12-13-2018, 05:53 PM
THE LIVING WATER
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Thursday, December 13, 2018
TOPIC: AGENTS OF DISCOURAGEMENT
Read: Psalm 43:1-5
[1]Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.[2]For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?[3]O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.[4]Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.[5]Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
MEMORISE: For You are the God of my strength; Why do You cast me off? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? (Psalm 43:2).
EXPOSITION
It is often easy to trace discouragement back to its apparent cause, such as a criticism at work or a relationship issue. But there can be subtle, less obvious factors that are valuable to understand. So let us look at some spiritual components this day:
Satan: He is our arch-enemy and the primary instigator. His purpose is to have us lose heart, think poorly of ourselves, and focus only on the negative.
An area of weakness: When the devil has a stronghold in our lives, such as a tenacious habit, he can use it to discourage us. This can be especially disheartening because it feels as if we cannot escape his grip, no matter what we do.
Unanswered prayer: When some people receive “no” or “not now” for answer to their prayers, they can choose to lose hope or be discouraged. Sadly, some people will quit praying altogether.
Prayelessness: Failure to understand God’s sovereignty and timing can lead to this tragic result. When He answers prayer in an unexpected way, some believers are so taken aback or irritated that they give up on praying altogether. However, cutting off communication with the Lord is a sure way to move into deeper discouragement.
The sense that you cannot please God: This is a tragic consequence of work-based faith wherein we believe God’s favour is tied to our good works. What a misguided error! Our Father’s love is based on His own grace, not our deeds.
It can be surprising to realize that these spiritual factors may be adding to our discouragement and further draining our joy and energy. Identifying these causes is crucial, even if the process in painful. Once we clearly identify the problem, we can begin to learn how to avoid or correct these trouble areas.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Every devices of Satan to discourage me, catch the fire of God, in Jesus’ name.
2. Everyone that discouragement had drained their joy and energy, Lord, come to their aid, today, for total restoration.
3. Every stronghold of devil on my life, be set ablaze by the fire of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Hosea 3 -7
Author: CAC WORLDWIDE
Remain Blessed!
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Thursday, December 13, 2018
TOPIC: AGENTS OF DISCOURAGEMENT
Read: Psalm 43:1-5
[1]Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.[2]For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?[3]O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.[4]Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.[5]Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
MEMORISE: For You are the God of my strength; Why do You cast me off? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? (Psalm 43:2).
EXPOSITION
It is often easy to trace discouragement back to its apparent cause, such as a criticism at work or a relationship issue. But there can be subtle, less obvious factors that are valuable to understand. So let us look at some spiritual components this day:
Satan: He is our arch-enemy and the primary instigator. His purpose is to have us lose heart, think poorly of ourselves, and focus only on the negative.
An area of weakness: When the devil has a stronghold in our lives, such as a tenacious habit, he can use it to discourage us. This can be especially disheartening because it feels as if we cannot escape his grip, no matter what we do.
Unanswered prayer: When some people receive “no” or “not now” for answer to their prayers, they can choose to lose hope or be discouraged. Sadly, some people will quit praying altogether.
Prayelessness: Failure to understand God’s sovereignty and timing can lead to this tragic result. When He answers prayer in an unexpected way, some believers are so taken aback or irritated that they give up on praying altogether. However, cutting off communication with the Lord is a sure way to move into deeper discouragement.
The sense that you cannot please God: This is a tragic consequence of work-based faith wherein we believe God’s favour is tied to our good works. What a misguided error! Our Father’s love is based on His own grace, not our deeds.
It can be surprising to realize that these spiritual factors may be adding to our discouragement and further draining our joy and energy. Identifying these causes is crucial, even if the process in painful. Once we clearly identify the problem, we can begin to learn how to avoid or correct these trouble areas.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Every devices of Satan to discourage me, catch the fire of God, in Jesus’ name.
2. Everyone that discouragement had drained their joy and energy, Lord, come to their aid, today, for total restoration.
3. Every stronghold of devil on my life, be set ablaze by the fire of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Hosea 3 -7
Author: CAC WORLDWIDE
Remain Blessed!