Spiritual Battle Fatigue
If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan? Jeremiah 12:5
I’ve heard of more and more ministers becoming weary or going on sabbaticals from ministry. The scripture above talks about that if you are worn out when you are racing with men on foot how are you going to compete with the horses? When some real large heavy duty battles come in your life?
Many Christians I meet, do not have their zeal for the Lord or have left their first love for Jesus. If your prayer life is null, reading your Bible is a drag, and you don't enjoy going to church, this is a good indication that somewhere along the line you have sinned and broken fellowship with the Lord:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 1 John 1:9-10
I went through a period as a Christian of what I call "yuppie burn-out" as far as raising seven children, going to college and working full time. When the evil day came in my life like it talks about in Ephesians, I was pretty much at my weakest point spiritually except I was on an upswing in my zeal for the Lord and wanting to serve Him. I've noticed that when I get spiritually fatigue is usually when Satan attacks me with temptation. Same with sickness. I've been a fairly healthy person, but the times I look back when I was attacked with a physical illness it was due to when my body was run down or I was doing too much and got myself drained. When I broke my ankle in September, I was attacked with bronchitis at the same time.
The example I use is when Jesus was in the wilderness and he was fasting for forty days and when he hungered, than Satan came at him. So that will be the time that Satan will usually come at you is when you are at a weak point in your life. Same with all the prophets, when they had great victories and won battles in the Lord, than they had attacks of discouragement. If you understand how warfare works, it helps me to know how to pray and watch more for the enemy and the way he is attacking. Many times he will use a person to attack me, it usually is something that they will say to me that is not from the Lord.
so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes. 2 Cor. 2:11
I try to keep my life built up with a lot of prayer. I'll do some running (I'm more like a marathon runner so my gas tank does not take much). Some of my friends are like sprint runners and they said they have to get gas more often spiritually than I do.
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. v. 6:11
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:13
The evil day was losing my husband to a heart attack. I've had some other evil days in my life too which included having two miscarriages of children, divorce, a daughter shot in a driveby shooting in a gas station, one of my daughter's had her car totaled in a car accident, and three family members who passed away from cancer. In each of these evil days, God's peace was with me in that storm. I believe God resides in the eye of the hurricane. If you look at when God appeared to Elijah, he was not in the fire, the earthquake, but he was in a quiet small voice. God is right there with us in every storm like Jesus was in the boat. It appears in our lives at times that Jesus is asleep also.
After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 1 Kings 19:12
When Paul talked about his battles in Christianity he also talked about becoming weary.
When we ministered to the Lord by waiting on Him it says He will renew our strength. This is not “Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie, my name is Jimmie,” but it’s “Heavenly Father how can I love and worship you and serve you today?” Abiding in the vine is knowing that there is a natural flow in God meeting your needs because we tap into the vine. We tap into our needs being met “according to His riches in glory.”
Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:30-31
I heard a challenge at church if we want to live a mediocre Christian life or do we want to live the abundant life?
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
God does not want us as bottom feeders on the ocean floor, we are to be eagles soaring. Sometime I would like to put on a tape recorder to record people’s voices. At times it can sound like the cartoon character Charlie Brown’s teacher: “whine, whine, whine.” We have to keep our spirit up. I know when Samson would have the spirit of the Lord come upon him he would get up and shake the shackles off him. In the same way we need sometimes to shake shackles off of us. We don’t want to grieve the spirit through complaining or unconfessed sin and have broken fellowship with God. We all have valleys and sorrows in life. but we can’t stay in the valley indefinitely!
Then she called, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you!" He awoke from his sleep and thought, "I'll go out as before and shake myself free." But he did not know that the LORD had left him. Judges 16:20
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30
Men Hide in Their Caves
This one man said he has his sound system in his cave and he likes to play his electric guitar. Many men like their cave in the basement. My husband liked to put his head phones on and listen to music in the den as soon as he came home from work. One of the behavior’s I’ve noticed with men is the tendency if a woman is angry, something goes wrong in their lives, or if the man has offended a woman is for them to go hide out in a cave (seclusion). I’ve not read all the book Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus, but apparently they talk about this behavior because a man shared this with me from the book. I’ve just noticed it with male friends when things goes awry in their life they disappear for weeks.
If you let men go away to themselves they eventually do come out of their caves. I’m from Venus and as a woman I like to share my feelings and don’t understand men hiding away, but I do like to go into my room and read a book from time to time and get away from the kids or do my college homework and my husband was always good about giving me alone time I wanted.
Esther, the queen had to go the king while he was hiding out in his cave (his chamber). She prayed and interceded for three days and then she prepared herself to come before the king in behalf of her people and she actually went into the cave! What was going on at the time in wiping out the Jewish race was more important than obeying cave rules.
