FROM FEAR TO FAITH

Psalm 56

1 Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; 

2 my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly. 

3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 

4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? 

5 All day long they injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil. 

6 They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps, as they have waited for my life. 

7 For their crime will they escape? In wrath cast down the peoples, O God! 

8 You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? 

9 Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. 

10 In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise, 

11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? 

12 I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you. 

13 For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. 

Identifying with the Psalmist...

Have you ever felt overwhelmed? 

Have you ever been opposed?

Have you ever felt alone?

Have you ever been afraid?

Implications of the Psalm...

Put your trust in the character of God. 

He is the merciful God.

He is the omnipotent God.

He is the God who judges sin.

He is the God who sees, hears, knows, and remembers suffering. 

He is the God who delivers from darkness and death.

He is the God who gives light to life.

Lift your heart to the Word of God. 

His Word is supreme.

His Word is sure.

His Word is sufficient.

Place your hope in the Son of God.

He is the fullness of God’s character. 

He is the Word made flesh.

Thanks Pastor David!

Rounding Third and Heading for Home

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

When Jesus came to the end of His life, He said, “I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4).

He stayed on the track, and so did Paul. They accomplished what God had set out for them to do. 

Every man has a race that he must run. Every woman has a race set before her. God knows the course. And everything God commands of you, He will empower you to do. Whether you’re nine or ninety, young or old, rich or poor, God has a plan for your life! God has a race He wants you to run!

ACTION POINT:

What is the race God has set before you? If you are not certain, inquire of Him. What He asks of you, He will empower you to do. Thank God for the power to finish the course.

 LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Removing Trip-Ups from the Track

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.”  1 Corinthians 9:24

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Runners not only need to untangle themselves from weights that may slow them down, but they need to also remove things from the track that may trip them up! 

As a Christian, the good things in life may slow us down, but sin will stop us dead in our tracks—it will trip us up. You had better learn to treat sin as sin would treat you! Sin will be merciless to you, and you need to be merciless to sin. 

2 Timothy 2:19 says “Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

ACTION POINT:

Is there any unconfessed sin in your life that is tripping you up today?  Pray Psalm 139:23-24.

 LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

All Things May Be Lawful, But…

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” 1 Corinthians 6:12

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

If you want to be a victor in the race God has for you, you must learn the discipline of laying aside some weights. Many times these weights are good things in our lives. But good things are bad things when they keep us from doing the best things. 

Life would be simple if it were a choice between good and bad. But typically it’s a choice between good and best. 

Our verse says “all things are not expedient.” When you think of the word “expedient,” think of the word “expedition.” You are going somewhere, and if something doesn’t speed you on your way, it’s excess baggage and you need to get rid of it. 

ACTION POINT:

Ask God, “Are there legitimate, lawful things in my life that are keeping me from running the race You’ve given me?” If revealed, ask for discipline to lay them aside!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

When the World Says You Can't

Some people have a lot of strikes against them. They were raised in broken homes, abused sexually and mentally by people whom they trusted. Totally filled with pain over their circumstance and the lack of a way out! Never seeming to have anyone who cared about their plight. They grow into adulthood relying on drugs, illicit sex, alcohol and abusive relationships to try and fill the void they feel deep in their seemingly dead souls. The world says you can't get out but God says you can!!

Luke 4:

18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." 

How glorious is this? God has given us liberty, freedom from oppression and set us free through Christ!!

Acts 26:

to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'

We judge people everyday even though God warns against it. We should pray for them and show them compassion. You and I don't know what they have lived through. God's word has healing power but how will they hear? You and I must share God's word as well as His love.

Romans 2:

1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.

2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.

3 Do you suppose, O man-you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself-that you will escape the judgment of God?

James 4:12

There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Lord, let us shine as the brightest light, giving Your word as a life preserver to the ones who are perishing. Make us bold so we can share the gospel. Amen

Our church has a work training program it has started to help people who are trying to get back into the work force after coming out of prison. We were blessed by the testimony of a precious lady who had lived the horrors of the life I spoke of at the first of this blog post. Her life was completely changed by the compassion she found through God's word and God's people. The world said you can't but God showed her you can and she believed on Christ for the promise of a new life in Him! We praise Him for He alone is worthy! 

They’re Cheering for YOU!

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

A soft-spoken woman went to a high school football game. She’d been quiet the entire game until there was a fumble on the field. The substitute quarterback, a little scrawny kid, picked up the ball and started running past the other players toward the goal. 

And this little lady exploded! She jumped up and said, “Run, baby, run! Run, baby, run!” He was her son. 

That’s what the saints are saying, as they watch us on the playing field of life. They are cheering us on from the heavenly grandstand to “run with patience, the race that is set before us.”

ACTION POINT:

Do you need a lift today? Imagine a grandstand the size of heaven cheering you on to victory!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Graced by His Prayers

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Do you ever feel you are all alone when a struggle hits your life? 

Tell yourself, “I am graced by His prayers.” 

Jesus is watching over you, and He is praying for you. The Savior. The Shepherd. The King. The Prince. He is praying for you! Do you feel encouraged? I do! 

Just to know that the One who died for me “ever liveth to make intercession” for me is enough. He lives to stand in the gap for you and for me. What a mighty God we serve! What mercy we don’t deserve! You are on Jesus’ prayer list! 

You. 

He knows you. And He is praying you through the eye of the storm. 

ACTION POINT:

Do you have a prayer list? Go through that list today and pray for someone you haven’t prayed for in awhile and trust God to answer, even today!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers