Tuesday, November 22, 2016

DON’T GIVE UP!












GOD IS IN TOTAL CONTROL AT ALL TIMES

Psalm 63:5-8
My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

David has reminded us of his complete dependence on God, as well as his desire to know God and rely on Him. His thirst and weakness were only satisfied by God’s power and unfading love. As he writes here, his satisfaction was complete. God’s provision was not only adequate, but rich and bountiful.

When you go to bed, does your mind sometimes race in many different directions? As David went to bed his thoughts were many, his concerns were real. Remember that he was in danger for his life. His nights were not necessarily safe, but his mind led him to rehearse and meditate on the presence and care of God.

His day was filled with praise, and his night was equally-filled with adoration.

Dear friends, when you stop for a night’s rest, are your thoughts driving you to look at your Savior or to look at your enemies and circumstances? I want to remind you that as real and difficult your situations are, David’s plight was also very difficult. His psalm tells us that he was clinging to God and that the Lord was sustaining him.

We certainly need to cling to God at all times. There are so many temptations that come our way that would push us to let go, but our souls must be resolute in holding on. Our own flesh is our greatest enemy. Why do we let go so easily and allow lies to produce doubt in our lives?

God’s character is holy and pure. He cannot think or do anything that is evil. He never wavers in His perfection; He never has a sinful thought or reaction. We cannot even live a moment of our life without proving the reality of sin, but God is not so. Since we are so easily deceived, why would we not cling to our Lord?

I know that God is wise. He can see what I cannot see, or even imagine. He knows everything about our past, our present, and our future. He was acquainted with us before the foundation of the world and He chose to reveal Himself to us, sending His Son so that we could be forgiven and become His children forever. Nothing ever surprises God. Although He is displeased with our sin, it does not come as a surprise. He saved us when we were His rebellious enemies with nothing to offer, and He is faithful today, as we continue to be needy of Him. His wisdom should cause me to hold on with great determination.

I know that God is powerful. He will never encounter any enemy or situation that He cannot overcome. He is the creator and sustainer of all; apart from Him, no one can subsist. Every atheist and God-hater is alive today only because of God’s grace. Our greatest enemy is not independent; he operates only under the sovereignty of God. Why would I look anywhere else for help?

God’s love is unchanging and perfect. He is never selfish; all of His actions are perfectly loving. Every situation, every encounter in our life is filtered through God’s love. God’s love is sufficient for all His children, and it is never driven by our merits. Why would we ever look anywhere else for help?

God’s hand is always stretched out to help us navigate the difficulties of life. Yes, there are many times when we don’t understand why things are happening to us, when even fellow believers turn against us. We live in a fallen world, where sickness and sin surround us, so we are not immune to its sorrows and pains. We should never lose sight of God’s outstretched hand.

Psalm 63:9-11
But those who seek to destroy my life
shall go down into the depths of the earth;
they shall be given over to the power of the sword;
they shall be a portion for jackals.
But the king shall rejoice in God;
all who swear by him shall exult,
for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

God has defeated death and the devil. He will bring all things to His perfect completion:

1 Corinthians 15:53-58
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Christ defeated sin and death. We are victorious in Christ. Are you tempted to despair? Are you tempted to give up? Are you tempted to rebel? Are you tempted to become bitter?

Don’t give up! Your persistent battle with the flesh is not in vain. It will produce God’s perfect will in you and will also produce an effect, according to His eternal purposes, in the minds of those who watch you cling to God and live for Him.


May your life be a shining light, even in the most difficult of times. Live for God, desire His word and will, and rest in His perfections.

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