Silence In The Enemy’s Camp

“By this I know that you delight in me;

my enemy will not shout in triumph over me

Psalm 41:11

David had a lot of enemies in his life.

Strong enemies that wanted him out of the picture.

People that wanted him to fail, get sick, die you name it.

Even close friends became his enemy (Psalm 41:9)

But in Psalm 41:11 he made an amazing statement. He knew God favored him

and delighted in him because He never allowed his enemies to shout in triumph

over him!

In other words, because God delighted in him, He never allowed his enemies

to have victory over him.

I love that.

Because it’s the same for you. God delights in you and will not let the enemy shout

in triumph over you. They will not have victory in your life no matter how hard they try.

Even in the case of Bathsheba, it did seem like the enemy had victory over David. It seemed

like God’s purpose for his life came to an end because of what he had done but God in His

grace gave David another chance. He gave him the opportunity to repent and when he

did he received redemption and a second chance. There were no shouts of triumph in

the enemy’s camp in that regard.

As I close I want to encourage you with that.

The enemy WILL NOT have victory over you because the Lord favors you and delights in you.

When you fall He will pick you up.

The Lord will fight for you against the enemies that come against you and win.

Bless you friends!

Rolain

Bad news doesn’t mean the end of you…

We live in a world that is saturated with evil. But how do you respond

when bad things happen? Just the other day I got some news that was bad but I had to stop myself. How was

I going to respond to it. was I going to freak out and lose it? Was I going to let fear get the best of

me?

We always have a choice of how we respond to bad news.

 

Jairus was in trouble. His daughter was very sick and he needed help. That is when he decided to go to

Jesus for help. All was going well. He met with Jesus and told Him his problem and Jesus agreed

to go with him to his daughter. But on his way to his daughter something happened;

 

“While He was still speaking, there came some from the ruler’s house, who said [to Jairus], 

Your daughter has died. Why bother and distress the Teacher any further?”

Mark 5:35

 

In that split second Jairus’s world collapsed. His daughter died. Despair was already walking through the

door of his soul.

Like I said before, we live in a world that is saturated with evil. Bad things happen. But how we respond

is so important. Let’s move on.

 

Despair was almost through the door but before it could make itself comfortable Jesus stepped in.

 

“Overhearing but ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, 

Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear; only keep on believing.” 

Mark 5:36

 

In the face of bad news, Jesus told Jairus to believe and not give in to fear. He told him to believe

that He could turn things around.

We don’t have to give in to the bad news that comes our way. I don’t know what kind of news you

have received today but you don’t have to accept it. There is another option. You have another

choice. You can keep on believing…

You can decide to keep trusting God instead of giving in to fear, instead of accepting the bad news

you have been given. It takes faith to do that. Choosing to trust God over believing the bad news

takes faith and only faith.

 

King David was another man who had to deal with some really bad news. When he got back to

Ziklag he found his home had been plundered. The enemy had taken everything of his and his soldiers.

Their families were taken, their possessions were gone. There was nothing left.  There was even talk

among the soldiers of killing David. He was in a really bad place but he did something really amazing.

Let’s take a look at what he did;

 

“David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them

all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. 

But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” 

1 Samuel 30:6

 

His hope in the face of the bad news was in the Lord. He didn’t let fear overcome him. Instead,

he encouraged himself in the Lord. He reminded himself of how good the Lord was to him.

He brought to remembrance how the Lord delivered him from his enemies!

(That’s what I think he was doing!)

 

How do we respond to bad news? I hope you can see it’s really important how you respond.

You can either accept what has happened or make a decision to put your hope in the Lord.

Let’s make the right decision today, the decision to trust God.

Bless you, friends!

 

Rolain

 

 

He wants us to win…..

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

I had this thought today that I needed to share with you.

It brings YAH joy when we win, when we are victorious. He wants to see us win.

He is not happy when we in pain, losing, failing, in despair.

He wants us to be victorious, to prosper, to succeed.

Paul as he neared the end of his life made a bold proclamation,

 

“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. 

Now, a crown is waiting for me. I will get that crown for being right with God. 

The Lord is the judge rightly, and He will give me the crown on that Day.” 

2 Timothy 4:7

 

The Lord gave Paul the victory. He helped Paul to win and that is why he spoke so boldly.

The Lord wanted Paul to win and the enemy wanted him to fail, but never succeeded in derailing

him. Paul would fall yes, but the Lord lifted him up. He never stayed down. The Lord was

with him in those times that felt like he had lost.

We are not alone friends. The Lord’s desire is for us to win, to be victorious.

Don’t be discouraged. The Lord is on your side helping you.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Blessings to you friends….

 

Rolain

Be deliberate about what you think on daily.

What are you thinking about every day? Have you thought about what you think about lately?