All the king's officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king." Esther 4:11
Mordecai believed that God gave her favor to raise her up for the time to save the Jews. Like the Hebrew children who went into the fiery furnace, she left her fate into the hands of God.
On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king's hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. Esther 5:1-2
David in the Bible hid in a cave when Saul was in pursuit of his life. He had four hundred other men who hid out with him. This was a clan of negative folks.
All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him. 1 Samuel 22:2
David became a leader of a negative group of people, but he did not let them stay in their negativity. He was the type of leader that would lead them out of the cave. He became very discouraged in the cave. He said that “no one cares for my soul.” It helps me to realize that although David slew a giant Goliath who had such a great victory in his life from God and yet David was feeling vulnerable.
A maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A prayer. I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble. When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way. In the path where I walk men have hidden a snare for me. Look to my right and see; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life. Psalm 142:1
I’m having that same type of lonely cave experience. Recently when I walk out from the grocery store at night and my husband is not there to help me with my groceries (usually parked by the door to get me when I grabbed a few items) and no kids by my side - I felt vulnerable -- like someone was going to pounce on me. Same experience that David had only it was Saul and his army after him. For me it’s the enemy making me insecure in being a woman alone at night in a public setting.
Jeremiah wanted to quit preaching he was getting discouraged. Jeremiah was known as the “weeping” prophet.
You said, 'Woe to me! The LORD has added sorrow to my pain; I am worn out with groaning and find no rest.'" Jeremiah 45:3
Isaiah said who has believed our report:
Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? Isaiah 53:1
Elijah had a cave experience after slaying prophets of Baal.
Elijah defeats the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:38-40) and outruns a chariot (1 Kings 18:44-46). All this and Elijah still is afraid and ran for his life (1 Kings 19:3). Elijah goes through discouragement. During his time of discouragement. God provided rest, a cake and water for him. 1 Kings 19:5-8 He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you. So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God
There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 1 Kings 19:9
When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 1 King 19:13
Jonah was discouraged.
Jonah 4:6-8 And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered. And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.
John the Baptist doubted if Jesus was the Messiah
The book of Luke, chapter 7:19-20, John, (now in prison) sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he is the one or is there another?
Coming Out of the Cave
There are two ways to confront a problem. You can hide in a cave or you can face the problem. I go to weddings and funerals although they cause me grief and do a number of things in life that are uncomfortable because I don’t want to hide out in my cave, I’m wanting to move forward in my life and honor God by being an example that God can get you through the difficult times. There are a number of things I do to please others, please my family, but most of all I want to be pleasing to my Heavenly Father.
Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. Roman 15:12
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Roman 15:1
And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, Colossian 1:10
There are different ways to come out of the cave, it can be getting active with distractions in life with organizations/activities, service to others for God, focusing on an education to obtain a better career, but the most important I believe is to get our focus off yourself and on to Jesus. Not to focus on the need or the problems, or what has been taken away in our lives but on Jesus:
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
We don’t carry the burdens in life because we have given our burdens to Jesus. He is the burden carrier:
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:2 & Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:30
When we have our prayer requests to God for a job, finances, a house, a car, a spouse, we believe we have received the requests when we pray. We are not in the category of being a hoper we are a receiver! There is a difference from hoping you get a radio or cell phone signal and one that actually gets the radio or cell phone signal on their radio or cell phone. We want to receive what we pray for!
When David came out of the cave he ate the consecrated bread of the priests which I believe can be God’s word of encouragement for us when you are going through a difficult time.
David asked for a sword which all the priests had available for a sword was the sword of Goliath.
David remembered that when he slayed Goliath and cut off Goliath’s head with his own sword that he had his eyes on the Lord and that encouraged him after being discouraged in the cave.
David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 1 Samuel 17:45
It’s good to remember all that God has done for us in the land of the living. When we go through trials we can forget that God is a mighty fortress and his goodness to us.
I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13
I cry to you, O LORD; I say, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living." Psalm 142:5
When David came out of the cave he talked about God being “my God.” Like little children that say that is my “mama,” that is my “papa.” We can say, “You mess with me you are messing with my daddy and my papa runs the universe!”
For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD. He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:1-3
When I have those "Jonah Days" like in the movie Anne of Green Gables when she had accidentally changed her red hair color to green, is that the next day it is going to be better. Like the song by Third Day, I just keep singing, "There is a light at the end of this tunnel." I also know that the next day the sun is going to shine and it will be a better day.
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22
If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan? Jeremiah 12:5
I’ve heard of more and more ministers becoming weary or going on sabbaticals from ministry. The scripture above talks about that if you are worn out when you are racing with men on foot how are you going to compete with the horses? When some real large heavy duty battles come in your life?
