THE LORD IS YOUR BENEFACTOR
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because
the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and
daughters. But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord
his God. 1 Samuel 30:6 AMP
David was a worshiper. He praised God morning, noon, and night. He
praised Him in the good times and he praised Him in the tough times. He
trusted completely in the Lord at all times and in all things -
especially when he was under pressure. He reminded himself of what God
had promised; he reminded himself of what God had already done; he
reminded himself of what he was expecting God to do.
In you, O Lord, do I put my trust and confidently take refuge; let me
never be put to shame or confusion! 2 Deliver me in Your righteousness
and cause me to escape; bow down Your ear to me and save me! 3 Be to me
a rock of refuge in which to dwell, and a sheltering stronghold to
which I may continually resort, which You have appointed to save me,
for You are my Rock and my Fortress. 4 Rescue me, O my God, out of the
hand of the wicked, out of the grasp of the unrighteous and ruthless
man. 5 For You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my trust from my youth
and the source of my confidence. 6 Upon You have I leaned and relied
from birth; You are He Who took me from my mother's womb and You have
been my benefactor from that day. My praise is continually of You. 7 I
am as a wonder and surprise to many, but You are my strong refuge. 8 My
mouth shall be filled with Your praise and with Your honor all the
day. Psalms 71:1-8 AMP
When David was being persecuted and hunted down, accused and abused, he
did not trust the arm of the flesh; he did not trust his own wisdom or
ability; but he went straight to God and entreated Him to move on his
behalf and protect and deliver him. David believed that God was his
Rock and he expected God to be his Rock. He put all his hope, trust and
confidence in God. God was his hope and the source of his confidence.
David recognized God’s hand upon him from his birth. The Lord, alone,
was his benefactor – the One who met his every need. Even though people
did not think much of David, God did, and God promoted and blessed
David in the eyes of the nation. It’s not about who you are – it’s
about who is in you and for you that counts.
So many people allow what other people think of them to shape how they
see themselves. You will stay in bondage and live within limits so long
as you fear man and man’s opinions. You will have a breakthrough when
you realize that no man can promote you and no man can hold you back!
You need to find out what God says about you and break free from the
limits you have set for yourself because of other people’s limitations
and negative expectations.
God is your benefactor! He will bless you, protect you, provide for
you, and promote you. When other people see you rise up in wisdom and
into prominence and into prosperity, they might be shocked and amazed.
You may be the last person they expected to see raised up into
greatness – you may be a wonder and a surprise to many people – but it
is because you have made God your strong refuge; because you put your
hope and trust in Him alone. He is the source of your confidence. Most
people never do great things because they believe they can’t. Proverbs
23:7 says that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Some people say,
“You are what you eat.” The Bible says, “You are what you think!”
How do you break free from the limitations of mediocrity and the
bondage of self-doubt? Not just by believing in yourself. You need to
place your trust in God alone. He is your hope and your confidence.
When you press in to Him, when you stand on His word – receiving it for
yourself, believing it and acting on it – you will begin to rise up and
do things and say things that you would never have dared before. Your
confidence is not in the arm of the flesh, but in God Almighty! He is
the One who will lift you up; He is the One who will place your feet on
the rock; He is the One who will promote you and cause you to succeed.
You need to humble your heart before Him and don’t allow pride in your
success to puff you up. Never forget your benefactor; never neglect to
give Him the glory and the honor; never take the credit for yourself;
and He will continue to be your strong refuge. He will continue to
cause you to succeed in everything you put your hand to!
Recent:
Righteous Now
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP
“Therefore if any man be in Christ…” What does it mean to be “in Christ”? Galatians 3:27 says, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” You are baptized into Christ when you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” And Romans 10:13 says, “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The moment
Defeating Strife
These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19 AMP
Faith Facts
Faith is persistent
Luke 11:9-10 AMP
So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened.
John 16:24 AMP
Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as presenting all that I AM]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete.
Faith is single-minded
James 1:5-8 AMP
If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him. 6 Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the