Monday, April 15, 2013
You Can Do It!
When you first read this title, how did it make you feel? Was there something specific that came to mind, some task or challenge? Did you wonder what the “it” was that is being referred to here? Most importantly, did you notice that somehow on the inside these words seemed to lighten the load, if even only for a moment? This last point is most important. There are times when we are heavy spirited, and in those times we can be lifted out of this through encouragement. But how?
In Samuel 30:6 we read about a time in David’s life when the enemy had come in and taken the people and goods of one of his villages. The people were so upset they wanted to stone David. Not exactly encouraging words, right? There have been times when the people around me, even the Christians, have said things that are not so wonderful. In this case, they actually were considering killing David. When people have said negative things to me, I can be discouraged. What did David do? He encouraged himself in the Lord. He called for the priest to bring him the ephod, which is a priestly garment. After putting that on, He asked God if he should pursue the enemy and overtake them. God’s response was to pursue and overtake the enemy because he would recover all. So David went after the enemy, and recovered all of the people and possessions, plus he captured the possessions of the enemy as well. What does that mean to us?
In Isaiah 61:3 we see that God has given us the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Sounds similar, right? This is the chapter that Jesus read when they handed Him the scroll to read in the synagogue. This is His eternal answer for our encouragement. If we read on we see that it is done so that people we see us as trees of righteousness, His planting, that He may be glorified. Sure sounds like David’s story to me. And, the great news is, it can be our story, too! Praise God and be encouraged, for He is truly the Deliverer King!
Prayer
Father, We praise and exalt You as the One true Most High God. Thank You for listening to our prayers when we cry out. Thank you for helping us overtake and destroy the enemy. Thank You for letting us bring back those that were captive by the enemy, our goods that were stolen from us, and to plunder our enemy as well. We put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, and we praise You, Mighty King! In Jesus name. Amen.