Leave It Alone!

'UZZAH...STEADIED THE ARK...AND GOD STRUCK HIM DEAD.' II SAM. 6:6-7

When 'the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah...steadied the Ark,' his intention were good. He didn't want it to fall. But he overstepped his bounds and touched what belonged exclusively to God.
Sometimes your 'strength is to sit still' (Ps. 46:10) and take your hands off what you've entrusted to God's keeping. Even when your 'oxen stumble' and things don't go the way you think they should, God doesn't need your help.
He understnads the situation better than you ever could, and when the time is right He'll 'do wonders never before done' (Ex.34:10 niv.
Sure, it's frustrating to have something withing your grasp and not be able to reach it, especially when others who seem less deserving are enjoying what you so desperately want. But the Bible says: "Be patient...trust the Lord. Don't let it bother you when all goes well for those who do sinful things" (Ps. 37:7 cev).
The Canaduan preacher A.B. Simpson said, 'Often there is nothing as godly as inactivity on our part, or nothing as harmful as restless working, for God has promised to work His sovereign will.'

Paul writes, 'Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient...and....prayerful' (Rom. 12:12 TLB).
Long-range purpose will stop you from becoming frustrated by short-term delays. That is why God said, 'He that believeth shall not make haste' (Isa. 28:16).
In Acts we read: 'Paul and his companions...[were] kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching...in...Asia' (Acts 16:6 niv).

Why?

Because:
(a) the timing wasn't right. Apollos had to go there first and lay the groundwork;
(b) God needed Paul and Barnabas elsewhere;
(c) He wanted them to be more seasoned before embarking on such a major mission.

So, leave that situation alone, in God's hand. He will do it His own way.
Hallelujah.

Keep Quiet

"A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards"

One of the things that you and I as believers must learn if we want to be faithful servants in the Kingdom of God is how to keep our mouths shut. We need to master that skill.

When we get our backs up about something, we think we have to let everybody know about it. "I'm just going to give them a piece of my mind," we say.

Don't make that mistake. Nobody wants or needs a piece of your mind--and if you give it to them, you'll only end up alienating people and bringing harm to yourself. Instead, learn to keep quiet.

This especially applies in the area of spiritual insight. When the Holy Spirit gives you discernment about a situation, don't go spreading it all over town. If you do, you'll come to the place where the Lord can't trust you with revelation and insight into things and situations.

I've seen that happen. I've known intercessors who have received revelations about someone's weaknesses or needs. They have been given insight into the the problem in someone's life, so they could pray for that person.
But, instead of keeping that information between themselves and God in prayer, they told others about it.
As a result, they lost their effectiveness as an intercessor.

Don't let that happen to you.
Develop the quiet art of a wise man, and the devil will find it increasingly difficult to harm your prayer life and ministry to others.

Kenneth Copeland.
Adapted from SuccessDigest Extra!

Be Of Good Cheer.

"And now I exhort you to be of good cheer".
-Acts 27:22
Kenneth Copeland.

What do you do when you're in a really perilous situation?
If you're like I used to be, you cry out to God in desperation. One afternoon when I was squalling to God about something, He interrupted me and said, "Kenneth, did you know I don't hear the cry of My children when they cry out in desperation?"
"What?" I said. "I thought you did."
He said, "No, I hear the desperation cry of a sinner because that's all he can cry about. But once you get born again, son, you ought to be crying out of faith. I hear the faith cry."
What is faith cry?
It's calling things that be not as though they were (Rom. 4:17). It's what the Bible means when it says, "Let the weak say, I am strong" (Joel 3:10).
The Apostle Paul knew how to use the faith cry. That's why in Acts 27 he exhorted the men on the battered sinking ship to "be of good cheer". He was telling them to start acting by faith. Can't you imagine what those sailors thought when he said that? "listen to that stupid preacher. We're sinking and he says be of good cheer.We've thrown everything we have overboard and he says be of good cheer".
You may feel just like those sailors did, right now. You may feel like your ship's going down. You may feel like crying out in desperation. But don't do it. Instead, do what Paul said and be of good cheer!
Cry to God in faith and say, "Lord, I'm not going to panic. I'm not going to despair. I'm going to be of good cheer because Your Word says You'll deliver me from this situation" (Ps. 34:19).
Then start been cheerful. It may take more determination than anything you've ever done before, but God will give you the strength to do it. He'll give you the power to be cheerful in the middle of the most ungodly darkness the devil can bring up.
Instead of crying out in desperation, take faith stand.
Sing and rejoice and praise God for your deliverance. Be of good cheer and you can be sure God will bring you through the storm just fine!

"Rejoice in the Lord alway: again I say rejoice
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand:
Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication and thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Those things which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you". Philippians 4:4-9

Look Up

"Consider (Jesus) that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." -Hebrews 12:3

LOOK UP... because in times like these, your very life may depend on it.
Some time ago, the Lord showed me that a spirit of weariness is trying to work its way into our lives these days through all the pressure and bad news that surrounds us.
It's working to get our eyes off the Word of God by bombarding us with negative forces. It's trying to get us to look down at defeat instead of up at Jesus.

If let that happen, your spirit man will begin to lose his dominion.
And the Word tells us what the results of that is.
It says you will "be wearied and faint in your minds."

Jesus put it this way in Mark 4. He said that when the cares of this world enter into your heart and mind, they'll choke the Word and cause it to become unfruitful.
And since your faith is the product of the Word, that means your faith will wither.
Once that happens, you're headed for disaster.

What can you do to stop this chain reaction of weariness?

Look up! Get your eyes back on Jesus.
I remember on the the field of athletic competition that when an opponent allowed himself to drop his head, he was no longer dangerous.
He could be very easily defeated. So keep your head up. Keep considering Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith.
Consider Him instead of the cares of this world. Consider what God says in His Word.
Be moved by the thoughts of God. Let His thoughts become your thoughts.

Look up! Get your eyes off the circumstances around you and onto your heavenly source.
Don't be afraid you're going to lose everything. God is your source, not the world.
He can take care of you regardless of what happens around you.

If you've gotten weary lately, begin to lift your eyes. Raise your head up instead of looking down.
God is up. Jesus is up.
The devil is down- under your feet. LOOK UP!

'Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, "My way way is hidden from the Lord, and the justice due me escapes the notice of my God"?
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired.
His understanding is inscrutable.
He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power.
Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly,
Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, will walk and not become weary. -Isaiah 40:27-31nasb