F4S: Feelin' Down? How Far Down.. On To Your Knees Down?

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Feelin' Down? How Far Down.. On To Your Knees Down?



“For some reason God will no longer respond in the affirmative to my prayers” — but that’s a lie from the pit, Buckeroo! 

Ever felt kind of discouraged and then grown even more discouraged inside.. because you’ve prayed about the same thing over and over again? I have before and have to fight discouragement. 

I want to say to online and off-line Christian missionaries.. Pray the word to fight it off. 

Get the doubt out. Simply, fervently, specifically.. pray believing! Bro, sis, keep on goin'.  

Listen, if you’re not careful that discouragement can get you believing the lie that God will no longer come through for you. 

He said He’d meet all your needs, that He’d never leave you or forsake you. Prayerfully repeat those verses that say so. Remind yourself — fight off all discouragement and build up your faith.  

Tough stuff happens to discourage.. both decent and bad people down here. You’ve seen it happen. 

Keep on praying to the Father in the Name of the Son. Press in and keep on asking. And if none are there to encourage you about your walk and prayer-life, then please encourage yourself in this. Remember how King David used to encourage himself in the Lord when he was feeling down?  

“And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. 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.” 1 Sam. 30:5–6 nkjv

“…all of them were embittered, each man for his sons and daughters. But David felt strengthened and encouraged in the Lord his God.” amp

Have you ever prayed wholeheartedly for someone, for something ..that you believed was the will of God, and then seen nothing happen. You asked, but received nothing in response but what seemed like an apparent icy silence from heaven? 

Perhaps you were praying for the salvation of a sibling, or a son or daughter. Maybe you prayed asking God to send a real revival in your church accompanied by a biblical awakening in your community. Have you prayed for your state and nation like that saying let me somehow be involved in that.. and yet you’re still waiting on the Lord. 

I encourage you to throw off the lies of the enemy and praise the Lord that He did hear you. Ask and keep on asking. We don’t hear about persistence in prayer and intercession as much as we need to these days — this is so important!

Am musing on Matthew 15, where a mother refused to give up. She wouldn’t quit, but she kept on asking Jesus to simply heal her daughter. 

It is a story that encourages mothers..even Gentile moms. 

Go reread the story. These words give hope to us concerned parents! Jesus is so uplifting for all mothers who care about the well-being of their children. He always has been that way. 

This inspired story serves as a reminder to us that often times apparent barriers are really just bridges into new realms of victory and joy.

Did Christ at first put this woman off? Did he flatout rebuff her request? I would appear that way. 

Perhaps the King of all kings and his team just didn’t surplus time for this non-Jewish lady in need?..NOPE, NOT AT ALL THE CASE! 

Jesus really loved her gobs.. like He does you! Check it out… 

“And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.’ But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she cries out after us.’ But He answered and said, ‘I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me!’” Matt. 15:22–25

So what was going on here? Jesus was not trying to extinguish her level of faith. He was basically trying to kindle that spark in her. He was going to stoke the flame bigger inside of her. Yep, Christ sought to develop her faith even more. 

Jesus never tries to make a person’s life harder — that’s not scripturally accurate according to His kind nature.. nor does He look to make their specific situation super challenging to bear. Won't give you more than you can handle, beloved child of God! He leads and feeds like a gentle Shepherd. 

He’s never been that way wanting to make life more difficult for you. 

Christ was trying to draw her our and her faith out. He as God knows the future — he knew she would overcome all barriers between her and a real breakthrough that was needed. 
Image may contain: possible text that says 'ITOOK MY TROUBLES TO THE LORD; I CRIED OUT TO HIM, AND He ANSWERED MY PRAYER. PSALM 120:1 NLT AIR1'

God saw her faith and He really longed to bless and commend her for that.
Who was this woman? This was a Canaanite gal of the Syro-Phoenician race. Coming from this background meant she’d basically lived as a worshiper of pagan deities. Listen, if a person lives like that there’s a good chance you’ll get disillusioned with those fake gods. She probably did too. 

Here she came seeking Jesus to find out more. She was seeking the one Living God. 

