS YOUR CHOICE, SO CHOOSE THE LATTER

FURTHER STUDIES

Jos 1:9 KJV Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be $thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

1Sa 30:6 KJV” And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Pro 4:23 KJV” Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Pls read Prov 4:20-26

In our previous study, we considered the seriousness of discouragement. We concluded that one’s discouragement takes over one’s heart, then one’s path with the Lord is seriously affected. IF this is so, then we must learn how to stop it or deal with it when it begins showing its ugly head.

Our chapter of study, that is Prov 4:20-26, gives a step-by-step approach to handling it.
Verses 20 to 22 teach about preparing the heart. It says give attention to the word of God. This involves making time to read, meditate or reflect on the word. In doing this, you must incline your ear to the word. To incline means to submit or approach God’s word with an attitude to obey whatever it says. It also says Let your eyes look at the scriptures. Looking at the words makes it printed in the mind. The last is to keep the word deeply in your heart. Please note that one is discouraged when the word is overthrown from the heart, or it does not hold any significant influence over you.

In verse 23, the scripture admonishes us to guard our hearts with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. You must be very alert to throw out any contrary idea, image, or impression. Do not argue or reflect over anything that opposes the word of God. Our hearts are the soil in us that various living or dead seeds are sown.

The next set of verses teaches us how to guard our hearts.

Verse 24 says, “Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.”
The very first door to our hearts is words from our mouths. Your words create a similar image in your heart. This point is very significant. Words from your lips have impacts in the spiritual dimension as well as the natural. If you add your voice to a negative thought, that word is established. Remember that whatever you believe in your heart and confess makes it a reality. Let every word that proceeds from your mouth rather affirm what the word says. The seed of discouragement can not take root if it does not have a corresponding agreement from your mouth.

Verse 25 instructs us to let our eyes look straight ahead. This means focus your attention on what the scriptures say, irrespective of what you feel, think, or what others may say..This aspect requires a great sense of discipline. Your ability to. Being very successful depends on how much you feed your heart with the right words, as well as your decision to stay committed to that course.

The last but not least says ponder the path of your feet and let it be established. Your actions go a long way to affect the strength of your will. The sensual man cannot stick to the way of the spirit and so can easily become discouraged.
If you stay with these truths, you can’t become easily discouraged

THOUGHT: TO BE DISCOURAGED IS A CHOICE AND TO BE ENCOURAGED IS YOUR CHOICE, SO CHOOSE THE LATTER

FURTHER STUDIES

Jos 1:9 KJV Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be $thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

1Sa 30:6 KJV” And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 3:14
So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away [in the vision], and I went in bitterness [of discouragement] in the heat of my spirit; and the hand of the Lord was strong upon me.

There is a parable from an unknown source that says a gentle man visited the devil while he worked at his workshop. There were countless tools.
He had various sicknesses, lust, envy, quarrels, idol worshipping, and what have you? He had one tool that he kept safely in a special security safe. Once in a while, he goes for it to polish, and then he would calmly place it in that safe. The brother asked him Why do you love this particular tool so much. He asked, What is its name ?. Satan answered him, saying this tool is called ‘discouragement’
I trust and appreciate it so much that, no matter the failure of any of my tools, when I have tried them on people, this one never fails each time I have the opportunity to apply it. It is so powerful. So long as it starts working, I am one hundred per cent sure of victory in the life of that individual. This was the devil’s testimony about discouragement. To be discouraged is to accept failure. It is a decision not to go ahead with God any longer. The moment a man accepts discouragement, he has decided to throw in the towel.

God does not work in our lives without our input. This input is called faith. Hebrews 4:2
“For indeed we have had the glad tidings [Gospel of God] proclaimed to us just as truly as they [the Israelites of old did when the good news of deliverance from bondage came to them]; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith (with the leaning of the entire personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) by those who heard it; neither were they united in faith with the ones [Joshua and Caleb] who heard (did believe).”
The scriptures said the glad tidings, that is the gospel, did not profit them, or better still, it did not yield any results because they did not mix the good news they heard with their faith. They could not possess the blessing God had for them. This is exactly what happens when discouragement sets in. The moment one gets discouraged, it becomes very difficult to get himself fighting to obtain what he decided to get from the Lord. Discouragement starts very subtly in the heart of the individual. It begins as a very insignificant or harmless thought, like, What if God does not answer? If this supposedly harmless thought is not refuted with all the anger in your heart. The enemy would keep repeating or showing you pictures of how bad things would turn out.

