Our Greatest Strength
Everything looked bleak to David and his men when they arrived at Ziklag (1 Sam. 30:1-6). The Amalekites had attacked the city and taken their wives and children captive.the men were so discouraged that they wept until they had no more energy. And David, their leader, was “greatly distressed” because the people were contemplating stoning him.
In the end, David’s army rescued their families and defeated the Amalekites. But the story takes a great turn even before that when “David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.
The text doesn’t say exactly how David did this. But it makes me wonder, In what ways can we strengthen, encourage, or refresh ourselves in the Lord when we’re feeling discouraged?
First, we can remember what God has done. We can list the ways He has cared for us in the past, and how He has provided for us or answered a prayer request.
Second, we can remember what God has promised. “Be strong and of good courage; … for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Josh. 1:9).
Like David, let’s learn to strengthen ourselves in the Lord, and then let’s leave the rest with Him.
Our greatest strength is often shown in our ability to stand still and trust God.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
You must know..
5 types of people in the world:
1. Those with NO dream.
2. Those with LOW dream
3. Those with WRONG dream.
4. Those with VAGUE dream.
5. Those with GOD’s dream.
The 5 dream-busters in life:
1. FAMILY can be a dream-buster.
2. FRIENDS can be dream-busters.
3. FATIGUE can be a dream-buster.
4. FAILURE can be a dream-buster.
5. FEAR can be a dream-buster
1. Those with NO dream.
2. Those with LOW dream
3. Those with WRONG dream.
4. Those with VAGUE dream.
5. Those with GOD’s dream.
The 5 dream-busters in life:
1. FAMILY can be a dream-buster.
2. FRIENDS can be dream-busters.
3. FATIGUE can be a dream-buster.
4. FAILURE can be a dream-buster.
5. FEAR can be a dream-buster
Learn from a failure
Failure can be a dangerous dream-buster.
In 1959, there was an American Air Force major who was admitted to a mental hospital.
He was a chronic alcoholic + his marriage had broken up years earlier.
He had attempted suicide twice.
He was already arrested for robbery + forgery.
However, only 14 years earlier, he was one of the smartest, brightest rising stars in the US Air Force.
What happened?
Well, 14 years earlier in 1945, he was the one who dropped the 1st atomic bomb at Hiroshima.
The feeling of being responsible for the death of 1,000's of Japanese plunged him into guilt, failure + depression.
Friends, failure is never final + failure is never fatal.
A champion is not someone who never falls ... a champion is someone who never quits!
Just because you failed once doesn’t mean you must give up on your dreams!
Maybe some of you have gotten all excited about a dream, a relationship, a business.
You went after it + fell flat on your face ... you bombed out!
So what do you do? Try a new approach ... go correct the problem!
The Bible teaches us to always build on our hopes ... not on our hurts.
Your disappointment can become your new appointment.
Your tombstone can become your new stepping stone.
Your stumbling block can become your new starting block.
You build your dreams on the future, not on the past.
The past is over, you can’t change that.
Some of you had a dream for a happy marriage and it failed.
Don’t say, “I’ll never be happy again!” Build on your hopes ... not on your hurts.
In 1959, there was an American Air Force major who was admitted to a mental hospital.
He was a chronic alcoholic + his marriage had broken up years earlier.
He had attempted suicide twice.
He was already arrested for robbery + forgery.
However, only 14 years earlier, he was one of the smartest, brightest rising stars in the US Air Force.
What happened?
Well, 14 years earlier in 1945, he was the one who dropped the 1st atomic bomb at Hiroshima.
The feeling of being responsible for the death of 1,000's of Japanese plunged him into guilt, failure + depression.
Friends, failure is never final + failure is never fatal.
A champion is not someone who never falls ... a champion is someone who never quits!
Just because you failed once doesn’t mean you must give up on your dreams!
Maybe some of you have gotten all excited about a dream, a relationship, a business.
You went after it + fell flat on your face ... you bombed out!
So what do you do? Try a new approach ... go correct the problem!
The Bible teaches us to always build on our hopes ... not on our hurts.
Your disappointment can become your new appointment.
Your tombstone can become your new stepping stone.
Your stumbling block can become your new starting block.
You build your dreams on the future, not on the past.
The past is over, you can’t change that.
Some of you had a dream for a happy marriage and it failed.
Don’t say, “I’ll never be happy again!” Build on your hopes ... not on your hurts.
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