Many Christians I meet, do not have their zeal for the Lord or have left their first love for Jesus. If your prayer life is null, reading your Bible is a drag, and you don't enjoy going to church, this is a good indication that somewhere along the line you have sinned and broken fellowship with the Lord:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 1 John 1:9-10
I went through a period as a Christian of what I call "yuppie burn-out" as far as raising seven children, going to college and working full time. When the evil day came in my life like it talks about in Ephesians, I was pretty much at my weakest point spiritually except I was on an upswing in my zeal for the Lord and wanting to serve Him. I've noticed that when I get spiritually fatigue is usually when Satan attacks me with temptation. Same with sickness. I've been a fairly healthy person, but the times I look back when I was attacked with a physical illness it was due to when my body was run down or I was doing too much and got myself drained. When I broke my ankle in September, I was attacked with bronchitis at the same time.
The example I use is when Jesus was in the wilderness and he was fasting for forty days and when he hungered, than Satan came at him. So that will be the time that Satan will usually come at you is when you are at a weak point in your life. Same with all the prophets, when they had great victories and won battles in the Lord, than they had attacks of discouragement. If you understand how warfare works, it helps me to know how to pray and watch more for the enemy and the way he is attacking. Many times he will use a person to attack me, it usually is something that they will say to me that is not from the Lord.
so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes. 2 Cor. 2:11
I try to keep my life built up with a lot of prayer. I'll do some running (I'm more like a marathon runner so my gas tank does not take much). Some of my friends are like sprint runners and they said they have to get gas more often spiritually than I do.
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. v. 6:11
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:13
The evil day was losing my husband to a heart attack. I've had some other evil days in my life too which included having two miscarriages of children, divorce, a daughter shot in a driveby shooting in a gas station, one of my daughter's had her car totaled in a car accident, and three family members who passed away from cancer. In each of these evil days, God's peace was with me in that storm. I believe God resides in the eye of the hurricane. If you look at when God appeared to Elijah, he was not in the fire, the earthquake, but he was in a quiet small voice. God is right there with us in every storm like Jesus was in the boat. It appears in our lives at times that Jesus is asleep also.
After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 1 Kings 19:12
When Paul talked about his battles in Christianity he also talked about becoming weary.
In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness 2 Cor. 11:26-27
When we ministered to the Lord by waiting on Him it says He will renew our strength. This is not “Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie, my name is Jimmie,” but it’s “Heavenly Father how can I love and worship you and serve you today?” Abiding in the vine is knowing that there is a natural flow in God meeting your needs because we tap into the vine. We tap into our needs being met “according to His riches in glory.”
Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:30-31
I heard a challenge at church if we want to live a mediocre Christian life or do we want to live the abundant life?
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
God does not want us as bottom feeders on the ocean floor, we are to be eagles soaring. Sometime I would like to put on a tape recorder to record people’s voices. At times it can sound like the cartoon character Charlie Brown’s teacher: “whine, whine, whine.” We have to keep our spirit up. I know when Samson would have the spirit of the Lord come upon him he would get up and shake the shackles off him. In the same way we need sometimes to shake shackles off of us. We don’t want to grieve the spirit through complaining or unconfessed sin and have broken fellowship with God. We all have valleys and sorrows in life. but we can’t stay in the valley indefinitely!
Then she called, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you!" He awoke from his sleep and thought, "I'll go out as before and shake myself free." But he did not know that the LORD had left him. Judges 16:20
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30
Men Hide in Their Caves
This one man said he has his sound system in his cave and he likes to play his electric guitar. Many men like their cave in the basement. My husband liked to put his head phones on and listen to music in the den as soon as he came home from work. One of the behavior’s I’ve noticed with men is the tendency if a woman is angry, something goes wrong in their lives, or if the man has offended a woman is for them to go hide out in a cave (seclusion). I’ve not read all the book Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus, but apparently they talk about this behavior because a man shared this with me from the book. I’ve just noticed it with male friends when things goes awry in their life they disappear for weeks.
If you let men go away to themselves they eventually do come out of their caves. I’m from Venus and as a woman I like to share my feelings and don’t understand men hiding away, but I do like to go into my room and read a book from time to time and get away from the kids or do my college homework and my husband was always good about giving me alone time I wanted.
Esther, the queen had to go the king while he was hiding out in his cave (his chamber). She prayed and interceded for three days and then she prepared herself to come before the king in behalf of her people and she actually went into the cave! What was going on at the time in wiping out the Jewish race was more important than obeying cave rules.
All the king's officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king." Esther 4:11
Mordecai believed that God gave her favor to raise her up for the time to save the Jews. Like the Hebrew children who went into the fiery furnace, she left her fate into the hands of God.