Discouragement finally sets in when the negative thoughts and images are finally accepted. At this instant, the individual has concluded that it is not worth sticking to the course he was pursuing. The only logical conclusion is to give up. At this stage, nothing will inspire the person to try again. Discouragement has totally derailed him. The bible warns us to guard our hearts with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life (Prov 4:23. The scriptures further counsel us to give attention to the scriptures, inclining the ear, staying the eye on it and keeping it in the midst of the heart. In this way, the word would become life and even medicine to all your flesh( Prov 4:20-22). Discouragement is a complete poison to your soul and would paralyse your system from pursuing the righteous course. Give no place to it. Your ability to stay faithful is dependent on your discipline in not giving way to discouragement from setting in.

THOUGHT: TO STAY FOCUSED, DISCIPLINE YOURSELF TO BE FOCUSED.

FURTHER STUDIES

Pro 4:20-21 KJV “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

Pro 4:23 24 KJV “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 17:13 KJV “And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

The Lord, in His prayer for the disciples, declared that the words He said about them had stirred up joy in their hearts. Joy is not happiness. Happiness is dependent on a happy event. A happy event would make people happy. Joy is based on the word of God; it is not a function of what happens around us. Joy comes when the heart relies on the word of God. The scripture always admonishes us to rejoice in the Lord. To rejoice in the Lord is to count on the finished work of Jesus as yours. Jesus’ victory is our victory. His power is our power, and His authority has become our authority. This is one of the areas that we have to rejoice in always.

The word of God is the seed that generates Joy in the heart of a child of God. A Christian without joy is in a very pitiful state. It is a sign that he or she is moved by the senses and not by the word of God. Having the word in you will not necessarily produce joy; rather, it is the word you submit to which produces faith, and that results in joy in the heart.

Satan would always seek the sorrow and anxiety of the children of God. He should never succeed in making the child of God sorrowful or worried. Remember that Satan is eternally defeated, and no matter what he may seem to do, he remains defeated. The power of the enemy is when the child of God yields to the suggestion of the devil. Remember that you are a servant to what you yield to. Rom 6:16Tefuse to accept any suggestion of the enemy. Remember the scriptural admonition. It says rejoice always, and again I say rejoice. This is only possible as you keep the word in your heart, submitting to it, in all you do. Always sing praises unto God. Be consistently thankful unto the Lord. All these are acts of faith that would certainly keep you joyful.

THOUGHT: JOY IN YOUR HEART MEANS SATAN IS UNDER YOUR FEET

FURTHER STUDIES

Phi 4:4 KJV” Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice”.

Gal 5:22 KJV “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 14:27” Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”.

In the last part of our key scripture, the Lord said, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”. The Lord knew very well that there would be a lot of situations and moments that could cause many to be troubled or even afraid.

In John 16:33, the Lord explained that, “these things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace, In the world ye shall have tribulations, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”.
In the world, there would always be tribulations. Satan, the archenemy of God, and his children raise all kinds of attacks against the people of God. The Lord tells us not to be troubled or to be afraid. A good look at the Lord’s statement in John 16:33 reveals something very powerful: He says in Him we shall have peace, but in the world, we shall have tribulation. This statement would literally be interpreted as the Lord will always give peace to us, while the world comes with its tribulations and antagonism.

When do the children of God become troubled and even afraid? When the child of God loses awareness of the presence of God, it is because he or she fails to keep the promises of God at heart. One such promise is Hebrews 13:5-6: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee

6. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me”.

The Lord is forever with us. He has promised never to leave us. The word used in Hebrews 13:5b is an emphasis. The real wording reads, “I will not in any way fail you nor give up, nor leave you without support, I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless, nor forsake, nor let you down (relax my hold on you) (Amp Bible). This is a very strong message of assurance, and every child of God must meditate on these words. This would make your heart ready to stand with the Lord, no matter the challenge that comes against you.

The other thing to do at that time of trial is to confess the promises that the Lord has given us. Hebrews 13:6 says,” ……he has said so that we may boldly say….” Say what the Lord has said boldly.

