Don't be discouraged (2)

It is not your battle

We must not give in to fear because the battle we are facing is not ours but God's. If you understand this simple truth, you will never be afraid in this life. 'That battle is my battle' was what God told Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah. Let me tell you, God has promised to always be with us. This battle you are facing now is not your battle; just turn it over to Him now. Before we go on, please let's just look at that eternal, reassuring and covenantal statement in Isaiah 43:1-3:

"But now, O Israel [put your name here], the LORD who created you says: 'Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of operation, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior... "

Wow! Praise God! What promise can be better than this? Just read through the whole chapter, it is well-loaded. God tells you not to be afraid. Look at His mightiness and not the size of the challenge. There is a 'fear not' in the scriptures for every single day of the three hundred and sixty-five days of the year for you. True. Check it out in the bible. Yes, count them. That simply means that God had you in mind as He was preserving those records. I love people like David; who had seen great, terrifying challenges from the time they were young through their old age. Hear him:

"The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.' You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever." Psalm 23:1-6

Amen! The great David! Did you read that very well? This kind of statement could only come from somebody who had gone through the toughest battles in life. (Watch out for my book on this great man. You want to hear the title? Wait for it! It's already in the works). You know the story of the David very well. It really took some unexplainable, intricate miraculous, divine intervention for him to escape some of the challenges he went through in life. He never lost this fact. He remains the most grateful man ever lived. Go read his Psalms. He saw the worst betrayals, the fiercest battles and also the sweetest victories! And again this is why he muttered these great, deep words of victory:

"If the LORD had not been on our side - let Israel now say - if the LORD had not been on our side when people rose up against us, they would have swallowed us alive because of their burning anger against us. The waters would have engulfed us; a torrent would have overwhelmed us. Yes, the raging waters of their fury would have overwhelmed our very lives. Blessed be the LORD, who did not let their teeth tear us apart! We escaped like a bird from a hunter's trap. The trap is broken, and we are free! Our help is from the LORD, who made the heavens and the earth. Psalm 124:1-8

How I wish you could see the mist in my eyes as I go through those words. And I know David also had the same experience as he was releasing them. You may not understand what is going on here unless you're also a 'David'. This man saw it all and concluded that there was no need to be afraid when God is totally and always in control. Are you still afraid and discouraged? Please, fear not! Be strong and stand still for the God of Jehoshaphat and David has come to give you total victory! Gabriel is the author of the book Power of Midnight Prayer.

Website:http://www.authorsden.com/pastorgabrielnagbo E-mail:gabrielagbo@yahoo.com