In Spite of the Odds

'You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies...' Psalm 23:5 NKJVIf you are going through a difficult
time right now, read these words: 'You prepare a table before me in the
presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life...' (Psalm 23. 5-6 NKJV).
Underline the word 'surely'. It's God's guarantee! When does God
cause your cup to overflow with blessing? When does He empower you to overcome?
When does He demonstrate His goodness and mercy? In the presence of your
enemies! The odds and the opposition can't stop God from blessing you. 'But
I'm really struggling,' you say. Struggle is proof that you haven't been
conquered, that you refuse to surrender, that victory is still possible, and
that you're growing. As long as you keep walking with God and trusting Him, He
will work on your behalf. He will send His Spirit to guide you, His Word to
illuminate your mind, and friends to strengthen you in your time of struggle.
If you're teachable, you're reachable. Keep your heart open, keep listening to
God, keep obeying Him and you will see that your problem is just a platform for
Him to 'show Himself strong on your behalf.' (2 Chronicles
16:9 NKJV) You'll also
discover that His strength comes when you're at your weakest point (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). Finally,
you'll be able to thank God for your enemies, because He's promised to bless
you right there in front of them. People and circumstances don't decide your
future, God does - so look to Him!

Watch What You Say!

'The lips of the godly speak helpful words...' Proverbs 10:32 NLT

A World War II poster reads, 'Careless words cost lives'. So when you hear something negative about someone, ask yourself four questions. First, is it true? 'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.' (Exodus 20:16 NKJV) That's one of the Ten Commandments, not the ten suggestions! Until you're certain it's true, say nothing. Wait; time always reveals the truth. Secondly, is it confidential? Did you hear it as a result of someone else's having broken a confidence? If you speak it, will you be contributing to the violation of a confidence? Remember, 'Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.' (Proverbs 11:13 ESV) Your usefulness to God requires that you don't sacrifice your integrity by betraying trust. Thirdly, is it helpful? Will it tear others down or build them up? Satan is devoted to pulling down, discouraging and defeating; don't be his accomplice. 'Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.' (Ephesians 4:29 NIV) Will it be beneficial and encouraging to those who hear it? Finally, is it necessary? Stop and ask yourself, 'What do others and the cause of Christ gain by my saying it, or lose by my not saying it?' Always keep this in mind: you're more likely to regret the things you said than the things you didn't. 'A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back.' (Proverbs 29:11 NKJV) Be wise; be careful what you say.

Watch What You Say (2)

'The lips of the godly speak helpful words...' Proverbs 10:32 NLT

Your words can bring two things. First, encouragement. Ella Wheeler Wilcox said, 'A pat on the back is only a few vertebrae removed from a kick in the seat of the pants, but is miles ahead in results.' Solomon said, 'Kind words bring life, but cruel words crush your spirit.' (Proverbs 15:4 GNT) When life is hard, '...a word spoken at the right moment-how good it is!' (Proverbs 15:23 AMP) Hope pierces the despair, and people begin to believe that they really have a chance to make it. Many a wounded soul has got through their deepest valley on the strength of a word of encouragement. 'Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.' (Proverbs 16:24 NIV) People wounded by life are healed by words of encouragement. Just a card, an email, a phone call-the Bible calls them '...apples of gold in settings of silver.' (Proverbs 25:11 NKJV) Secondly, your words can bring salvation. 'The fruit of the...righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise captures human lives [for God, as a fisher of men-he gathers and receives them for eternity].' (Proverbs 11:30 AMP) The highest use of your tongue is telling others about Jesus. He doesn't need to be defended, just introduced. 'The words of a good person give life, like a fountain of water...' (Proverbs 10:11 NCV) You can speak life-giving words to those who are lost, and help change their past, their present and their future. Your words can also help people to mature and grow in their relationship with God. Yes, 'The lips of the righteous feed many...' (Proverbs 10:21 NAS)

Watch What You Say!

'The lips of the godly speak helpful words...' Proverbs 10:32 NLT

Your tongue can be a source of great blessing because it can provide people with two things they need. First, it gives wisdom. 'The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice... The lips of the godly speak helpful words...' (Proverbs 31-32 NLT) Paul told Timothy, 'You have heard me teach [many] things... teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.' (2 Timothy 2:2 NLT) Pass on what God has taught you to those who need guidance and are hungry for knowledge. Don't be pushy, but don't be timid; share with them what God has shared with you. If you give a hungry man a fish he will live for a day; if you teach him how to fish he will live for a lifetime. Secondly, your tongue can give correction. Nobody enjoys being corrected. But if you '...listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise... reject discipline, you only harm yourself... listen to correction... grow in understanding... humility precedes honor.' (Proverbs 15:31-33 NLT) Nobody likes to risk rejection by being the truth-teller, but: 'You can trust a friend who corrects you...' (Proverbs 27:6 CEV) Three important principles apply here.

