02-06-2020, 03:51 PM
CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH
THE LIVING WATER {Jan ~June, 2020}
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Thursday, February 6, 2020
TOPIC: DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED
Read 1 Samuel 30:1-7
1. And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;
2. And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.
3. So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.
4. Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
5. And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
6. And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
7. And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.
MEMORISE: Look, the Lord your God has set the Land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged (Deuteronomy 1:21)
EXPOSITION
On most cases, God will show you where He is taking you, but He will not show you what He will bring you through. This has been God's normal way of dealing with His own children. When God wanted to bring His people out of the land of Egypt, He showed them the picture of the Land He was bringing them to - the land flowing with milk and honey, but He did not show them what they were going to pass through. God refused to show them what they would pass through along the way, so that they would not be discouraged from the beginning of the journey.
God showed Joseph the picture of the future He had for him, in his dreams, but decided not to show him the hardship and bitterness he had to pass through, in the midst of the journey, before arriving his destination (or destiny). Imagine how Joseph would react in the early stage of his life, if God had revealed to him how his brothers would treat him, the evil things his boss' wife would do to him, and how he would land in the prison, unjustly.
As God spoke to the children of Israel then, His voice is being directed to you now, that you should encourage yourself in the Lord, as David did (1 Sam. 30:6).
God has set a particular land before you, too. You will surely get there, but not without serious challenges on the way. In fact, only champions are challenged. So, never be discouraged with all you are, or would still be going through on the way to your own promised land.
The Lord who promised to take you to the Promised Land will surely get you there. Just hold on to Him.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Father, help me to overcome whatever Satan uses to discourage me in life.
2. I refuse to be discouraged in all the good things I lay my hand upon, in Jesus' name.
3. Lord, strengthen the missionaries to overcome all discouragements on the mission fields.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Exodus 28 - 29 & Mark 10
Author: C.A.C WORLDWIDE
Remain blessed!
THE LIVING WATER {Jan ~June, 2020}
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Thursday, February 6, 2020
TOPIC: DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED
Read 1 Samuel 30:1-7
1. And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;
2. And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.
3. So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.
4. Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
5. And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
6. And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
7. And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.
MEMORISE: Look, the Lord your God has set the Land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged (Deuteronomy 1:21)
EXPOSITION
On most cases, God will show you where He is taking you, but He will not show you what He will bring you through. This has been God's normal way of dealing with His own children. When God wanted to bring His people out of the land of Egypt, He showed them the picture of the Land He was bringing them to - the land flowing with milk and honey, but He did not show them what they were going to pass through. God refused to show them what they would pass through along the way, so that they would not be discouraged from the beginning of the journey.
God showed Joseph the picture of the future He had for him, in his dreams, but decided not to show him the hardship and bitterness he had to pass through, in the midst of the journey, before arriving his destination (or destiny). Imagine how Joseph would react in the early stage of his life, if God had revealed to him how his brothers would treat him, the evil things his boss' wife would do to him, and how he would land in the prison, unjustly.
As God spoke to the children of Israel then, His voice is being directed to you now, that you should encourage yourself in the Lord, as David did (1 Sam. 30:6).
God has set a particular land before you, too. You will surely get there, but not without serious challenges on the way. In fact, only champions are challenged. So, never be discouraged with all you are, or would still be going through on the way to your own promised land.
The Lord who promised to take you to the Promised Land will surely get you there. Just hold on to Him.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Father, help me to overcome whatever Satan uses to discourage me in life.
2. I refuse to be discouraged in all the good things I lay my hand upon, in Jesus' name.
3. Lord, strengthen the missionaries to overcome all discouragements on the mission fields.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Exodus 28 - 29 & Mark 10
Author: C.A.C WORLDWIDE
Remain blessed!