Have you ever felt so parched and weary that you could
literally feel the life draining out of your body and soul?
Overwhelmed with
the black defeat of sorrow, grief, misery, anguish, despair, hopelessness,
despondency or depression, you simply wanted to crawl under some rock and die.
The Psalmist felt this way. His soul was so troubled that
he begged the Lord to quicken him, to revive him, to bring him back to life
(Psalm 143:11). He lifted up his soul to God and pleaded for revival (Psalm
119:149).
Being dead in trespasses and sin, we were quickened and
brought back to life by the Spirit of God at the instant of our heart-felt
repentance (Colossians 2:13). We passed from everlasting damnation to eternal
life (1 John 2:25; John 3:16-18).
If we continue to live according to the dictates of our
fleshly, carnal, human desires, our body and soul will die a little more each
day; but if we take up our cross daily and crucify the sinful cravings of our
flesh, the Lord will quicken us and we shall live (Romans 8:11-13).
The Word of God is living, powerful and extremely sharp.
It is able to divide the carnal desires of our soul from the divine aspirations
of our spirit (Hebrews 4:12-13). As we refresh our spirit in His Word, we come
to know God and Jesus, whom He sent (John 17:3).
Rather than dying under a rock, we hide in the cleft of
the Rock of Christ, our source of living water (Psalm 78:15). We see the joy in
everything and we never thirst again (James 1:2-8; 1 Corinthians 10:4; John
4:14).
Regardless of our circumstances, we are saved from the
troubling world in which we live. We count our blessings rather than ruminate
over our sorrows.
We live in inexpressible joy, which if full of the glory
of God (1 Peter 1:7-9). We experience the magnitude of His love and we are
filled to the brim with His eternal presence (Ephesians 6:19).
Prayer:
Father God, teach us the secret to a happy life: one
focused on You and Your blessings rather than on the depressing circumstances
we are facing (John 16:33). Remind us to thank You even in the bad times,
through our faith which is strengthened by Your constant provision in every
area of our life; for when we do, we experience far less devastation from our trials.
Revive us by Your Spirit in our spirit, soul and body and
enable us to strengthen others with the same comfort You give to us (2
Corinthians 1:3-5). When we mourn, You lift us to safety (Job 5:11). We do not
fear, because You lift us up in Your right hand (Isaiah 41:10). Oh God of hope,
fill us with Your joy and optimism, through the power of Your Holy Spirit
(Romans 15:13).
Thought for the Day:
Wait on the Lord, and He will strengthen your heart as
you hope in Him alone. - Psalm 27:13-14