They related Esther's words to Mordecai. Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. V. 13-14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish." Ester 4:12-16
David in the Bible hid in a cave when Saul was in pursuit of his life. He had four hundred other men who hid out with him. This was a clan of negative folks.
All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him. 1 Samuel 22:2
David became a leader of a negative group of people, but he did not let them stay in their negativity. He was the type of leader that would lead them out of the cave. He became very discouraged in the cave. He said that “no one cares for my soul.” It helps me to realize that although David slew a giant Goliath who had such a great victory in his life from God and yet David was feeling vulnerable.
A maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A prayer. I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble. When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way. In the path where I walk men have hidden a snare for me. Look to my right and see; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life. Psalm 142:1
I’m having that same type of lonely cave experience. Recently when I walk out from the grocery store at night and my husband is not there to help me with my groceries (usually parked by the door to get me when I grabbed a few items) and no kids by my side - I felt vulnerable -- like someone was going to pounce on me. Same experience that David had only it was Saul and his army after him. For me it’s the enemy making me insecure in being a woman alone at night in a public setting.
Jeremiah wanted to quit preaching he was getting discouraged. Jeremiah was known as the “weeping” prophet.
You said, 'Woe to me! The LORD has added sorrow to my pain; I am worn out with groaning and find no rest.'" Jeremiah 45:3
Isaiah said who has believed our report:
Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? Isaiah 53:1
Elijah had a cave experience after slaying prophets of Baal.
Elijah defeats the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:38-40) and outruns a chariot (1 Kings 18:44-46). All this and Elijah still is afraid and ran for his life (1 Kings 19:3). Elijah goes through discouragement. During his time of discouragement. God provided rest, a cake and water for him. 1 Kings 19:5-8 He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you. So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God
There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 1 Kings 19:9
When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 1 King 19:13
Jonah was discouraged.
Jonah 4:6-8 And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered. And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.
John the Baptist doubted if Jesus was the Messiah
The book of Luke, chapter 7:19-20, John, (now in prison) sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he is the one or is there another?
Coming Out of the Cave
There are two ways to confront a problem. You can hide in a cave or you can face the problem. I go to weddings and funerals although they cause me grief and do a number of things in life that are uncomfortable because I don’t want to hide out in my cave, I’m wanting to move forward in my life and honor God by being an example that God can get you through the difficult times. There are a number of things I do to please others, please my family, but most of all I want to be pleasing to my Heavenly Father.
Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. Roman 15:12
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Roman 15:1
And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, Colossian 1:10
There are different ways to come out of the cave, it can be getting active with distractions in life with organizations/activities, service to others for God, focusing on an education to obtain a better career, but the most important I believe is to get our focus off yourself and on to Jesus. Not to focus on the need or the problems, or what has been taken away in our lives but on Jesus:
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
We don’t carry the burdens in life because we have given our burdens to Jesus. He is the burden carrier:
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:2 & Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:30
When we have our prayer requests to God for a job, finances, a house, a car, a spouse, we believe we have received the requests when we pray. We are not in the category of being a hoper we are a receiver! There is a difference from hoping you get a radio or cell phone signal and one that actually gets the radio or cell phone signal on their radio or cell phone. We want to receive what we pray for!
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Mathew 21:2
But the priest answered David, "I don't have any ordinary bread on hand; however, there is some consecrated bread here--provided the men have kept themselves from women." 1 Sam 21:4 & He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread--which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Matthew 12:4 v. 6 So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence that had been removed from before the LORD and replaced by hot bread on the day it was taken away.
David asked for a sword which all the priests had available for a sword was the sword of Goliath.
The priest replied, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want it, take it; there is no sword here but that one." David said, "There is none like it; give it to me." 1 Samuel 21:9
David remembered that when he slayed Goliath and cut off Goliath’s head with his own sword that he had his eyes on the Lord and that encouraged him after being discouraged in the cave.
David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 1 Samuel 17:45
It’s good to remember all that God has done for us in the land of the living. When we go through trials we can forget that God is a mighty fortress and his goodness to us.
I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13
I cry to you, O LORD; I say, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living." Psalm 142:5
When David came out of the cave he talked about God being “my God.” Like little children that say that is my “mama,” that is my “papa.” We can say, “You mess with me you are messing with my daddy and my papa runs the universe!”
For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD. He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:1-3
When I have those "Jonah Days" like in the movie Anne of Green Gables when she had accidentally changed her red hair color to green, is that the next day it is going to be better. Like the song by Third Day, I just keep singing, "There is a light at the end of this tunnel." I also know that the next day the sun is going to shine and it will be a better day.
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22
The Impossible Dream
To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go
To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star
This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far
To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell
For a heavenly cause
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell
For a heavenly cause
And I know if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest
And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star
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