I like how she wasn’t demanding anything from God with some attitude of entitlement. No, she was actually crying to Him for mercy and grace.

Think about it. Decent mothers are supposed to care about and involve themselves in the wellbeing of their own kids. And her daughter really needed her to act as an advocate for her at that time. 

What would you do if Jesus was passing through the neighborhood and your kid had somehow come under the power of real demon spirits? 

Could it be that the daughter’s pagan mother’s involvement in all that previous spiritual weirdness… had majorly ill affected her? 

Bible Verses About Faith: Bible verses about faith. The Lord is faithful and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
I’ve personally been invited over to visit homes in North Texas where I’ve seen many little idols and cultic books on shelves. The parents were sincerely asking me to come over for prayer, saying they wanted the demons kicked out of their home. Kind of a different request, but they’d been experiencing strange things in the night. I gently witnessed, led em to Jesus, prayed for them, and then real practical .. told em to get rid of all that worthless junk. 

May I ask? How has your life influenced those under your roof. How has your habits and history influenced your own children? 

Do you ever watch Cops? It’s one of my wife’s favorite shows. They always ask about pass arrests cuz they know.. past behavior can be a good predictor of future behavior. 

Oftentimes crimes and sins in our society can be passed from generation to generation due to the influence of loved ones. Doesn’t have to end up like that. God can break the cycle — yes, easily He can break that lame cycle of sin.
This mother was casting herself on Christ’s mercy and Jesus wasn’t really heartless at all. He was very caring instead of uncaring — He still is that way. 
Sure Jesus tested her faith by setting up a series of barriers. Sometimes the hardest response to accept is “no” response from the Lord. Was that what she would have to live with? 

“But He answered and said, ‘It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.’ And she said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus answered and said to her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” Mat 15:26–28

It is so tough when we don’t hear a “YES” from God. It can seem brutal when God does not give us a “yes indeed” my son or daughter. You know that in love He answers every prayer with a “yes” or a “no,” or a “wait”. 

Christ has compassion for you and your family. Yes, you. He has compassion on the multitudes and still works miracles to bless people. 

So many need the Lord today — never has there been a time where more people have needed Him! Whosoever will can come to Him as they are.. and He will open arms receive and help em. I say come to Him with reverence and candor. Come back to Him if you’ve backslidden. 

Keep on praying, keep on asking, keep on seeking the Lord. Don’t get weary in well-doing today. Don’t let your discouragement lead you on into believing the lie of the devil that says: God no longer cares about you at all cuz you’ve been too bad and therefore He won’t even respond to any of your prayers from here on out. 

Is God concerned about me and my family? Yup! Has He forsaken or forgotten about me or them? NOPE! 

Jesus was trying to draw this woman out — it was no brush-off. 

Please continue to be persistent, and not let go of Jesus.

When the door was shut in this mother’s face, she just kept knocking on it. This woman would not allow herself to become discouraged. 

What kind of faith do we need? This kind that the woman expressed for her daughter’s sake. 

When we are praying for something Never give up on Jesus cuz He will never give up on you. He will finish what He has begun in you. 

Maybe you, like this woman, know what it’s like to have a child who is under the devil’s influence. He or she has rejected your influence, at least for now. Don’t give up, and don’t feel like God has abandoned you or failed you. Keep praying. Your children can escape your presence, but they cannot escape your prayers.

As a busy society and culture, it goes against the grain to have quiet time with God. Yet, he whispers to our hearts that if we do this, it is #inhispresence that we will find strength. Jesus, let us seek you today in quiet moments of holy hush that we might glean energy for the day and live in your way. Isaiah 30:15-18 for today's#biblereading
Make it your aim to find out the will of God (which will always agree with the written Word of God) and then earnestly pray accordingly. Don't give up. Just get in the will of God--that's where the blessing is and worship Him. Then help others get in the will of God for them.

Never forget, prayer is not getting your will done in heaven. It is getting God’s will done on earth. 

What do you really want today? Salvation for your parent, your wife, or your son? Keep on asking. Never interpret a delay from God and His indifference towards you. Choose to get down on your knees again and express some honest persistent faith.. in Jesus’ Name. Facebook.com/shareJesus