Friday, 31 January 2014

ONE THING YOU MUST NEVER DO: GIVE UP


Life at times could be difficult, sometimes it seems the world is crumbling on you, it seems your world is crumbling very fast, this could be in some facet of life, family, finance, career etc. the reason for this may be unexplainable. At such times one is tempted to blame himself, others or situations for such unpleasant experiences. One need to know that everyone experience tough time. You are not alone. Whatever it is that give you great concern is not only happening to you, countless number are going through similar experiences, many more are going through worse situations. You and I need to know that God knows about our situations. Trials and temptation is a common lot of the people of God, let us not in cowardice but boldly, confidently and in faith thread the path that the saints of old have trod.

 

Here are my personal thoughts on Psalm 27 for anyone who might be going through a tough situation.

 

Psalm 27 is a psalm of confidence in God David was identified as the writer. A man after God’s own heart, a king, God’s anointed. Yet, we have a description of his feelings and fear expressed in this Psalm. David expressed much confidence in this Psalm. The question ‘whom shall I fear?’ is a statement of confidence. From the impending attacks of evil men, enemies, army or war (vs. 2, & 3). He said ‘if the Lord is my light and my salvation and He is, whom shall I fear? What a confidence! It seems that the encouragement and support from people close to him was not given as he wrote in verse 10 ‘Though my father and mother forsake me’. His situation will most likely resemble that of Paul in 2 Cor. 4:8-9 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.  David resolved Ps 27: 13 I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. NIV. Nothing works effectively against fear and though time than faith in God. Confidence in the word of God. God cannot lie. His word will surely come to pass.

 

If we will express our confidence in God like David, then we must pray like David. He prayed : Ps 27:4 that I may dwell in the house of the Lord, vs.7 be merciful to me and answer me,v.9 Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger;  Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior. Teach me your way, O Lord;   vs. 11 lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.   Vs. 12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes.

 

David did not just prayed, He knew His God. He relied on God for direction and protection. It is wrong not to take the posture of David and prayed like David. God alone must be our DIRECTOR by whose words we must be bound. He was also noted for his obedience to God in v.8. We must seek God’s face in prayer and in everything. What are your fears and challenges? Your fears may be unfounded... Hear this:

 

Several generations ago, during one of the most turbulent of the desert wars in the Middle East, a spy was captured and sentenced to death by a general of the Persian army. The general, a man of intelligence and compassion, had adopted a strange and unusual custom in such cases. He permitted the condemned person to make a choice. The prisoner could either face a firing squad or pass through the Black Door.

 

As the moment of the execution drew near, the general ordered the spy to be brought before him for a short, final interview, the primary purpose of which was to receive the answer of the doomed man to the query: "What shall it be—the firing squad or the Black Door?"

 

This was not an easy decision, and the prisoner hesitated, but soon made it known that he much preferred the firing squad to the unknown horrors that might await him behind the ominous and mysterious door. Not long thereafter, a volley of shots in the courtyard announced that the grim sentence had been fulfilled.

 

The general, staring at his boots, turned to his aide and said, "You see how it is with men; they will always prefer the known to the unknown. It is characteristic of people to be afraid of the undefined. Yet I gave him his choice."

 

"What lies beyond the Black Door?" asked the aide.

 

"Freedom," replied the general, "and I've known only a few brave enough to take it."

 

The choice is yours (Phil 4:13). "By grace ye are saved through faith" (Eph 4:28). "We live by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor 5:7).

 

(from A Treasury of Bible Illustrations Copyright © 1995, 1998 by AMG International, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by Permission.)  

 

A true child of God should say like David Ps 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear? Having expressed his confidence, He admonished us Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.  He will appear for you, you must remember NEVER GIVE UP.

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