Title: How to Exert the Most Influence
Text:
Psalm 37:7-8 (HCSB)
7 Be silent before the LORD and wait expectantly for Him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the man who carries out evil plans.
8 Refrain from anger and give up ?your? rage; do not be agitated—it can only bring harm.
Observation:
One of the biggest mistake the Christ follower can make is assuming that the battle against evildoers belongs to us.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (HCSB)
3 For though we live in the body, we do not wage war in an unspiritual way,
4 since the weapons of our warfare are not worldly, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments
5 and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to obey Christ.
The battle does not belong to us; rather it belongs to the Lord. The Lord’s ears are not deaf; he can hear us. The Lord’s hands are not short; he is able to reach us.
Are you waging war against evil in an unspiritual way? Notice the words of our focal passage.
When we wage war in an unspiritual way we mistakenly think that evil will be extinguished by our anger and rage.
The most powerful weapon that we have against the spiritual warfare that we face in this world is the presence of God.
There is nothing more powerful and peaceful than the presence of God with His people.
Psalm 16:11 (HCSB)
11 You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.
Notice that God delights to be with His people, and God looks at the heart of His people. Do you have a humble heart? Here is how God feels about His people who have a humble heart.
1 Peter 5:6-7 (HCSB)
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time,
7 casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.
Prayer:
Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, stir our hearts; created in us the faith that will enable us to be silent on the outside, but strong on the inside as we allow the God who is with us to fight the battle that belongs to the Lord, and not to us. In the might name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
—
Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:
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