Have you ever had a “Job” experience? You know, a time in your walk where if you were walking in accordance with your flesh the words you *might* feel like uttering are nothing in line with how the Bible tells you to respond? 😉 Come on, I’m being honest!
Times where you know that ol’ slewfoot is trying to trip you up! A day where you can hardly stand being around your own self! It is times like that where we have to weigh our actions accordingly and not submit to the rise in our flesh. This is where we have to go against our black mood or feelings and determine to push through with praise. Did you know that there is power in praise?
Honestly, through the times where the very LAST thing you want to do is praise God – that’s when you can bet that just like Job did when he stood before God and accused Job in Job 1:6-12:
“Now the day came when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord—and Satan also arrived among them. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” And Satan answered the Lord, “From roving about on the earth, and from walking back and forth across it.” So, the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil.” Then Satan answered the Lord, “Is it for nothing that Job fears God? Have you not made a hedge around him and his household and all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock have increased in the land. But extend your hand and strike everything he has, and he will no doubt curse you to your face!” So, the Lord said to Satan, “All right then, everything he has is in your power, only do not extend your hand against the man himself!” So, Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.” “
If ol’ slewfoot can do that with Job, I have no doubt he stands before God, being “the accuser” that he is, accusing us, waiting for us to prove him right! I’ll be honest again and say, I have had my moments where I have failed God with my reaction to situations. Disappointments, hardships – Listen, this is where the rubber of your faith REALLY hits the road, when everything around you is going awry and the devil is taunting you in ear, saying, “where is your God now?” Remember, even Job’s wife told him to give up! “To curse God and die!” Beloved child of God, THIS is where we push past the pain of what we are seeing in the earthly realm, and we continue to BELIEVE God! When Peter walked on water with his eyes on Jesus, it was only when he paid attention to his situation and lost focus on Jesus that he began to sink!
DON’T LOSE FOCUS!
No matter HOW it seems:
OUR God IS BIGGER! Our God IS FAITHFUL! Our God IS IN CONTROL!
Don’t despair! Don’t allow your flesh to react! This is where we PRAISE God even though we don’t see it in the natural. There IS power in praise! Sacrificial praise is telling God that NO MATTER WHAT He is WORTHY of our praise! Remember, the Bible tells us we ONLY see in part! But God STILL sees in full! We can’t STOP believing! Stop trusting! Stop being faithful! The devil wants you to turn your back on God! To get frustrated and feel as though your prayers aren’t being heard. That God doesn’t care about you! The devil wants you to curse God! Turn it around beloved believer! Turn it around and curse the devil! Tell him to go back to the pit of hell where he belongs! Tell him that you will NOT give up! That you will NOT stop believing God! Hold on to your promises! Pray a prayer like this:
“Father God, I thank You that You are BIGGER than this situation! I thank You that no matter HOW I feel, I REFUSE to give into my feelings and turn my eyes off of You! Forgive me for my sins, forgive me for the times where my feelings and my thoughts are not lining up with my faith. Forgive me for the times I have doubted You! Father, no matter what my situation, you ALWAYS deserve my praise! My situation does NOT dictate Your worthiness of deserving praise! So right now, I praise Your Holy name! I worship You through the pain! I give You ALL the glory and honor and praise because I know You are in control, no matter what my feelings, I REFUSE to turn my head from You. Father, I come before You and I curse the devil and his demons back to the pit of hell where they belong! I come before You and I know that Your Word tells me that You have made me the HEAD and Not the tail! That You have plans to prosper me and NOT to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future! Whatever Your plans are for me and for those I love, I receive it because I know that Your best is SO much better than what I could plan for myself! Father, I remind You that I am a blood bought child! Purchased with the blood of my Savior, my Lord, Jesus the Christ – Your Son! So, I know that You are IN control of ALL that happens with me, even when I feel things are out of control! Father, deliver me! Father, I stand upon the rock of Jesus! While the storm rages ALL around me, You keep me in perfect peace! I give You glory, and honor and praise and I thank You for hearing my prayer! I love You Lord! I trust You! I am NOT letting go! Now Father, SEE ME, HEAR ME, Glorify Yourself in this situation! You tell me that those who trust in You will NEVER be put to shame! I trust You and I thank You for filling me with Your perfect peace! I pray Kingdom of God come, will of God be done – in Jesus’ name I pray! AMEN!”
We have a higher calling… The devil knows that. The devil wants you to give into your feelings and not be led by your faith. Whose report are you going to believe? The devil, who is also called “the accuser” or Your Father God, who loved you SO much that He left the glories of Heaven to come down in the form of man (Jesus) born of the virgin Mary to allow YOU to enter into a personal relationship and a right restored relationship with God the Father through His living a sin-less life and dying on the cross for forgiveness of OUR sins. I don’t think it gets ANY MORE personal than that. You can TRUST God. He has ALWAYS had your best interests at heart. Praise Him right now! Trust Him right now! Believe in His Word and give ALL burdens to the One who is able to carry them and bring you through – no matter what! \0/ \0/ \0/
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