Encouragement for Today - October 27, 2005

 

10/27/05

Encouragement for Today

 

“Believing is Seeing”

Micca Campbell, Director of Outreach Proverbs 31 Speaker Team Member

 

Key Verse:

2 Kings 6:17, “… O, Lord, open his eyes so he may see.” (NIV)

 

Devotion:

Discouragement is normal to feel when we’ve experienced some sort of loss, or when we are waiting on God to do something in our lives. It may be that we are waiting on God to find our mate, begin a family, provide a job, cure our illness, or help us achieve our dreams. Yet, when we have unaccomplished goals or unfulfilled dreams due to circumstances beyond our control, we can also feel disappointed with God for allowing these events to take place in our lives. Worse yet, our disappointment grows while we are waiting for God to fix it.

Waiting is the hard part. It’s living in the unknown that we don’t like. We wonder, “What is God up to? When is He going to do something? Does He hear my cries?” I can answer with a confident, “Yes!” God knows your pain, He hears your cry, and He is at work on your behalf whether you see Him at work or not.

I have learned that while we are “in the wait,” peace comes by trusting God. To help increase my faith, I often pray what God has promised me in His Word.

 

“Lord, I trust that You are with me. I know that You will never leave me nor forsake me. I am not alone. You care for me. You are my provider, and You have a perfect plan, especially for me. I do not have to be afraid for You are faithful.”

Then, I ask God, like Elisha the prophet, to open my eyes so that I can see what I have professed with my mouth. God did that for Elisha and his friend, and He’ll do it for you and me, too.
 
It happened like this. King Aram was at war with Israel. During this time, the prophet Elisha, and another man of God, would spy on King Aram and then report his strategy to the King of Israel. When King Aram found out Elisha was the one blowing his cover to Israel, he sent horsemen and chariots by night to surrounded Elisha’s camp and capture him.

 

When Elisha and the man of God awoke and saw that they were encircled by the enemy, the man of God cried out in terror, "What shall we do?" Elisha said to him, "Do not be afraid. For those who are with us are more than them." Then Elisha called to the Lord, "Open his eyes so that he may see." Suddenly, the man of God saw chariots of fire from God all around. What do you think that did to his fear – to know that God was fighting the battle for them?

 

Do chariots marked with doubt, fear, worry, and discouragements have you surrounded? Do you fear they will conquer you? Are you crying out like Elisha’s friend, “What am I going to do?”  God is greater than your depression and anxieties. Perhaps it’s time to ask God to open your eyes so that you can see His power and love working together to fight your battle. Seeing the truth will help you overcome your discouragement while you’re waiting for God to claim your victory.

 

My Prayer for Today:

Dear Lord, open my eyes so that they may see You and Your mighty power at work on my behalf. Conquer my fear and worry and replace it with faith and trust in You alone. Strengthen my inner being and help me to know and experience the depth of Your love that You have for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Application Steps:

 

Stop looking horizontally, at what only you can do, and look vertically. Look up at God and recognize Him at work. Pray for your circumstance; walk through the doors that God opens and then rest. Don’t do any more or any less. Let God lead.

 

Reflections Points:

 

How is your life giving evidence that you are trusting God in the wait?

 

What do you fear most…your circumstances or God?

 

Are you depending on God or yourself to “fix” your situation?

 

Are you desperate for God to show up and do what only He can do?

 

Power Verses:

 

Philippians 4:6, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (KJV)

 

John 14:1, “Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me.” (KJV)

 

II Corinthians 4:8-9, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” (HB)

 

Psalm 31:24, “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” (NKJV)

 

Additional Resources:

Coming Out of the Dark, by Mary Southerland

http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/newresources_outDark.htm

 

Show Me the Way (Worship CD), by Gwen Smith

http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/newresources_showmeway.htm

 

Radically Obedient, Radically Blessed, by Lysa TerKeurst

http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/newresources_radicallyObedient.htm