Do not be worried about whatever comes your way. The presence of the Lord will see you through.

CONFESSION

I am in Christ, in the world, trouble and challenges may abound, but none of these things move me, for I am well secured in the Lord.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Daniel 3:16-17 ” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.”

Proverbs 3:5” Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Exo 20:13 KJV “Thou shalt not kill.”

Our topic for today may appear abstract to many of us, yet it is a very practical issue to look at. In the bible, we have a particular case of Judas taking his own life. This was not any worldly person or a gentile, but one of the very close associates of the Lord Jesus. Suicidal thoughts keep flooding the minds of certain individuals who think they can not face the current tidal waves blowing in their lives. This occurrence( suicide) actually goes on and often brings so much pain and even shame to the loved ones of the person who chose that path. Dear one, listen attentively, suicide is never an option to choose or take. Suicide is a direct breaking of the commandment of the Lord. It says thou shalt not kill. To take your life is to kill yourself. Any man who does that has committed a capital offence against God and his very life, as well as his loved ones and finally against the state. The man who does that has offended four categories of persons. The highest being God Almighty. ANY MAN WHO KILLS HIMSELF WILL SUFFER ETERNAL HELL FIRE.1Jn 3:15 KJV Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him..

Just as hating the second person makes you a murderer, killing oneself amounts to hating yourself, and for that matter, killing yourself means you do not have eternal life in you.

People commit suicide because they come to a point in their life where they feel they can not cope with the challenges they may be facing any longer. There are different causes, and all depend on the individual in question. Dear one, no matter the magnitude of the problem, God assures us there is a way out. Our Lord says in this life we would definitely have tribulations, but we should be of good cheer, for he had overcome the world. John 16:33.He says, cast that issue unto him, for he cares for you. 1st Peter 5:6,7.He says He would always be with you. People may be asking if God is with me; why are things not changing? Please understand how God works. God relates to us through our faith in Him. Faith is not expecting matters to change; rather, faith is believing that God has heard and answered you, and so things have changed. It is in acting this way that actually brings God’s power into your experience. Please understand how God works. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Enough to get Him into your situations. The moment you function in faith, then technically, there is no trouble or problem to be worried about.

After preaching in church one Sunday morning, a sister brought his brother, who she claimed was contemplating suicide. He had used someone’s money that was given to him for a very pressing need. The amount was 25000ghc. How was he going to answer the owner of the money? To escape all these problems, he decided to take his life in order to avoid any responsibilities. In the process of executing the act, he called his sister to tell her he was ending it all. I believe he had some fears, yet he would have done it if the sister had not found a good way of talking him out of it. They came to me narrating the whole situation. I prayed with him, assuring him that God was going to make a way. Beloved brethren, by the next morning, the Lord had miraculously provided the money with some extra amount. Dear readers, God still works miracles..All things are always possible with the one who believes (Our part is to believe, yet even if your case does not happen like this, brother, suicide is still never an option)

PRAYER
Lord, I pray for anyone tormented by thoughts of suicide. I rebuke that demon and command a turning around of that negative condition in Jesus’ name. Thank you, Lord, for your intervention in Jesus’ mighty name.Amen

THOUGHT: ANYONE WHO KILLS HIMSELF OR HERSELF WOULD END UP IN HELL FIRE

FURTHER STUDIES

Mat 27:5 KJV “And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.”

Mat 5:22 KJV But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Mark 12:30 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

A pastor shared his experience when he was a younger pastor. He had fallen in love with a very pretty lady in one of the universities in Ghana. He used almost all his monthly salary to buy a pair of shoes for this lady. She left Accra to visit her on campus. He went to her room but found her absence. When she returned, she came in the company of another man. After giving her the gift, she quickly left with the boy, leaving him in the room for hours. He sat there weeping until the lady’s roommate asked him to stop being foolish, for it was clear the lady had fallen in love with the other boy. He loved someone who had no love for him. What you love controls you. If you truly love God, He would definitely control you; that would be peace, goodwill and favour.

Love is always an act of commitment. A man is controlled by what he truly loves. You always adore what you love. You will seek to please what you love. You are either a free man or a slave, depending on what you love.

