Victory over Discouragement

“My God, my soul is cast down within me . . . I say to God my Rock, ‘Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?’ . . . Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.”
Psalm 42:6-11 NIV

How do we respond when we are discouraged? When nothing seems to be going right. It can be easy to become resigned. To feel defeated and hopeless. But in this Psalm we see how one man responded by being honest with God. Instead of wallowing in despair, he told Him the burdens of his heart!

He had felt “cast down” and “forgotten.” Yet in discouraging circumstances, he thirsted for God’s presence: 

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.” He knew that he needed God.

He remembered when he led those going to the “house of God.” When he had celebrated “with shouts of joy and thanksgiving.” But circumstances had changed, and his life was filled with pain. Instead of feeling joyful, he went around “mourning,” oppressed and taunted by his enemies.

But, instead of bottling up his discouragement, he “poured out” his feelings to God, calling on Him as “deep calls to deep.” He knew that “by day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life.”

How do you respond when you are overwhelmed by problems? When you are discouraged? Don’t run from God. Instead, be honest with Him. Cry out and tell Him every detail of your concerns. And place your hope in Him.

As you call on Him, you can be confident that you will “yet praise him.” He can take away your burdens, restore your joy, and turn defeat into victory.

Today's Inspiring Prayer

Father, thank You that I can put my hope in You. Help me not to be discouraged or defeated by the experiences of life. I believe You for victory! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Inspiration Ministries

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Intensity

“‘Take the arrows’ . . . ‘Strike the ground,’ and he struck it three times and stopped. So the man of God was angry with him and said, ‘You should have struck five or six times, then you would have struck Aram until you would have destroyed it. But now you shall strike Aram only three times.’” 2 Kings 13:18-19 NASB Israel’s King Joash was moved when the prophet Elisha became gravely ill. The king came to the prophet, and “wept over him.” Seeming to seek a word about the future, the king said, “My father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” Elisha responded by giving Joash two assignments. First, he shot some arrows through the east window. The prophet was pleased. His interpretation? This was an “arrow of victory.” Then, the prophet then told him to strike the ground with arrows. “He struck it three times and stopped.” While Joash felt that this was an adequate response, Elisha reacted with anger. For the king had been lukewarm in his response. The prophet told him that, had he been more intense in striking the ground, he would have experienced complete victory. But, instead, their successes only would be partial. His actions demonstrated that he was half-hearted, and lacked intensity and commitment. If he was not willing to do his best in a situation like this, Elisha knew that he would have the same level of commitment in his war against Aram. This story provides an important lesson. You will face a variety of situations in your life. And through every situation, you reveal deep truths about your priorities, your heart, and your level of commitment. Today, commit your life anew to God, and resolve to do your best in every situation with your time, talent, and treasure. Be intense in your commitment to Him and His Kingdom. Dedicate yourself to Him in everything you do! Today's Inspiring Prayer Father, thank You for all You have given me. I will seek first Your Kingdom. I will do my best for You in every situation I face. I will serve You with excellence! In Jesus’ name. Amen. Inspiration Ministries Kindly Support :  https://www.gofundme.com/ajbeatscancer                          Grace Battle for Breast Cancer :     https://www.gofundme.com/x2q86phg

Jesus Saves

“I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not
judge him; for I did not come to judge the world,
but to save the world.”
John 12:46-47 NASB

Priscilla Jane Owens had a burden for children. Committed to fulfill this burden, she became active in both the public schools and Sunday schools in her native Baltimore. Born on this day in 1829, she found that music was an effective way to minister to children, and wrote many hymns specifically to enrich this ministry.

In 1882, she wrote a song for the children of her church that expressed the joy that salvation brought her. It was called “Jesus Saves.”

She wanted them to understand that salvation wasn’t a burden or an obligation but a joyful experience. That being saved opened the door to a wonderful relationship with our Lord!

What a “joyful sound” it was to realize that “Jesus saves!” It is such a glorious experience that Believers should feel delighted to “spread the tidings all around,” bearing “the news to every land.”

What a joy it should be to share this message. But we also should realize that this was “our Lord’s command.” That we are to “tell to sinners far and wide” about salvation.

We still may face battles and problems that cause us to be discouraged, but nothing must stop us from telling others about Jesus. We are to “shout it brightly through the gloom, when the heart for mercy craves; sing in triumph o’er the tomb: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!”

Even the winds are to carry forth this message: “Shout salvation full and free; highest hills and deepest caves; this our song of victory!”

Today, Jesus still saves. And millions of people still need to hear the message of salvation. Dedicate your life and resources to bringing salvation to the nations.

Today's Inspiring Prayer

Father, I pray for these people who need salvation: ___________. And bring revival to my life. Take away my burdens and fill me anew with Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Zeal with Obedience

“‘Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord.’ . . . 

