Today we continue our new series entitled, “Press through it!”
We have been walking our way through the following passage for about a week now. Let’s go back to it today.
“We have this treasure from God, but we are only like clay jars that hold the treasure. This is to show that the amazing power we have is from God, not from us. We have troubles all around us, but we are not defeated. We often don’t know what to do, but we don’t give up. We are persecuted, but God does not leave us. We are hurt sometimes, but we are not destroyed. So we constantly experience the death of Jesus in our own bodies, but this is so that the life of Jesus can also be seen in our bodies. We are alive, but for Jesus we are always in danger of death, so that the life of Jesus can be seen in our bodies that die.”
(2 Corinthians 4:7-11 ERV)
Today I will focus in on this line: “We are persecuted, but God does not leave us.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. The psalmist told us that our God is “our refuge and strength.” He went on to say that God is, “an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1). God didn’t promise a life without trouble. But He did promise that we would never have to face the trouble alone. His presence brings with it His peace, power and protection.
2. David talked about walking through the valley of the shadow of death. David acknowledged that God did not promise us a life free of valley experiences. But he did promise to walk through the valley with us. Whether the valley experience came as a result of satan’s attack or your stupidity, God is still committed to walking through the valley with you. He will never leave or forsake you.
3. The Apostle Paul told us that anyone who chooses to live Godly will suffer persecution (2 Tim 3:12). The Passion Bible translation of that verse reads, “For all who choose to live passionately and faithfully as worshipers of Jesus, the Anointed One, will also experience persecution.” If you choose to stand for what God stands for, to believe what He believes about you, and to live committed to His ways in the earth, you will experience persecution; especially in today’s society. But the good news is that you will not face it alone. God is IN you and He will always be with you. He will give you the words to say, He will lead you concerning what to do, and He will give you peace, on the inside, no matter what is going on, on the outside.
4. We live in a society where everything goes now. People claim to be tolerant of any and all beliefs, but that is only true for those who are not Christians. Society wants us to tolerate things that do not line up with God or His Word, but they have no tolerance for us. That’s okay. You don’t have to allow yourself to be moved by their opposition. Their poison cannot stop your purpose. God is with you. He is committed to you. He will never turn His back on you. And He will never allow someone’s attack to succeed against you to the point where it can derail you from your destiny. So keep pressing. Keep believing. Keep doing what God called you to do. God is with you whithersoever you go!
5. God is committed to you for the long haul. Even when the pressure you are facing came as a result of your poor decisions, God will never turn His back on you. If He did, you would never recover. The good news is that He never will. He is actually more committed to you than you are committed to you. That’s good news!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I thank You for always being with me. You are committed to me and to the plans You made for me before the world began. You will never change Your mind towards me. You will never turn Your back on me. When this world persecutes me for believing what You believe, You are always there with me. Even when I am reaping a bad harvest on a poor decision I made, You are still there. Your presence brings with it Your power, Your protection and Your peace. I can walk through the valley of the shadow of death and PRESS THROUGH the valley, because You are with me every step of the way! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