Considering all that is said above, loving God with all your being is indeed the greatest thing a man can do. If this is not done, anything else you love becomes a snare to you. Unfortunately, most men don’t truly love God. They come to Him for what they would get from Him. They love the gifts but do not regard the giver. Romans 1:25 puts it this way, “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen”.

The Bible teaches that men would face difficult moments in the last days, because they would love themselves rather than love God.

2 Timothy 3:1-2 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,”

Men would produce all those negative natures because they are controlled by their selfish nature.

The Lord instructs all his followers to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow him (Matt 16:24). For he that will love himself will lose it. To love God with all your being is the only way to preserve yourself. In Joshua 23:11-13, Joshua tells the Israelites to take heed to love the Lord, yet if they choose to love these nations and marry their women, it would become snares and thorns in their flesh and their eyes till they die.

The sure test that you truly love God is the presence of peace in your heart, even in the face of adversity. Dear child of God, if there is no peace in your heart, then you have other things there; repent, and cast those things out, for your true comfort and peace of mind.

CONFESSION

I love the Lord with all my being. My life is an expression of Himself in me. I live a very fulfilled life because I live for God.

FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 16:24-25” Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it”.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:34
“So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.”

Our master Jesus states categorically that we should not worry at all about tomorrow or the future. In that passage, he talked about the birds of the air which does not sow and are gathered into harvest, yet our heavenly father perfectly provides for them. He asks, Are we not much better or more important to God than they? There is a worry chart from an unknown source, yet observing it makes a lot of sense. The following is the chart.

1 . Things that men worry but will never happen …..40%

2. Things that can’t be changed by all the worry in the world….35%
3. Things worried about, but may turn out better than expected……15%
4. Pretty useless worries……8%
5. Legitimate worries…..2%

Total …………100%

Let’s explain the various groupings, giving examples. The first on the chart are matters that people worry about but would never happen, which are a whopping 40 per cent. These are things like worrying about an anticipated disease that does not exist. People worry about armed robbers who may attack their property at night. These are matters that may not happen at all, yet they are what takes a bigger aspect of what people worry most.

The chart also talked about issues that cannot be changed by all the worry in the world, and this is 35 per cent. These are those who may worry, for example, about the parents who gave birth to them. This is an issue that one cannot change in any way. Another example is an event that happened many years ago that concerns you. It has already passed in the future, and you can’t go back into history and correct it.

The third issue on the chart is those who worry about matters that eventually change with time or by observing certain restorative practices. This is 15 per cent. This includes certain sicknesses or conditions that eventually improve.

There are also the types of worries that are simply useless. This also makes up 8 per cent. It is very useless when one worries over the success of another individual. It is very useless if you get depressed about your soccer club that lost its game. Sadly, we have people falling into such a condition.

There are those who have legitimate issues that may call for real concern. An example may be one who has lost a very important amount. This is a real loss that may call for concern because of what the money was going to be used for.

The scriptures counsel us not to be worried at all about anything, no matter how real or legitimate it may be. God still works miracles. His word is the ruling principle of the universe. The moment one sets up their heart and mind to do what God says, as well as believing God’s promises, the power of God, whether through God’s angels or through the power of the Holy Spirit, will get into motion to honour the faith of that individual. Mark 9:23
And Jesus said, [You say to Me], If You can do anything? [Why,] all things can be (are possible) to him who believes!

Dear one, we realise that most worries about the future that most people burden themselves with are simply very much avoidable. The reason why a number of people get into these matters is a lack of knowledge of God and His word. If we were to give a great chunk of our time to God’s word as well as listening to living testimonies of people who overcame difficult situations by faith, we would be very much encouraged to stick to God and come out victorious.

( Pls note there is a big difference between worrying and thinking to plan for a good outcome of the event. To think and resolve issues is the proper way God expects us to relate to matters that come our way.

THOUGHT: GOD’S COUNSEL NEVER TO BE WORRIED IS STILL VALID AND THE BEST.

FURTHER STUDIES

Phi 4:6 KJV “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

Mat 6:26 KJV” Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”

KEY. SCRIPTURE: John 9:3 KJV “Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him”.

