Each of us goes through those seasons when we face tests and trials. Sometimes it feels like you're stuck in the wilderness and can't find our way out. It might be physical ailments, depression or even loneliness. When things are good, it's easy to have confidence that you will trust in the Lord if, or when, bad things happen. That perspective quickly changes when you are standing in those dark places and you believe you are in the valley of the shadow of death. It's so easy for doubt to creep in. Satan will shoot arrows of disbelief through your mind. You'll begin to wonder if God hears your prayers and if He really does care.
A sister in Christ sent these verses to me for encouragement. They were a great comfort to me. I always find reassurance in the word. I added some thoughts and comments that I hope will encourage some of you. If you find yourself in troubled times, meditate on these verses and let God console and comfort you. He is fully aware and in charge of your circumstances. Trust in Him.
If you are in good health and experiencing God on the mountaintop, then pray for those in the valley and fill yourself with these words so you will be prepared when your trial comes.
Psalm 32:7
You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.
When the world is closing in and so overwhelming, we can find our hiding place in the Lord. He is the one who created it all. He can't be surprised because He is all-knowing. There is no circumstance beyond His reach. When we have repented and put our faith in Him, we have a promise of eternal life; an eternal preservation. Our bodies may suffer from the maladies of sin, but our soul is preserved and delivered. Praise God!
Psalm 25:21
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You.
I will be preserved in integrity and uprightness. I will wait. And even though I grow impatient, I won't bow to dishonesty or immorality. I will wait for the Lord. His timing is perfect, every time. All time is His.
Luke 12:7
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Psalm 103:5
Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
God knows the numbers of hairs on our heads and the number of grains of sand on the beach. He feeds the sparrows and clothes the lilies. In a microscope we can see incredible design from the hand of the Lord. In a powerful telescope hurtling into infinity we see incredible beauty created at the hand of God. There can be no doubt the same God that keeps track of all these things is the same God that keeps me and nourishes me, allows my heart to beat and allows me to breath the next breath. He can renew me and bring me back to full health or He can bring me into His presence at His will.
Isaiah 54:17
17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
And their righteousness is from Me,"
Says the LORD.
Our only source of righteousness is from the Lord. Jesus took our sin to the cross and gave us His righteousness that we are to be clothed in. When we accept that grace from Jesus we also receive a heritage as a servant of the Lord. That birthright is that no weapon formed against you shall prosper and no one can judge you because you belong to the Lord. You are not a body with a soul; you are a living soul, bought and paid for by the blood of Christ temporarily living in a body. Nothing in this world can touch you because you are the Lord's.
Deuteronomy 23:14
For the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you and give your enemies over to you; therefore your camp shall be holy, that He may see no unclean thing among you, and turn away from you.
God walks in the midst of our camp also. He abides in us as we make every effort to abide in Him. He is with us as we face our enemies, the battles are His. Do we keep our life, our homes, our minds and our speech free from unclean things? Keep your camp holy so the Lord may abide in it and not turn away from you.
Second Corinthians 10:3-5
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
It feels like it is a fleshly war. It feels like we have to fight against the things of the flesh. However, our warfare is spiritual and we need to have spiritual weapons. Those weapons must be adequate, available and in good working order. Pulling down strongholds is not a defensive measure. When the battle is on, we must be on the offensive. Use the weapons God gave you to fight against anything that goes against the knowledge of God. This battle starts in our mind as we bring every thought into captivity. We must arrest every thought and bring it into submission for the glory of God. Pray, fill up on the word of God, fellowship and walk in the Spirit.
Second Thessalonians 3:3
3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.
The Lord is faithful. If you don't believe that your life will be filled with doubts and grief. This life, this short time in a sin infested world will break you down. It will disappoint and crush you at times. There is nothing here to put your faith in. You must come to the point where you know the Lord alone is faithful. He will establish us. He will bring us to the place where He desires us to be, whether we understand that place or not. Even in the valley of the shadow of death, He will guard us from the evil one and we won't have to fear any evil.
Just thinking.
Doug
Facebook