Through The Valley

I want to be a blessing and an encouragement to people, which is my purpose for doing these Tidbits.  I want everyone to know the power of God in their lives and how much He loves them and how much He wants to set them free from their bondage and I want everyone to know the truth.  God never promised us a pain free life, one without any struggles or hardships with no problems, in fact He said that we would have tribulations.

Read John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Believers should expect problems, and even persecution and tension from non-believers who are blinded from the truth, this is inevitable it is going to happen, it may even happen in your family, and sometimes you may be hurt from those that go to the same congregation that you belong to.  One thing we can know, we are not alone in our struggles; the Holy Spirit is within us to help when we need His help to comfort and encourage us in our time of need and at times to rescue us.

Think of Daniel in the lion’s den, you talk about a bad day; and Daniel’s three friends who were thrown into a blazing furnace, that was another bad day, but praise the Lord, He was there to rescue all of them and what the evil one meant for destruction the Lord turned into an amazing experience.  We live in a sinful world that is sick because of sin, but it is not people that are our main problem, it is the enemy of our souls.

Read what it says in Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

We can be attacked anytime by the evil one and the forces of darkness, so we need to put on the whole armor of God and resist the devil so that he will flee from us.  

Read Ephesians 6:13-17, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

When you became a part of the church you became Satan’s enemy and he will unleash all the forces of darkness against you to take you out or to get you back on his side and that means he will use any means at his disposal. Sometimes he will even use false teachers.

Read 1 John 1-6, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”

The good news is this; the Word of God says this in verse 4 in the same chapter, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

It’s not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit says the Lord!  When you have the power of the Holy Spirit, you can’t have any greater power than that.  So, if you are prayed up and walking in the Spirit with the whole armor of God in place, you can fight off the fiery darts of the evil one and you can win every battle and be an overcomer, praise the Lord!!  So it will feel like you are in a desert place or a valley, but if the truth be known, as from my point of view, that is where we are tried the most and if we don’t give up, that is where we will grow the most.

Where was Jesus when Satan tried to get Him to sin?  He was in the desert forty days and forty nights.  Just like Jesus taught the devil a lesson and defeated Him there in the desert, we can also defeat Him in our valley or desert experiences with the Lord’s help and while we are there we can also grow in our faith and our Christian walk, praise the Lord!

Read 1 Peter 4:12-19, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”

Enough said, I have given you something to think about and I hope it will help you and remember this, weeping may result for a while but hang in there, the joy will come!!  May the good Lord bless you and yours and may you have a super day!!  Don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord for He is worthy!!