Hurting

Even When I Walk Through a Very Dark Valley…


“Even though I walk through the darkest valley…”
(Psalm 23:4 – NRSA)

We are familiar with the signs that read, “You are Here”. All of us from time to time have found ourselves in a place where we have stood, wondering how to get from where we were to a better place. Some places have intimidating entrances, looming large as we enter. David, the psalmist, had great experiences with entering dark caves and weathering valleys. (Suddenly, he’s no longer just a character in the Bible, but someone we can identify with.) For years he was chased by king Saul. Those were uncertain years for David. He wrote in I Sam. 20:30 – “There is a step between me and death.” His visibility had diminished to what he could only see close around him. It was like a deep fog that surrounded him and there seemed to be no clearing to any brighter path. It was in that moment that he learned God from the shadows. In this deep darkness he sensed there was no need to be afraid — God was with him! David had great experiences with God, with a lion and a bear, and men similar to Saul.
Somewhere between here and there, the way to our destination is lined with uncertainties, doubts, and things that challenge us to fear. God is with us! He has never taken His eyes off of us — not for one moment. It takes being in a dark place to bring this truth to light. On the other hand, many of us are facing somewhere between here and where the enemy tries to tell us we will wind up being.  He often tries to project our future from where we currently stand. He mockingly tells us, “you are here and this is where you are headed!” Job, no doubt, was faced with similar voices after having lost so much. His response was, “He [God] knows the way I take; when He has tried me I will come forth as gold (Job 23:10). So — there is an intervening period — something that happens in the mean time! It takes place before the outcome of what has been negatively predicted. God is continually in that interim — watching and moving as we travel through the darkness.
We are somewhere between the place we have started and a destination. The forecast can be bleak, but God is familiar with each valley. While we travel, our destination is to see Jesus and to enter into a place of finality. He is the one who has gone on before us and now ever lives to make intercessions for us. Fear not little flock, it is our Father’s pleasure to give us the kingdom!

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Depression and the Bible. Seeking God for Deliverance!


– Deliverance from Depression –


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FIGHT BACK BY CONSTANTLY
QUOTING THESE VERSES!

5 Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence. 6 O my God, my soul is in despair within me; Therefore I remember You from the land of the Jordan And the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls; All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me. 8 The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night, A prayer to the God of my life.
(Psalms 42:5-8)

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6 Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.
(I Samuel 30:1-6)

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3 But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. 4 I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill.
(Psalms 3:3-4)

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1 I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.
(Psalms 40:1-3)

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1 Hear my cry, O God; Give heed to my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
(Psalms 61:1-2)

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1 I love the LORD, because He hears My voice and my supplications. 2 Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live. 3 The cords of death encompassed me And the terrors of Sheol came upon me; I found distress and sorrow. 4 Then I called upon the name of the LORD: “O LORD, I beseech You, save my life!” 5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate. 6 The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. 7 Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. 8 For You have rescued my soul from death, My eyes from tears, My feet from stumbling.
(Psalms 116:1-8)

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5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

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Come unto me, all ye that labour and are
heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
(Matthew 11:28)

 

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Video: Guilty and Then Set Free?


 

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Click on the video below of a man who is about to be sentence for the crime of murder! Will he be condemned or be set free?  Look at all the emotions of the defendant’s lawyers and people in the court room, as well as the lawyers who fought to keep him in prison! He claimed his innocence and was given a retrial after serving 25 years in prison. Can you in some way put yourself in his place?

You and I were facing eternal death:
no chance of parole, but Jesus has set
us free from the charges imposed on us!
The crimes against us were nailed to the
old rugged cross and He has taken our place
when the verdict against us was sure!

 

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Short Inspiration from the Scriptures: Ministers!


Ministers

(And the King shall answer and say unto them,
Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have
done it unto one of the least of these my
brethren ye have done it unto me.)
– Matthew 25:40 –

 

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There are deep longings and unanswered questions that settle in the hearts of masses of people. They look for ways out and would confide in anyone who is trustworthy and able to help them. In countless ways — ministers run to their rescue — they are in place and the world has been touched by these servants of God! The Lord has fashioned some ministers to help reach into the very core of hurting, yet seeking-people (Prov. 20:5; I Cor. 14:24-25). They have gone through experiences that qualify them to be used by God to minister on great levels, as well (II Timothy 2:20-21). Ministers minister in every way imaginable to lonely and despondent people. They are doing a great work for Christ by their shear masses. All across the globe, ministers for Christ have been strategically placed in areas of spiritual leadership, and yet, they have servant hearts (Matt. 25:34-40). Even with all the ministry that takes place, everywhere people are still waiting for these true representatives of Christ to come forth. In comparison, the harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few. Thousands are ready for spiritual awakening and ministers will lead that cause…for, how shall they hear without a preacher? People must be led into a loving relationship with Christ! Are you that minister? If so…God has given you the power to make a difference and change lives!

Let’s be about our Father’s business!

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The Ravens are Coming!


“You will drink water from the brook.
I have ordered some ravens to feed you there.”

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Most people will agree that ravens are ugly mysterious birds that we often associate with evil or the dark side! We don’t seem to know much about them, but researchers tells us that they are highly intelligent creatures. We understand that they can reason on the level of dolphins and chimps.

God’s prophet Elijah had an unexpected relationship with ravens. He came to evil king Ahab and told him God was punishing him, along with Israel, for their evil deeds! Elijah told Ahab that, according to his word, there would be no rain and all Israel would suffer as a result. Elijah walked away from that meeting and, as promised, Israel suffered for years while looking everywhere for water! We see Elijah was not exempt from the draught! How would he survive and where would he get water and food? God knew exactly where he was and his dire need, and commanded ravens to feed him and had a brook to supply him water! God sustains His people! God, in His mercy, is even sustaining the whole world (Ps. 145:16)! There’s coming a time when He will withhold His sustenance from the masses of people because of their rejection of Him (Rev. 18:8).

We have to understand that the people in the Bible are no different than us. God simply supplies the needs of those who trust in Him. He fed 5,000 people who had no means. He even clothed Adam and Eve when their eyes were opened concerning their nakedness. We who live by faith, believe that the ravens are near, and somehow God will keep us alive. Many generations have experienced diseases and famines. We just have to know our biblical history. Egypt experienced great famine, and God’s people, as well as the world, were delivered from it under Joseph’s leadership. The Lord sent pestilence in Israel during the reign of king David and 70,000 died in a short time (II Sam. 24:15). There was pestilence in the time of the prophet Amos. The new testament church at Jerusalem suffered famine. We also read that the psalmist had experience enough to write to us from his day: Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. (Ps. 33:8-9). What a mighty God we serve!

If you have God’s Spirit abiding in you, and you believe in God, let the words in this article comfort you. (Suddenly, inspired biblical words you read should have more impact.) Let’s believe the words of king David, that great leader:  “I have been young, and now I am old, and I have never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his offspring begging bread.”

 

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