Devotional
for the Week 18 June 2007
Let's
Pray
Scripture Text: Judges
6–7
These
days we live in a challenging world where both
pitfalls and opportunities abound. Thus for instance, where there
is evil, you will also find kindness.
We
also live in a changing world where the rules of
engagement have changed. Our personal and national security issues
are different as compared to that of 10 years ago. Our children
know the cost of everything but the value of nothing. They’re
not concerned about truth, but what works. Yet even in this climate,
we must have the courage to challenge this self-love and self-gratification.
Life
may be filled with many difficulties that we don’t understand.
These difficulties may cause us irrational fears which seek to cripple
us. What mountain are you facing now? What personal doubts or inabilities
are you nursing within yourself? What are the wounds in your heart?
The
truth is everyone has their own hurts and everyone goes through
difficult times. How we handle all of this makes the difference.
We must conquer our fears. To do this, we have to believe God in
his word. We must have
1.
The courage to believe in God (Judges 6:12,14,16)
2. The courage to take Action (Judges 6:25)
3. The courage to Change (Judges 7: 2-4)
4. The courage to Persevere (Judges 7:9,10)
Ultimately,
the way out of our fears, is the way inward. This inward journey
will lead us to believe in God, to believe in ourselves. When we
have courage in God, we can conquer all fears and face the demons
of our heart. And when we hit that crisis of belief, we must act
with faith and obedience because without faith it’s impossible
to please God.
The
act of obedience is a personal choice. When we are vulnerable it’s
a natural response to get support from as many people as we can.
We ask different people what we can do, and get just as many different
answers. Only God can give you Godly counsel. Our focus must be
on God.
If
we’ve been trampled upon in our lives and we seek to solve
the problem in our own way, it’s the worst thing we can do.
We must trust in God. As pre-believers we trusted in cash and credit
cards, as Christians we must transfer our trust to Jesus.
Return
to the passion of Christ and live courageously. Our courage is from
God: Choose to live in God’s courage!
Prayer response:
“Lord,
into your hands I commit myself again. Give me the strength and
conviction to live courageously. To face my fears by placing my
belief and trust in you. Help me Lord to walk in obedience. In all
my ways, let me acknowledge you so my path will be straight. In
Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Devotional
based on a message by Mrs Ann Chan, Associate Pastor/ Head of CG
Pillar , Covenant Evangelical Free Church