Devotions

I have been meditating for the past few days on Psalms 142 and 143. I was interested in what King David was going through when he said, “When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then you knew my path. In the way in which I walk they have secretly set a snare for me. Look on my right hand and see, for there is no one who acknowledges me; refuge has failed me; no one cares for my soul” (Psalm 142:3-4, NKJV).

David actually cried to the Lord, “Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low… Bring my soul out of prison” (Psalm 142:6-7).

Beloved, these words are written for our sake and our instruction. Here is encouragement for all of God’s people who are overwhelmed by troubles and afflictions. Often I have been accused of being too gloomy and negative. People say that nobody wants to hear bad news, that they turn off any preacher who talks about pain, suffering and troubles.

The truth is that most of us live in a world where life can be absolutely overwhelming at times. Like David, we face a flood of troubles; we are afflicted even in our righteousness. We endure sickness, death of loved ones, times of confusion and not knowing what to do next. We face hellish attacks of Satan against our faith.

It is in our overwhelming times we learn to seek God and learn to cry out in our pain.  David said, “I pour out my complaint before him; I declare before him my trouble” (Psalm 142:2) and “In your faithfulness answer me” (Psalm 143:1).

Even now, are you overwhelmed by circumstances in your life? Echo David’s prayer to God! “Cause me to hear your lovingkindness in the morning, for in you do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to you. Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; in you I take shelter. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness. Revive me, O Lord, for your name’s sake! For your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble” (Psalm 143:8-11).

Be encouraged. God has everything under control. He will meet your need right on time.

The reason I am writing this is to remind you that the battle you are facing is not yours but God’s. If you are a child of his, you can be certain that Satan will “rage against you.”

In 2 Chronicles, a great multitude came against God’s people. King Jehoshaphat and his people set their hearts to fast and seek the Lord. The king cried out to God a prayer that most of us have prayed at times in our spiritual journey. “For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon you” (2 Chronicles 20:12, NKJV). The Spirit of God came down then, and one man spoke to the whole congregation, saying, “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15).

Isaiah gave a similar warning to all the forces coming against God’s people. “Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice, and lifted up your eyes on high? Against the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 37:23).

God said to Satan, “But I know your dwelling place, your going out and your coming in, and your rage against me” (Isaiah 37:28). God told his people Israel, and he tells us today, “The battle is not against you. It is Satan’s rage against me who abides in you.”

You can end your battle quickly by giving up and giving in to your fears and doubts. Satan will not bother those who give up their confidence in the Lord. Yes, the battle is the Lord’s, but we have a part to play. Faith demands that I turn over all my problems – all my critical situations, all my fears, all my anxieties – into the hand of the Lord.  When I have done all I can do and I know my battle is beyond my power, I must submit all into God’s hands.

Our Lord knows the raging of Satan, and we must truly believe he will act. He will bring us through floods and fires and put to chase all spiritual enemies. If you will hold fast to your faith, expect God to come by his Spirit into your situation and bring an end to your battle. The way out is to trust!

A Christian woman approached me recently with a rather emotional expression and asked me if I had heard the latest news report about the upheaval in Pakistan. “Can you believe what is happening?” she asked. “Every day is a bad-news day. Pakistan has nuclear capacity. Terrorists could take over, and some mad Ayatollah could launch us into nuclear war.” Shaking her head, she said, “I am really scared. Things are spinning out of control.”

Right now, people are fearful all over the world. We are seeing the fulfillment of Jesus’ warning, that a day would come when men’s hearts fail for fear as they witness the things coming on the earth.

Now let me give you a clear word from God’s heart, a word of encouragement. In spite of all the frightening news, God still has everything under control.

Here is the Word we believers must stand upon as the storm rages around us, words given to us by Jesus. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27, NKJV). These are troubling times, but in such times the Word of God becomes our strength and hope.

“The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know your name will put their trust in you; for you, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you” (Psalm 9:9-10).

“For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle he shall hide me; he shall set me high upon a rock” (Psalm 27:5).

I believe the most fearful, troubling days are still ahead. I see nothing but growing despair for those who are not daily in God’s Word and praying and talking to the Lord. It is his Word that lifts our spirits and produces faith. Discipline yourself now to open your Bible in the morning and start your day by getting encouraged with his precious promises. Talk to the Lord, even as you prepare for the day. Ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen your faith and hope.

There, right in your face, is a door that seems to be continually locked. This closed door I am speaking about is some issue, situation or need you’ve been praying about for a long time. It may be a crisis that requires nothing less than a miracle. I don’t know what your closed door may be, but you’ve prayed for the door of opportunity to open, yet everything you try seems to fail. The doors simply don’t open.

For many Christians, it seems both the windows and doors of heaven are closed. The heavens seem like brass, and you haven’t yet received an answer to your fervent prayers and petitions to the Lord.

In Revelation, scripture says, “These things says he who is holy, he who is true, ‘He who has the key of David, he who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens’” (Revelation 3:7, NKJV). This was in a letter sent to the believers in ancient Philadelphia, a church the Lord complimented for having kept the Word and never denying his name. In their most trying times, these people stood faithfully on God’s promises. They did not accuse the Lord of neglecting them or turning a deaf ear to their cries.

Evidently, Satan had come against them with lies. His principalities and powers of darkness, lying spirits pouring out of the very bowels of hell, said that God had shut every door and that he wasn’t worthy of worship and faith. These believers, whom Jesus said were of little strength, kept on trusting and waiting patiently for God to put the key in the door and open it.

Here is what the Lord promised them, and it is our promise as well: “Because you have kept my command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 3:10).

Because you still trust his promises and are willing to die in faith even if you do not see the promises fulfilled, you will be kept from this worldwide temptation to fall into unbelief. God has heard your cry, and he knows the very hour to open all doors. So never give up. Stand on his promises. He will not fail you. He holds the key to every shut door, and he alone sets before us open doors.

I know what it’s like to hear the promise of God that you’ll have a victorious, overcoming life, and I know what it’s like to not see that promise fulfilled. In those moments, I’ve felt defeated, overwhelmed and discouraged by the enemy.

I know what it’s like to hear the promise of God that says that he’ll show us the heights and the depths and the breadth of his love, but I also know what it’s like on the other hand to still feel unloved or like I have to earn God’s love and strive to make him happy with me. I know the promises of God that he gives us unspeakable favor as his children, but I also know what it’s like to ask the question, “Is he really for me? He seems distant and cold like a harsh taskmaster sometimes.”

I know what it’s like to have all these promises of God – the overwhelming joy, victory, power, contentment, peace, prosperity, grace and life abundant — and I know what it’s like to feel like I’m not experiencing them in my own life. Every promise of God for me is a goal. I want it all. How many of you would just like half of what God has promised? How many of you would like three-quarters? How many of you would like all of it?

Proverbs says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick...” How many of you know the next part of that scripture without looking? Most of us know the first part, but many of us don’t realize that the second half of that verse says, “...but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life” (Proverbs 13:12).

Does the hope of having dreams realized float down from heaven? Is it a gift-wrapped package from God, or are there things that he asks of us, steps that you and I can take to see our hopes realized?

The problem is not that God isn’t faithful to fulfill his promises. The problem is our ability to realize his promises by incorporating principles and practices, devotions and commitments to the Lord that open the windows of heaven, so to speak. Once our heart's in the right place and submitted to Christ, we can see the promises of God realized in our lives.