Month: June 2022

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

Psalms give us many references of God’s willingness to Strengthen and encourage His people, especially through David’s life. God wants us to turn to Him in our Day of Trouble because He loves and cares for us.

A Psalm of David.

¹³ I remain confident of this:
    I (We too) will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
¹⁴ Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart (He shall Strengthen your heart)
    and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27

David wanted to win his battles here on earth, no matter the dangers and not be suddenly dispatched by his enemies. We said at the beginning of week that Jesus had to be Strengthened from heaven, Luke 22:43 but He finished His course. John 19:30

²³ Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints!
For the Lord preserves the faithful,
And fully repays the proud person.
²⁴ Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
ALL YOU (not just some) WHO HOPE IN THE LORD. Psalm 31

God preserves His faithful ones and it’s for ALL OF US.

A psalm of David.

“I will arise out of the Fire” – something for us to hold onto today.

⁵ (David’s two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail, were among those who had been captured.) ⁶ David was seriously worried, for in their bitter grief for their children, his men began talking of killing him. BUT DAVID TOOK STRENGTH FROM THE LORD. 1 Samuel 30 TLB 

^4-6 David and his men burst out in loud wails—wept and wept until they were exhausted with weeping. David’s two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail widow of Nabal of Carmel, had been taken prisoner along with the rest. And suddenly David was in even worse trouble. There was talk among the men, bitter over the loss of their families, of stoning him.

^6-7 DAVID STRENGTHENED HIMSELF WITH TRUST IN HIS GOD. 1 Samuel 30 MSG

Many times David and his men had attacked and plundered the Amalekites, 1 Samuel 27:8, but on this occasion their own camp had been raided. They were distraught at the loss of their families and wanted to kill David. When things go well leaders get praised, but when they go badly they often get blamed. Better by far to seek the Lord than blame those around us and that’s what David did.

We must learn to ‘take a punch’ ‘or withstand a blow’ and keep going. The enemy wants us to give up, but David found Strength in His God to get up and go on, after he and his men had wept bitterly.

¹⁶ for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,
    but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes. Proverbs 24

David and his men had to stay in the fight to rescue those dear to them. Many times the enemy will attack those we love and hold most dear, but God will Strengthen and help us ‘TO RISE AGAIN’.

There’s a small city in N.Ireland called Lisburn, where I went to school a long time ago. Their motto is very relevant for many of us today, ‘ex igne resurgam (Latin) – I WILL ARISE OUT OF THE FIRE’. Many people in the world have gone through a time of severe testing, The Fire, but with God’s help, we His people will arise again to a better day. Hallelujah

God bless and keep you today.

God wants us to encourage the next Generation, especially those called to lead.

³⁸ But your assistant, Joshua son of Nun, will enter it. Encourage him, because he will lead Israel to inherit it. Deuteronomy 1

²⁸ But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.’ Deuteronomy 3

The Lord told Moses twice to encourage and strengthen Joshua, his successor, the man who would lead Israel into their inheritance. (He did so after a forty year delay, a whole generation disbelieved and never entered.)

²³ The Lord gave this command to Joshua son of Nun: ‘Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you.’ Deuteronomy 31

The Lord told Moses to encourage Joshua and then it’s recorded that God Himself spoke directly to him.

Leaders and budding leaders need sincere encouragement! There’s a whole ministry there just waiting to be picked up and exercised, some of us are really good at it. A smile and a well done don’t take long or cost much.

The great apostle Paul, minister to the gentiles, started out with Barnabas, someone whose  very name spoke of encouragement. Given the many trials of Paul’s ministry this man was a blessing to him in his early days.

³⁶ Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’), Acts 4

² While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Acts 13

The devil works very hard to cause strife, in homes, in work and in ministries. He hates to see people happy and blessed. Unity commands God’s Blessing.

Psalms 133:1-3 TPT

May God bless us and enable us to be a blessing today.