Psalm 34:1 KJV
I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. Psalm 34:1-2
DAILY READING Luke 12:32-59; Genesis 22; Psalm 15
Charles Haddon Spurgeon was one of the greatest in the 19th century, who became known as the ‘prince of preachers.’ He was only 20 years old, when he was invited to revive what used to be one of the six largest Baptist churches in London. The New Park church, which once had a congregation of 1200 had ebbed to about 200 souls. Being quite young, Spurgeon wondered how he could pastor this congregation. But despite his own doubts, he became an instant success. People began to flock to the church to hear him preach. So great was the impact, that a year later in 1855 a new church building was needed to accommodate their growing numbers.
Eventually over 5,000 would flock to hear him each week. The church grew to become the largest independent congregation in the world at that time. Spurgeon drew to his services the Prime Minister, members of the royal family, Members of Parliament, Florence Nightingale, and General James Garfield, later president of the United States.
Inevitably Spurgeon’s success also attracted critics. Some pastors in London claimed he was a glory-hound, while local newspapers issued caricatures of Spurgeon as an egotistical and uneducated buffoon. Several pastors wrote that they doubted his conversion. Others predicted that he would be like a rocket that would climb high and then drop out of sight.
Due to such criticisms, Spurgeon suffered bouts of depression. Feeling greatly discouraged he ended up tendering his resignation several times. However overtime, he began to find a pattern to the discouragements that attacked him. He discovered that any time he was on the verge of a great assignment from The Lord, these discouragements would come. He came to realize that it was a ploy of the enemy to shift his focus. Having known this, he therefore refused to allow discouragement to rule his life. He pressed on in his calling, despite the criticisms and went on to become one of the greatest preachers England had ever known.
Anyone headed for the top, is bound to face criticisms and slander. Criticisms are inevitable, especially when you are making progress in life. These can often lead to discouragement and depression. David faced criticism, when he returned to his home in Ziklag and discovered that the Amalekites, had attacked. It was most discouraging to find that even his own men unjustly blamed him. (1 Sam. 30). Imagine how he felt as he sat among the ruins of Ziklag and listened to his men talk of stoning him. David could have allowed grief and bitterness to send him into depression, but rather he decided to ‘encourage himself in the Lord his God.’(vs. 6).
In Psalm 34 David wrote. “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears”
And indeed God delivered him from all his fears as he was able to pursue after the Amalekites and recover all.
Whatever you are faced with, learn to encourage yourself in The Lord. Refuse to magnify the negative circumstance, but rather magnify your God. Don’t analyze your trouble with a magnifying glass, this will only lead to deeper discouragement. Rather magnify The Lord and His ability to deliver. Speak of His greatness, His power, His might. Talk about how big and powerful God is. When you make God bigger, you make your troubles smaller.
PRAYER Lord help me not to be discouraged by negative situations, rather let me see them as stepping stones to victory, Thank You for always turning my mourning into dancing, in Jesus Name.
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When you apply The Word of God, it will work for you, anywhere and anytime- WORDBITE 222.