But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord 

God of Israel with all his heart.”

2 Kings 10:16, 31 NKJV

Jehu seemed to be on fire for God! He went throughout Israel, eliminating idols and all who served them. Yet, sadly, Jehu drifted off course, repeating the sins of previous kings who had led the people away from Him. What was the problem?

First, Jehu seemed most concerned with himself. Instead of selflessly seeking to serve God, He wanted to be noticed, so others saw his “zeal for the Lord.” Second, he took “no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart.” Yes, he demonstrated emotion and enthusiasm, but his life was not grounded in God’s Word.

Yes, it is important to be passionate about our faith. But Jehu’s story reminds us that emotion is not enough. The Bible continually teaches the importance of being faithful and obedient, and always giving glory to God. Always serving Him. We are reminded that some people “have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge” (Romans 10:2).

To avoid going off course, or pursuing the wrong goals, we need to fill our minds with the Bible, making sure that His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105). That we are in tune with His Spirit, always serving Him, always seeking Him first.

Today, make sure that God’s Word is the rock upon which you build your life. Make it the checkpoint to make sure you are in tune with Him. No matter what happens in the world, or how you feel, His Word should provide your standard and guide. Yes, be passionate about your faith. But always remember to be grounded in His Word, coupling your zeal with obedience

Today's Inspiring Prayer

Father, I dedicate my life to serving You. Use me to impact lives for Christ. I declare Your promises to be true in my life. Help me to base my life on Your Word. In Jesus’ name. Amen.


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God's Immediate Focus in Us

John 4:13-14

Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

God’s first focus in your life is a deep inner healing of the damage that sin has inflicted on your inner person!

We focus a lot on God’s purpose through you into the lives of other people--how He wants to work through your life as He builds His Kingdom in this world. But before He can work through you and shine His life through your life, God needs to work in you.

That inner change begins when you put your faith in Jesus and what He did at the cross to provide forgiveness and restore your relationship with God. God adopts you into His family as His son or daughter and places His empowering Holy Spirit within you to change you from the inside out. And He uses the Bible to help you see the issues of life clearly.

There’s one ingredient of this inner healing that you bring to the relationship, and that’s responsiveness to God. He’ll do it all, as long as you respond to Him when He convicts you of sin or calls you to action.

How do you need to respond to God today?


John North and Ambassadors For Christ International,
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Pray for your friends like this!

Colossians 1:9-14

For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

Pray for your friends like this!

Paul knew that the Colossians would not be able to live this way in their own strength. So he prayed that God would strengthen them with His strength, so that their spiritual growth would last a long time.

He prayed for joy in their hearts as they thanked God for His grace in their lives. We sometimes think that the important things to focus on in life are “steadfastness and patience”, which Paul prays for, but that experiencing joy is optional and just if you’re lucky. But Paul is concerned that the Colossians experience joy in their relationship with God.

To God it is perfectly legitimate to pray for His joy in people’s lives. Pray that they’re filled to overflowing.

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Bold Faith

 by Inspiration Ministries

“Four leprous men . . . said to one another, ‘Why do we sit here until we die? . . . Let us go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they spare us, we will live; and if they kill us, we will but die.’” 2 Kings 7:3-4 NASB
Food was running out, and there didn’t seem to be any hope. In fact, facing a deadly siege by the Syrian (Aramean) army, panic spread throughout the land.

But the prophet Elisha wasn’t worried. While others despaired, he proclaimed that God would end this crisis by “tomorrow.” To others, this prophecy seemed a fantasy, that it never could be true.

But four simple lepers reacted differently. These outcasts felt that they had nothing to lose. If they did nothing, they would die along with the rest of Israel. If they went to the camp of the Arameans, they might be killed. But they also might live.

So, while the rest of Israel did nothing, these men took action. And, when they stepped out, they discovered that the Lord had caused the Aramean army to hear sounds of chariots, horses, and soldiers. To these Syrians, it sounded like Israel had hired the Hittites and Egyptians, and that they were attacking.

So the entire army “fled for their life,” leaving “the camp just as it was,” with all their supplies and riches. God had kept His Word and performed a miracle. But only these four lepers knew it.

How easy it can be to be like the Israelites. Filled with doubt. Not really believing God. So worried and preoccupied that we do nothing, and feel defeated. But the Bible tells us that faith without works is dead. That we prove our faith is genuine when we go into action. When we step out in faith (James 2:17-18).

Don’t allow your life to be dominated by doubt and disbelief. And don’t sit back, doing nothing. Put your faith into action.

Prayer

Father, I commit these situations to You: _______. Free me from doubt. Help me to be bold. I believe You for miracles and victory! All things are possible with You! In Jesus’ name. Amen. 







- See more at: https://inspiration.org/daily-devotional/bold-faith/#sthash.XsRCK4E2.dpuf