Over the years when difficult times have come in my life, I had to stop and encourage myself in THE LORD. I believe this will be critical for us to understand and utilize in coming months and years. Before any major event where FATHER is manifesting HIS plan, the adversary will attempt to derail you. You will be challenged, frustrated, and if possible, become hopeless. When you find yourself in this situation, encourage yourself in THE LORD. In 1st Samuel chapter 30, David is confronted with such a situation:
1 Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire,
2 and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way.
3 So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive.
4 Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
5 And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive.
6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.
Here we have the people who had no more strength or power to even weep! David’s wives had been taken captive and now the people wanted to stone him… not a good day. What was David to do? In our darkest and most challenging times we need to stop and get quiet before FATHER. We need to recount all of HIS past blessings in our life. What is my purpose and has it been completed? Why are all these bad things happening to me? Does FATHER really Love me? Absolutely!
Just before a major breakthrough, the enemy will try to take a preemptive strike against us and we see this theme time and time again throughout Scripture. FATHER sent an angel unto Mary expressing the calling of Jesus Who would soon be formed in her womb. In Luke chapter 1:
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.
30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.
32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
What a blessing this was for Mary, to carry the Son of GOD in her womb! However, once Jesus was born all hell would break loose. King Herod heard of this Divine event and attempted a preemptive strike hoping to stop the fulfillment of Jesus’ calling. In Matthew chapter 2:
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.
…and…
19 Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.”
If the calling of Our Lord Jesus Christ would be challenged by the adversary, don’t you think yours will be too? Your Divine appointment will be challenged and you can expect resistance to the fulfillment of your calling. Be encouraged that FATHER will send forth whoever or whatever is necessary for its fulfillment. Spend time recounting past blessings where HE intervened in your life. Spend time in gratitude for simply being alive at this very hour. Know that HE put you here for a reason and look to HIM to fulfill every need required for your calling to come forth to full maturity.
No matter how bleak things look, the universe continues to expand and the resources of Heaven have not been depleted. We must individually encourage ourselves just like David did and know that FATHER is with us and if HE is for us, who can be against us. Do not be dismayed by the things you see for they are subject to change. They are temporal in nature. FATHER’S Love for you and me is greater than any attempt by the adversary to derail the fulfillment of our purpose here on earth. Encourage yourself with Psalm 103 just as David did?
Psalm 103:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.