We all face battles, large and small. Like you, when in the middle of the challenge, perhaps getting bad news, being overlooked, misunderstood, out of funds, or simply waiting long and hard for breakthrough it is easy to get discouraged. The courage to stand up and keep going seems elusive at best.
This week I looked once again at Psalm 23 and I realized that the Lord is instructing us, among other things, to keep walking.
Psalm 23:4 Amplified Bible (AMP)
4
Even though I walk through the [sunless] [a]valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me.
When we are down it is not time to lie down. We must keep walking through a season of seeming darkness.
The Lord himself promises to Shepherd us, feeding us, guiding us and shielding us.
Regardless of the source, be it a spiritual attack from the enemy or simply difficult circumstances, the key to overcoming is to preach truth to ourselves. When James says to count it nothing but joy whenever we fall into various trials that is so that our faith may mature to the point that we have peace regardless of the storm raging around us. The way we stand and walk is through the valley is knowing Papa and His promises and speaking and preaching those truths to ourselves.
Hebrews 3:5b
“I will never[under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you[assuredly not]!”
It is Almighty God and our personal shepherd who says:
For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Last month a wonderful book was returned to me that I had left with at my friend Ann’s house a couple of years ago. What a treasure to have it back. “God’s Creative Power” by Charles Capps.
Here are a few quotes:
“Christianity is called the great confessionbut most Christians who are defeated in life are defeated because they believe and confess the wrong things.
“Spoken words program your spirit (heart) either to success or defeat. Words are containers. They carry faith or fear…
“Faith comes more quickly when you hear yourself quoting, speaking, and saying the things God said.”
“The body of Christ must begin to live in the authority of the Word. For God’s word is creative power. That creative power is produced by the heart, formed by the tongue, and released out of the mouth in word form”
Once we remember it is Papa speaking and remind ourselves that all His promises are Yes and Amen all we need to do is take the negative thoughts that are paralyzing us from walking through a dark valley and replace them with truth that sustains us as we wait for God to lead us out of darkness.
Psalm 91:11-16 The Passion Translation (TPT)
11 God sends angels with special orders to protect you wherever you go,
defending you from all harm.
12 If you walk into a trap, they’ll be there for you
and keep you from stumbling.
13 You’ll even walk unharmed among the fiercest powers of darkness,[a]
trampling every one of them beneath your feet!
14 For here is what the Lord has spoken to me:
“Because you have delighted in me as my great lover,
I will greatly protect you.
I will set you in a high place, safe and secure before my face.
15 I will answer your cry for help every time you pray,
and you will find and feel my presence
even in your time of pressure and trouble.
I will be your glorious hero and give you a feast.
16 You will be satisfied with a full life and with all that I do for you.
For you will enjoy the fullness of my salvation!”
I like this quote from Bill Johnson:
“The enemy uses lies to make problems appear bigger than the solutions we carry.”
Those solutions are all in the Word. Find yours, write them down, speak them over yourselves and they will carry you all the way to breakthrough!
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