In An Upside-Down World

Sometimes our once bubbly effervescent faith becomes a deflated helium balloon. You’ve seen it before, faith that scuttles along, dragging itself from here to there as the wind blows. But, wait a minute! We are anchored in Christ through faith and the Word of God and this week our Devotional Team will remind us of some fundamental truths in God’s Word from this week’s topic, “Discouragement.” This scripture is a keeper, so commit it to memory!!!!

Running the race set before us with endurance; laying aside every weight and the sin that easily ensnares us and looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith – WHEW!! Living in an upside-down world in which all believers are in an Extreme Makeover Edition of the heart we can conclude that God has not finished with us yet. We can choose to throw in the spiritual towel or keep pressing on. (Philippians 3:14) Discouragement will come through things sent by God or allowed by God in order that we might know Him in the fellowship of His suffering and the power of His resurrection. (Philippians 3:10)

Mary of Bethany could have allowed the negativism of the disciples to discourage her from anointing the feet of her Jesus, but she cared more about expressing her love for Jesus than their criticism. The Samaritan woman did not allow her previous lifestyle to discourage her from proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus. And Joseph did not allow his trials to determine the perfecting of God’s will for his life. The cloud of witnesses and even your own life is a testimony of God’s faithfulness and our yieldedness in our times of discouragement.

Remember: optimists and pessimists contribute to society. Proof? The optimist invents the airplane, and the pessimist invents the parachute. I Peter 5:10 says “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered awhile, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”

Prayer: Lord I’m yours!! Break me, Melt me, Mold me, and Fill me so that You can Use me for Your Glory!! Empty me to Fill me so that You can Fill me to Empty me!!
By Sis. Cheryl Torain