TRIVIA:
Yesterday I ask you to guess; Which European City is known as the "Eternal City"? Well it was Rome, Italy due to the fact that it has always been a city that was a beacon of culture, religion, and politics. Rome continues to be that city with its historical landmarks such as the Colosseum, the Vatican, and the Roman Forum to name a few places of timeless beauty.
Here's another factoid that you may not know. Which profession did President Truman have before becoming a politician? Was it a Farmer; Doctor: Accountant; or a Lawyer? We'll see if you guess correctly, I know I missed this one.
Challenge:
Psalm 42:7-11 "I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tide sweep over me. 8 But each day the Lord pours His unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing His songs, praying to God who gives me life. 9 "O God my rock," I cry, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I wonder around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?" 10 Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, "Where is this God of yours?" 11 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again--my Savior and my God!
Have you ever asked this question, When Paul and Silas were in prison and the earthquake jolted all those prison locks open, Why did the prisoners not run out? Why had no one left? Was it because they had witnessed something intriguing, that they wanted to see just how this all played out? After all, these men had been beaten, put in stocks, then they responded by singing praises to God, so what would happen now? Was it because they wanted to know how these men would act when they experienced external freedom, because they had seen how the responded with internal freedom.
Can you hear it? What? You say. The rush of the ocean waves, as they make their way to rage and surge over you? You know, those trials that seem to come at you with constant rapidity and force. Those troubles that seem to never let up? You may ask, How do I win over these forces in my life?
The answer that returns to me as I face these things myself is, "Faith always has the last word." Don't be discouraged. Don't be unsettled, "Put your hope in God!" Then you will be delivered from those enemies that want you to give up. But, instead cry out "O God my rock" I place my hope in you.
Don't surrender to those enemies David mentions in verse 11, discouragement, sadness, fear, hopelessness, but rather place your hope in His great victory over the present. You ask HOW? Put your hope in Him, after all He is all powerful, all knowing, everywhere present. Ask yourself, is He capable of upholding you? Well the question is, Was He able to shake off the enemies over Paul and Silas? Their singing, their testimony to the jailer, prisoners, and the jailers family were evidence enough, weren't they?
Was God able? Remember, Faith always has the last word. Don't let discouragement win, or unsettle your ways. Hope in the Lord and you will be delivered from those enemies no matter how powerful they may appear.
SO GO WITH GOD and He will guide you into victory over your enemies, no matter how powerful they may appear. STOP, then begin your day with pouring His balm of unfailing love over you (reading His words for you) then let His power flow through you (through praying to Him for strength, in fact, try praying His words back to Him) next, sing out to Him through the many songs written about Him (How great is our God, All will see how great is our God). When the enemies roll in like the tumult of the raging seas as surging tides, Go to You Tube: Listen to: Morning Worship Songs--Nonstop praise songs, let them play in the background till the force of the surge of the worldly enemies are washed away.
Put these words in your house, car, door, refrigerator, and even on your bathroom mirror, "I will put my hope in God!!! I will praise Him again, and again, and again-- My Savior and My God!!!
Lawyer