First, you speak truth on the basis of friendship. If you haven't proven yourself, leave the truth-telling to someone who has. You have to earn that right.

Secondly, truth-telling isn't a license to go hunting. A true friend cares about others' feelings, and speaks the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

Thirdly, appreciation will come-but be prepared, it may be delayed! 'In the end, people appreciate honest criticism far more than flattery.' (Proverbs 28:23 NLT)

The Coats

'Then Pharaoh...clothed him in garments of fine linen...' Genesis 41:42 NKJV

To be used by God, you must wear the two coats Joseph wore-namely, those of favor and integrity.

First, the coat of favor. 'Now [Jacob] loved Joseph...and he made him a coat of many colors.' (Genesis 37:3 KJV) Like Joseph's multicolored coat, the favor of God will cause you to stand out in the crowd; it will open doors, protect and promote you. The Bible says, 'For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.' (Psalm 5:12 NKJV)

Secondly, the coat of integrity. Joseph left his physical coat in the hands of Potiphar's wife when he refused her advances but not his coat of integrity. 'When Joseph went into the house to do his work... she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me. But he left his garment in her hand, and fled...' (Genesis 39:11-12 NKJV) Your temptation may be different from Joseph's. You may be tempted to gossip, cut corners on a job, lie to save face, or claim credit for something you didn't do; whatever it is, you'll be tested. And your character will be revealed. Passing the test of integrity is what qualifies you to be used by God. Dr Joseph Parker, the great English preacher and contemporary of Charles Spurgeon, said, 'An un-tempted minister will never do us any good, and an untried one will talk over our heads.' When your hour of testing comes, the thing that will hold you steady and get you through is knowing, standing on, and speaking God's Word. That's why the Psalmist wrote, 'Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.' (Psalm 119:11 NKJV)

Pray About Everything

'...pray about everything...Tell God what you need...' Philippians 4:6 NLT

The four-year-old son of a missionary family in Africa spotted a picture of a little pink dinosaur in a magazine and set his heart on having one. His mom knew it was impossible (the magazine was three years old), but her son never doubted God would come through for him. On Christmas Eve, a box packed ten months earlier arrived from home. At first glance it seemed to contain something special for everyone - except a four-year-old boy. Then they reached the bottom - and they were stunned. The lady who sent the box had no way of knowing God would use her to answer a little boy's prayer. Before taping up the box, at the last minute, she tossed in the one item impossible for his parents to provide - something so insignificant no rational adult would ever have been foolish enough to ask God for...a pink plastic brontosaurus from a fast-food restaurant promotion!

Sometimes we feel foolish bothering God with little things, but we shouldn't. The Bible says: '...pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.' (Philippians 4:6 NLT) God is interested in every detail of your life; if something is important to you, it's important to Him. In Bible times two sparrows were sold for a penny (on sale you could buy five for two pennies!) yet Jesus said, '...not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it...the very hairs on your head are all numbered.' (Matthew 10:29-30 NLT) When you learn to trust God in little things, you'll be able to trust Him in big ones.

Aim and Keep Shooting

'...Strike the ground...' 2 Kings 13:18 NKJV

When the king of Israel needed a strategy for defeating the Syrians he turned to the prophet Elisha, who told him: 'Take a bow and some arrows.' 'So he took himself a bow and some arrows. Then he said to the king of Israel, Put your hand on the bow. So he put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king's hands. And he said, Open the east window, and he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot, and he shot. And he said, The arrow of the Lord's deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; for you must strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them. Then he said, Take the arrows, so he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, Strike the ground, so he struck three times, and stopped. And the man of God was angry with him, and said, You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now you will strike Syria only three times.' (2 Kings 15-19 NKJV)

What are you asking God to do? To save someone you love? To provide finances? To help you break a habit? To succeed in your career? Find out what He has promised you in His Word, and use those promises like arrows. Aim them at your problem, shoot, and keep shooting until God moves on your behalf. If this story teaches you anything, it's this: there are situations in life when faith and persistence not only determine your victory, but also the extent to which you win. So aim, shoot, and keep shooting!