"And
he said, "Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King
Jehoshaphat: thus says the LORD to you, 'Do not fear or be dismayed because of
this great multitude, for the battle
is not yours but God's! (2
Chron. 20:15).
Hey Gang, Did you know that Satan's greatest tool, in his
toolbox that he uses against God's people, is discouragement? Within
moments of enjoying a spiritual victory, every believer becomes a target for
the powers of hell. The devil attacks us with lies about our marriage,
our friendships, and our calling; he replays, in our minds, every sin, failure
and foolish thing we've ever done. By the time he's finished, we're
crying, "Lord, I'll never make it!"
David was brought so low by a demonic spirit that he was
dumbfounded in God's presence: "I,
as a deaf man, heard not; and I was a dumb man that opened not his mouth.
Thus I was as a man...in whose mouth are not reproofs" (Ps. 38:13-14). The last phrase
means ‘a man who has no arguments left’.
David was saying, "Lord, I'm too discouraged to even lift my hand. I
can't pray because I'm too confused to speak. My spirit is drained and
empty. I have nothing to say." Have you ever been there?
Was his trial unique? Not in your sweet bippy! I have read
many biographies of devout men and women whom the Lord used mightily, and every
one of these people struggled through the same kind of crippling
discouragement. David voiced the universal cry of the righteous soul that
endures an attack of discouragement: "I
am ready to fall and my sorrow is continually before me" (38:17). David was saying,
"Lord, I'm not going to make it. I'm at my absolute end, about to
fall."
If you're enduring an attack from a demonic spirit of
discouragement, I suggest you do three things: (1) Do not try to maneuver your
way out of your trial; the battle is far beyond your human skill or power
to overcome. (2;) When the attacks come don't think it is unusual:
God allows this kind of fiery testing for all His saints. (3) Pray,
give the Holy Spirit time to do His work. When you're under
discouragement you won't feel like praying, but you still must go to your
secret place and be in Jesus’ presence. It is the Spirit's joy to lift
you out of your pit.
When, it seems like you are residing in ‘alligator alley’, keep
in mind, "The battle is not yours, but God's" (2 Chron. 20:15) and "…you need not fight in this
battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your
behalf" (2 Chron.
20:17a). It doesn't matter how downcast you get - God will
never forsake you!
In such low times the Lord is very patient with us. He
knows our condition and He sympathized with us. If you don't have the
strength to speak, reach out to Him in your spirit, and trust the Spirit to do His
work in you. Say in your heart, ‘Lord, I know your Spirit abides in
me. I know you have sent Him to comfort me, strengthen me and reveal the
mind of Christ to me. Holy Spirit, I turn to you now in simple
faith. Speak to my heart your words of comfort. I have no strength
left; you have to lift me up and lead me.’
Soooo, dare to believe He will speak to you! You're not
going to faint. Indeed, you'll come out of your trial more victorious
because your faith will have been tested and tried as gold. Watch and see
the Lord fulfill every promise He has made to you.
Blessings,
Gramps
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