September 17, 2008

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

--Hebrews 12:1-3

Maybe you’ve experienced disappointment in your life lately. Possibly a challenge faces you just around the corner.

If so, how do you get up when you’re down?  Look up! That’s what Nehemiah did when there was opposition to the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem.

Listen to his prayer in Nehemiah 4:4: “Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives.”

Nehemiah didn’t waste time or divert from the task at hand dealing with all the criticism he received from those who opposed him rebuilding the wall. Instead of trying to handle it all on his own, you know what Nehemiah did? He went straight to the throne of God. Nehemiah recognized that God could do a better job of dealing with his enemies than he could, so he just gave it all to God!

The next time you’re down or discouraged, let me give you the best piece of advice that you could ever hear: Run to God! Cry out to Him! Now, how simple is that?

And yet, so often we try to figure everything out on our own. We try to fix things ourselves. And then we come to the end and we say, “Well, I guess it’s come to this; I guess I’m just going to pray now.”

Don’t make prayer your last chance… make it your first choice! 

Somebody said if you look behind you, you’ll be defeated. If you look ahead of you, you’ll be distressed. If you look around you, you’ll be discouraged. But if you look above you, you will be determined.

As our verse for today says, when problems come, take them to the top! Go to the Lord and tell Him all about it. Look to Him to overcome the disappointments you face in life.

ARE YOU WORRIED? DISAPPOINTED? STRESSED?
TELL GOD ABOUT IT, AND HE WILL HELP YOU TODAY!