‘I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord…’ Psalm 27:13 NIV
In sport, the opposing team takes note of the really good players and makes sure they are marked [watched] by their best defenders at all times. So the attack you’re experiencing right now could be an indication of your value to God. Paul wrote, ‘I have… been in danger from rivers, thieves, my own people, the Jews, and those who are not Jews. I have been in danger in cities… and on the sea and… with false Christians. I have done hard and tiring work, and many times I did not sleep. I have been hungry and thirsty… cold and without clothes. Besides all this, there is on me every day the load of my concern for all the churches.’ (2 Corinthians 11:26–28 NCV) How did Paul handle these experiences? By ‘forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.’ (Philippians 3:13 NLT) Now, Paul didn’t forget any of it; he could remember names, places, faces, and even wrote it down. But here’s the difference: he refused to let what was done to him affect his outlook. That’s the attitude you need! When your desire to go forward becomes greater than the memories of your past, you’ll begin to live again. ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish…’ (Proverbs 29:18 KJV) Until you have a vision of tomorrow, you’ll live in yesterday’s struggles. The very fact that God is putting desire back into your spirit means that better days are coming! So rise up and say with the Psalmist, ‘I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.’
SoulFood: Gal 1–3, Luke 17:20–37, Ps 119:145–160, Pro 19:1–2
The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©