(Prov 24:10-12 GNB) If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small. Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die; save them as they stagger to their death. Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” For God understands all hearts, and He sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.
This morning we continue our series, “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.” This is the 25th Saying: Description and Admonition on Helping Others. I see two separate things here that I want to highlight: your ability to stand and the courage to stand-up. Today we will cover the first, which says, “If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.” Another translation of this verse reads: “If you are weak in a crisis, you are weak indeed.” I believe this verse is very apropos for today’s environment. Many today are under the most pressure of their lives. The state of the economy has had second and third order physical, social, emotional and psychological effects in people’s lives. These are hard times for many, but for the believer, hard times are no excuse for quitting. No matter how hard the times get, we must never lose hope, never allow our head to fall, never lose the grip we have on our faith, and never stop pressing forward towards God’s ultimate destination for our lives. We are not quitters, we are fighters, and by-faith we believe that we win every fight!
So what does this mean to you today? To answer this question I will share a few nuggets from the “Warrior Spirit” series:
1. You can handle it! The mere fact that you are facing the challenge is evidence that you can handle it, because the Father would not have allowed you to face it otherwise. He will not allow you to face more than you can bear. So be encouraged, the Father trusts you with it! Now make Him proud by refusing to give up!
2. Never quit. James said, “Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You’ve heard, of course, of Job’s staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end” (5:10,11). Paul said, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” (Gal 6:9). Simply put, warriors refuse to quit!
3. Don’t lose your confidence: The writer of Hebrews said, “Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward. For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised” (10:35,36). Faith is all about your confidence in God and His Word. Once you lose your confidence it is only a matter of time before you drift into fear, doubt, and unbelief. Once you get into fear, doubt, and unbelief you will not be able to stand very long. Once you can no longer stand, you will make fear-filled (and not faith-filled) decisions.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for helping me to develop a strong/warrior spirit. I declare, by faith, that I will never quit. No matter what I face on the road to Your expected end for my life, I will face it head-on, in faith, and with complete confidence. I trust in You with my whole heart and I am not afraid. Fear has no power over me. I feed my faith and starve my doubts daily and my steady diet of Your Word enables me to have STAYING POWER – to stand even when I don’t feel like standing! I am in this thing to the end and I am determined to enjoy the ride. I am strong in Your Grace. Your grace enables me to do what I could never do all alone. You are on me, in me, with me, and for me! Glory! I am excited about today and my future! If I encounter a hindrance, I overcome it. If I run into a stumbling block, I turn it into a stepping stone. Nothing can stop me, because my God is with me! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
