He Used It, Shouldn't We

Devotion

3-25-10

He Used It, Shouldn’t We

Luke 4:1-4

Joyce quietly walked in the brisk evening air as she looked to heaven for the answers of her heart. It seemed that every day that passed was filled with unexpected heartbreak and in moments like that she felt completely alone.  She didn’t want to talk about it because she didn’t want to overwhelm others with her self-pity, yet she longed for a friend to walk beside her and listen to her cries. Suddenly she stopped and watched the water softly flow in the pound beside her as she listened to the sound of birds singing and fluttering from tree to tree.  She looked up towards heaven and began to talk to God.

 

Father, I don’t know why I feel this way.  I can’t seem to figure out what is bothering me and why I feel so alone and on the verge of depression.  I know what Your word says.  I know that You are in control.  I know all things work to the good to those who love You.  Yet, this feeling is pulling me down.  I am tired, worn out, and just want to be still and not even think of anything.  But I know the ache inside me right now is overwhelming to my soul and I need Your help.  Joyce fought back the tears and had to stop talking because of the lump in her throat.  Suddenly she recalled a song she had heard on the radio and sung many times when she had felt this way in the past.  So, through the tears she began to sing. “When you’re up against the wall…” she swallowed fighting back the deep seated tears and then continued. “…and your mountains seem so tall, and you realize life’s not always fair.  You can run away and hide, let this old man decide, or you can change your circumstances with a prayer.” Again Joyce stopped. She thought about the words she had just sung, looked up to heaven and a small smile etched her face.  A little sparkle came into her eye and she continued to sing starting from the beginning.

 

“When you’re up against the wall and your mountains seem so tall, and you realize life’s not always fair. You can runaway and hide, let this old man decide, or you can change your circumstances with a prayer.  When everything falls apart, praise His name. When you have a broken heart raise your hands and say, Lord, You’re all I need, You’re everything to me, He’ll take the pain away. When you feel you’re all alone, praise His name, when you think you can’t go on raise your hands and say, greater is He that is within me, He will take the hurt away, if you’ll just praise His name.  Oh… you can overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the words of your testimony.  You will see the darkness go and your faith begin to grown, oh you’re not alone so how can you be lonely?  When everything falls apart, praise His name.  When you have a broken heart raise your hands and say, greater is He that is within me, you can praise the hurt away. Greater is He that is within me, you can praise the hurt away, if you’ll just praise His name.” 

Joyce was recalling a song that was scripturally sound.  We can overcome the situations we are facing when we know where to turn for help.  In yesterday’s devotion we saw how Jesus recalled words that helped Him.  He recalled the scriptures and quoted them.  Joyce did the same thing as she talked to the Lord and then sang a song that reminded her of His faithfulness to calm her ache as she praised His name. 

 

Take a look at Luke 4:1-4 again.  The Lord wants us to see that He was at a very difficult time.  He had fasted in the wilderness for forty days and now He was hungry.  We all know that when we are hungry, really hungry, that it can be hard to think rationally.  We might become frustrated, impatient, or even selfishly angry because our bellies hurt from emptiness.  The enemy will use all those pains in our bellies to cause us to lose sight of God’s faithfulness to provide.  But, Jesus, the very Son of God, God in man form, who could have made bread appear out of nothing, stood before Satan being tempted to turn a stone into bread but He didn’t do it.  Why?  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Do you think that it is important to know God’s word during times of frustration and trial? ________________________________________________________________________

 

Do you think it is easy to overcome the struggles of depression, loneliness, or sadness? ________________________________________________________________________

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Think of a time when you were hurting, hungry, or alone.  How did you respond to that moment? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Do you think just praising the name of Jesus can make a difference in your life? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Joyce recalled the promises of God and the importance of praising Him in her lowest moments.  It took a little time but it lightened her heart, made her smile, and gave her a feeling of hope again.  She was strengthened through her praise of Jesus because His power and peace poured over her through it.  In praising Him she overcame the enemy trying to keep her focused on self.  

 

We all need to know more of God’s word so that we have the sword to pierce the enemy when he attacks us with the lies of depression, bitterness, loneliness, etc.  These are real emotions and issues we all have dealt with in some way or another, but when we have received Jesus as our Savior and Lord, His Spirit dwells within us and greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. With Him in us we have the power to overcome.  Jesus, God in man’s form could have done anything to defeat the devil, but He used the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. If He used it, shouldn’t we?