THE RIGHTEOUS MAN FALLS SEVEN TIMES AND RISES AGAIN

From The Heart

Publish date: 07/20/2003

Many evils confront the [consistently] righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.  Psalms 34:19 AMP

We live in an imperfect world. As a result of man's sin and the devil's influence, this earth is full of sickness, disease and death. Sickness, disease and death don't discriminate – calamity is something that threatens everyone at different times in their lives. You will have many opportunities to be defeated by the things that go wrong in your life, and without God, you have no remedy. However, Jesus defeated the devil at Calvary, took away the keys of death, hell and the grave and then anointed the believers to walk in His authority, in His Name, on the earth! When you walk with God and call on Him out of a pure heart, He will deliver you from every situation that threatens you.

For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.  Proverbs 24:16 AMP

Everybody experiences challenges and opportunities to give up and be defeated. Sometimes life knocks you right down, but if God is on your side, it cannot knock you out! The wicked are overthrown and thoroughly defeated by calamities, but the righteous place their trust in God and they get back up on their feet again. The devil keeps swinging at the righteous – sometimes he misses, sometimes he lands a punch – but they just keep on getting back up and hitting him back!

Psalms 118:6 AMP says, "The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"  and Romans 8:31 AMP says, "What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] ." If you know that God is on your side, then you need have no fear. No man, no beast, no demon, no foe can successfully challenge you. God is bigger, mightier, and smarter than all of them! They have already lost before they began!

The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step]. 24 Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasps his hand in support and upholds him. 25 I have been young and now am old, yet have I not seen the [uncompromisingly] righteous forsaken or their seed begging bread. 26 All day long they are merciful and deal graciously; they lend, and their offspring are blessed. 27 Depart from evil and do good; and you will dwell forever [securely]. 28 For the Lord delights in justice and forsakes not His saints; they are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked [in time] shall be cut off. 29[Then] the [consistently] righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.  Psalms 37:23-29 AMP

The Lord is always close to the good man, who delights in God and God delights in him. Even when he stumbles, the Lord grabs his hand and helps him back to his feet. The wicked will not be around forever, but the righteous endure and are blessed now and forever.

The eyes of the Lord are toward the [uncompromisingly] righteous and His ears are open to their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their distress and troubles. 18 The Lord is close to those who are of a broken heart and saves such as are crushed with sorrow for sin and are humbly and thoroughly penitent.  Psalms 34:15-18 AMP

Just like a loving mother carefully watches over her precious baby, the Lord is always watching over His humble, righteous ones and He hears them in the moment that they cry out to Him. When they cry for help, He hears and delivers them out of all their distress and troubles!

It is better to trust and take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in man. 9 It is better to trust and take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.  Psalms 118:8-9 AMP

Don't put your trust in the arm of man. God is the only One Who will never let you down in your hour of need. King David faced many "giants" in his life besides Goliath and God delivered him every time because David trusted in Him.

This should be your faith confession and your confident declaration:

But as for me, I will look to the Lord and confident in Him I will keep watch; I will wait with hope and expectancy for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. 8 Rejoice not against me, O my enemy! When I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light to me.  Micah 7:7-9 AMP

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