10/06/2011 - Don’t turn back!

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“Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from Your way.” (Psalm 44:18)

That was a period of shame and sadness because Israel was being afflicted by its enemies. The psalmist reports the deplorable situation that nation was going through, but he stated that even with all those defeats and the apparent lack of Heavenly help that people hadn’t forgotten God and they weren’t unfaithful to their covenant with Him. This is the kind of positive attitude regarding the Word of the Lord we must have because it makes us gain the Almighty’s favor. We don’t know why some things occur, but forgetting the Lord and being unfaithful to the covenant with Him are things that must never cross the mind of a God’s servant.

The Israelites’ heart did not turn back; in other words: they did not think of giving up. It does not matter the ordeal you are going through now: do not even accept that inner voice suggesting that you give up. Those who yield to the thought of “throwing in the towel” will turn back on their commitment and weaken their spiritual structure; as a result, they will feel they’re not up to the challenge of facing their enemy. Those who have a card up their sleeve don’t achieve success in battles because their heart is not faithful.

It does not matter who is going against you, do not even stop to consider the possibility of accepting their conditions or surrendering. The only conditions you are to accept are those found in the Scriptures; those are the mandatory ones. Whatever the circumstances, keep moving on! Do not let the enemy impress you with his lies. If you are strong now and if you rebuke the evil that is assaulting you, God will see your effort and determination to obey Him, then He will come to your aid.

Weak people have always existed and always will. Those who are not standing firm on the Rock are easily frightened by the devil’s onslaughts and also by the size of their problems; they forget that God is infinitely greater than all the powers that might come upon them (I John 4:4). The secret is not to abandon the Way of the Lord.

The good news is that our Father who is for us (Romans 8:31), will judge our cause. If we fulfil His commandments, He will certainly be acting in our favor for He is the Strength we need to achieve the much sought-after success. All we have to do is to believe in His Word and allow Him to fight for us and to grant us victory.

Those who accept defeat will never please God, but those who go to a battle and trust that their promises will be fulfilled do please the Lord. The option of getting the Lord to delight in us is ours. If we get the Most High to rejoice at our decisions, our strength will be exceedingly great.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares