Joshua 1:9 [NIV] ‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

DAILY READING Ephesians 3, Ezekiel 8, Isaiah 41

Aleksander Solzhenitsyn was one of Russian’s greatest writers and historian.
After serving in the Soviet Army during WW2, he was sentenced to spend eight years in a labour camp for criticizing the Nation’s leader, Josef Stalin. He was  imprisoned at the infamous Gulag labor camp where he had to work day after day, in rain and snow, throughout summer and winter.  Backbreaking labor and slow starvation filled his days.  After suffering many days of despair in the death camp,  Aleksander  fell  into despair and discouragement and decided he wanted to die. However, a fellow prisoner encouraged him to focus on the cross of Jesus. Drawing strength from Christ’s sacrifice, Aleksander was again filled with the hope to go on. Later, when he was released from prison, he committed himself to writing books that would encourage others in their times of despair, to give them the faith and hope to persevere.
His books were often in high demand, and he sold tens of millions of copies.
In 1970 he was awarded the Noble Prize for literature, for the great impact his writing has made..

Joshua 1:9 (NIV) says ‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

People often give up on the great destiny ahead of them simply through momentary discouragement. For instance, there were many who started this year with great zeal and passion and vision, but with the many unexpected challenges and obstacles encountered so far, dispair has set in and they now feel deflated. Discouragement is a stopper of men’s progress. It is what the enemy uses to distort reality and try to keep people from moving forward. Today, many people instead of progressing with their dreams, are now stuck with their fears. But the truth is that, when you are filled with strength from God’s Word, you can always overcome.
Whenever you face intimidating situations, learn to look up to God. The study of God’s Word and persistent prayers will always impart into your heart the faith that you need to excell and triumph.
The force of God’s Word gives you an inner acceleration that pushes you forward, no matter the challenges you may face. God’s Word is like fire and hammer, and when it resides in you it crushes problems to powder. Power from the Word causes you to run like a bulldozer over the obstacles on your path.
So if you are feeling any form of despair or discouragement today, just go for an encounter with God’s Word.
Whatever is trying to hold you back from moving into the fullness of God’s plan for you this year, can be overcome.
The truth is that there will always be a Goliath between you and your throne. However, your conquest will be a function of your boldness, based on strong faith in God’s Word.

Deuteronomy 7:16 says “Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the Lord thy God did unto Pharaoh…”

Remembeing the mighty acts of God through meditation in His Word, causes faith to arise in your heart. And as you begin to make bold declarations through prayers, claiming the promises of God over your life, your victory will always be sure.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for granting me the victory over despair and discouragement. By Your grace I shall surely arrive at the glorious throne You have ordained for me this year in Jesus Name.

Quote
God protects and shields us when we are being led by Him. – WORDBITE 222