When Jesus’ disciples asked about who sinned that the man was born blind, they were expressing an attitude of people who don’t easily fit into God’s concept of those He would want to work with. They were seeing problems, the cause and effect of the cause. They focused on man and the failure in him. The Lord showed them how they must see issues of life from God’s perspective. In every situation, no matter how bad it may appear, God seeks to receive glory out of it. The man God will use in such moments is able to see how God would be glorified rather than looking at the weaknesses of men and their failures. This virtue of looking beyond human shortcomings and weakness to see the power of God coming into the situation is called FAITH.

When David got to the arena of battle, between Israel and the Philistines, he did not see danger and failure in sight. He rather saw a big opportunity to bring glory to God. 1 Samuel 17. Every other soldier was paralysed with fear. 1Samuel 17:11 KJV” When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid”. In the midst of apparent danger, David said, he would go and fight him and take away the reproach against God and His people.

When Daniel was threatened with being thrown into the lion’s den, he was not moved or worried; rather, his concern was to bring glory to God. God is ever ready for any man who will take such a stance for Him.

Do you want to be a candidate for God’s glory, then stop seeing difficulties and dreadful situations? Start celebrating the glory of God, which is about to be seen.

Are you in a situation that is causing you to sing the praises of the devil? Complaining, worrying and confessing any defeatist talk is a way of praising the devil. Satan should never be given any grounds to rejoice over our lack of faith in our Father. Use most of your time to build your confidence in God by receiving His word (Rom 10:17). Take steps to trust in him by putting His word into action. David put his faith into action by killing the lion and the bear, and when a bigger opportunity came, he was never taken aback.

CONFESSION

To every dark situation, there is a brighter side, ready to be revealed. By faith, I always see that brighter side. This glorifies God, and He stretches forth His hand to reveal His glory and power. The darkness is always rendered only as a mirage.

FURTHER STUDIES

Isaiah 8:12 & 13 KJV” Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

Numbers 13:30 KJV “And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome

KEY SCRIPTURE:2Co 5:15 KJV” And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

Truth always liberates, while lies and deception enslave. The Israelites who left Egypt for the promised land kept murmuring and complaining till all those who left Egypt died on the way. Just consider one of their complaints. Num 11:5 KJV “We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.”These people complained about the lack of cucumber, melons, garlic and others that they were not getting and rejected the heavenly meal, the manna. Why did they attack God that way? They did not understand that they were living for the Lord, and so they were His responsibility. They did not have to worry about anything. All they needed to do was to keep thanking God for whatever He did for them, and to also thank Him for those things that He was yet to do. They had seen unimaginable miracles and great signs and wonders of God’s power, yet they kept complaining and murmuring. Their focus was continually on themselves, not on God, who had decided to bring them to the promised land.

Our key scripture states clearly that since Jesus died for us, we must no longer live for ourselves. Please note that self-centeredness is the mother of all sorrows. It is a sign of great immaturity to be occupied with yourself. When the scriptures talk about Jesus dying for us, it means we died with him, and the life that we now have is the resurrected Christ alive in us. ( Gal 2:20)As Christians, when we make reference to ourselves, we mean the resurrected Christ in us, which Second Corinthians 5:17 calls the new creation. Our old self is no more. Now, the life of Jesus alive in us has conquered the world. J(ohn 16:33). This life has conquered death and so has truly conquered whatever challenge that we may face.
We no longer have any interest of our own. We are Christ’s representatives, and we execute His agenda. We have nothing to be ashamed of or glory about. We seek His glory. Jesus can not fail us; He cannot suffer shame in any way.

When David encountered Goliath, he said The battle is the Lord’s. He did not consider any thoughts of defeat. He was just a representative for the Lord. His portion was to do everything in the name of the Lord and see Him defeat the enemy. To live free of worries, we must stop living for ourselves and live for the Lord. Jesus said if you try to save your life you would lose it, but if you lose your life for Him you would save it ( John 12:25). The man who worries is attempting to save his life, while the one who places his trust in Him has ceased attempting to save himself but allowed the Lord to take over his life. This is the simple truth about walking and relating with Jesus

THOUGHT: A LIFE LED FOR JESUS IS THE TRUE VICTORIOUS LIFE

FURTHER STUDIES

Joh 12:25 KJV” He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”

Gal 2:20 KJV” I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”