DISCOURAGEMENT (Part 2)
SONG
I can not do without You.
I can not do without You.
I can not do without You. O Lord
I can not do without You.
I can not do without You.
I can not do without You. O Lord
TEXT
"And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;
...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." (First Samuel chapter 30 verses 1 to 8).
From today's reading, we see that the things that came upon David and his men were devastating. Coming back from battle, David and his men were met with the unexpected, their city was in total ruin and their families taken captives. Seeing all these, the Bible says in First Samuel chapter 30 verse 6, "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."
David had reasons to be discouraged when he returned with his men to Ziklag, but the Bible says he "encouraged himself in the LORD his God"
This is to mean that he did not allow his soul to be crushed, despite that his men's anger was kindled against him to the point of stoning him. He refused to throw in the towel. Rather, he sought the face of God, and he found encouragement.
Discouragement is one of the tools of satan. He never means well for anyone; and what he does is to subject one into despair and hopelessness in order to distract that person from achieving his or her dreams in life.
The situation we find ourselves in today is, to say the least, devastatingly distressing. But thanks be unto God Almighty who has given us hope in His Word. Daniel chapter 11 verse 35, says "And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." It takes those who truly know God, what He has promised and what He has done through His Son Jesus Christ that can be strong and do exploits in times as this.
Like I said in my last message, what satan does is to give you a thousand and one reasons to give up on yourself and on your goal in life. But as children of the Most High God, we don't have to settle for his lie, but to get God's truth and run with it.
Truth is, a discouraged soldier can never go to battle and win. Rather than giving up on your goals in life, resolve to encourage yourself in the Lord like David did. The Bible in First Samuel chapter 30 verse 8 shows us exactly what David did.
"And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all." Having made inquiries from the Lord, David proceeded to do what God told him and it paid off! He pursued, overtook and recovered all!
Instead of allowing depression and discouragement to take a toll on you, like David, learn to go to the Lord for instruction and direction (Isaiah 28 verse 26).
PRAYER:
Thank You Heavenly Father for Your Word which has always given me hope and direction in times of distress.