Hello my dear friends! As I write to you today I am reminded of how difficult life is for so many people. There are many "wars and rumors of war" taking place all over the world. Many of these wars are causing great suffering to those who are innocent. In many cases, it seems that they have no hope at all. Would you pray with me, especially for the Church in the middle east, that in spite of the conflict, God would comfort His dear children and the Church of Jesus Christ would grow.
Many of us are far removed from the kind of war that uses bombs and guns. In our case, we have our own kind of war going on that is just as lethal: the war that goes on in our mind. Today's Psalms of Discipleship offers us a wonderful and effective tool for the disciple who goes into battle: finding our refuge in the Lord.
The battle is the Lord's.
Praying for you. Thanks for praying for me.
Denny
Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #10
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: 1 In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed; In Your righteousness deliver me. 2 Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly; Be to me a rock of strength, A stronghold to save me. 3 For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name's sake You will lead me and guide me. Psalm 31:1-3
Core Value: Prayer
Is it ever a good decision to retreat during the heat of battle? It depends. Do you have the advantage or are you outnumbered and out-flanked? There are many who foolishly fight their own battles on their own, depending upon their human wit, wisdom, and will. They mistake an “open door” as a sign that signals an easy victory is on the way. Trusting in themselves, they become exposed to the fatal dangers of being overly self-confident.
We can find ourselves in a variety of conflicts. There are those unrelenting temptations that never seem to go away. We appear to always be fighting a battle that has no end in sight. There is also the battlefield of spiritual warfare where we find ourselves in the middle of a cosmic conflict where our carnal weapons have no power. Then, there is probably the most difficult conflict of them all. It is true when the comic strip character Pogo says, “We have met the enemy . . . and he is us.” In the heat of this battle (and the others), we need to retreat and seek immediate refuge in the Lord. To put it another way, we need to find our strength to fight today’s battles in the strength of the Lord. When we are tired of fighting and are weary of life, what are we to do? The prophet Isaiah offers this wonderful perspective:
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. | He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. | Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, | Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:28-31 (NASB95)
Principle #10 & Personal Application: The quality disciple retreats to the safest place in the world by taking refuge in the Lord.
When we take refuge in the Lord:
• We will never be ashamed
• We will be delivered by His righteousness
• We will be rescued by Him
• We will discover that He is a rock of strength and a stronghold to save
• We will experience the Lord as a rock and fortress
• We will have the comfort of knowing that He will lead and guide (for His name’s sake)
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
How do I take the practical steps that will lead me to take refuge in the Lord?
How do these wonderful promises help me cope with the difficulties that I face?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, in You, I take refuge. Let me never be ashamed. In Your righteousness, deliver me. Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly; be to me a rock of strength, a stronghold to save me. For You are my Rock and my Fortress; for Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.
www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/
Note: Looking for a way to enhance your devotional life in 2011? Allow me to suggest purchasing a copy of Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace. You can order your copy for only $15.99 (a $4 savings!). If you would like to have a devotional book that also serves as a spiritual life journal as well as a unique 21 point Bible study and personal assessment on grace, follow this link to my website where you can download a FREE SAMPLE at,
http://www.dennybates.com/Home/PODGIG.html
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