I had to train myself with my thoughts. It’s crazy how easy it is to let your mind wander

to thoughts of defeat and hopelessness.

Just last week I was wrestling with thoughts of inadequacy. Someone said something to me and I

had to catch myself in the moment. I was not about to accept the words that were spoken to me.

I was not about to let that word take root in me.

 

You need to know the enemy is not taking a back seat when it comes to

your thoughts. He is trying to get you to think a certain way, in a way that is destructive. He is not waiting

for you to think negatively. He is being proactive in affecting the way you think.

So must we take a back seat then when it comes to our thoughts? No!

We need to be vigilant and proactive.

 

There are so many opportunities to think negatively these days. We need to be vigilant when it comes

to guarding our minds. Let’s look at what the word says,

 

“For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, 

whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and 

gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh

and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]. 

Philippians 4:8

 

Let’s take this word to heart. This is our offensive attack against what the enemy is trying to do.

If we are going to protect ourselves against the world’s infiltration we need to be proactive about what we

think about. Like I said before, there is so much opportunity to think negatively about our lives and

everything going on around us. Let’s be deliberate about our thoughts. Have a plan!

 

ACT ON IT: Right down ten things (using the Philippians 4 model) that you can think about on a daily basis.

What do you think about when you think about your life? 

Write down three things you feel YAH has spoken to you about concerning your life. 

 

Bless you friends

 

Rolain

Run to Him always……

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

“Be glad that you are His. 

Let those who ask the Lord for help be happy

Depend on the Lord and His strength. 

Always go to Him for help. “

Psalm 105:3, 4 (ICB)

This is something so easy to do but do we always do it?

Do we go to the Lord for help ALL the time?

I don’t. I catch myself at times striving in my own strength, worrying, fretting, and panicking.

I forget to go to Him always.

But the word is clear, “Always go to Him for help”

Don’t hesitate, ask Him for help. Even if you made the mistake, the wrong decision, go to Him

for help. He is our strength and able to help us in every situation we going through no matter

how difficult and complex.

“Some sat in gloom and darkness.

They were prisoners suffering in chains.

They had turned against the words of God.

They had refused the advice of God Most High.

So he broke their pride by hard work.

They stumbled, and no one helped.

In their misery they cried out to the Lord.

And he saved them from their troubles.

He brought them out of their gloom and darkness.

He broke their chains.”

Psalm 107

Psalm 107 is one of my favorite chapters in the bible. It shows us how merciful YAH is and

in the midst of our weaknesses and failings He extends grace to us and helps us.

Yes, we are weak, and yes we are going to make mistakes but don’t let guilt and condemnation

stop you from asking Him for help. The enemy is behind that. He wants you to keep silent.

He doesn’t want to see you delivered, freed and helped.

ACT ON IT  – The action point is simple today: Think about areas in your life you haven’t asked YAH for help

and cry out to Him. Ask Him for help right now!

Make sure you write down the things that come to mind so you can have a record of how YAH helped

you in difficult times.

If you can’t go to Him for help because you feel guilty and condemned then meditate on the following two

scriptures (there are so many more)

1. Romans 8:1

2. Psalm 103:8-12

And that is all I have to share with you today. He is our Helper!

Bless you friends.

Rolain

When the enemy is stronger than…..

“When you go to war against your enemies, you might see horses and chariots. 

Their army might be bigger than yours. But don’t be afraid of them. The Lord your God

will be with you. He brought you out of Egypt.”

Deuteronomy 20:1

 

As I read this scripture I look at the battles I have faced and still face. There is no battle I have

thought was a breeze. Every battle has been intense, bigger than me.

There is no battle that has been small. The purpose of the enemy’s attack is to take me out.

He doesn’t attack just for kicks, no! His motivation is real, deadly.

How many times I have felt overwhelmed and powerless because of the trials and storms that have

come my way. The scary truth is that without YAH the enemy would have snuffed me out a long

time ago!

 

Israel were called by YAH to a land flowing with milk and honey. In the natural that was

mission impossible! They would not be able to possess the promise land because the nations

they would have to face were stronger and mightier than they were. To possess the promise

land they would have to face giants! Never mind the promise land, they had to leave Egypt first!

Like I said, mission impossible!

Let’s look at two scriptures,

 

“They told Moses,”We went to the land where you sent us. It is a land where much food grows! 

Here is some of its fruit. But the people who live there are strong. Their cities are walled and large.

We even saw some Anakites there. ” 

Numbers 13:27, 28

 

“Then Caleb told the people near Moses to be quiet. Caleb said, “We should go up and take the land

for ourselves. We can do it.

But the men who had gone with him said, “We can’t attack those people. They are stronger than we are.”

Numbers 13:30, 31

 

“We can’t attack those people. they are stronger than we are.” 

 

The spies were correct technically speaking. They were weaker than the people occupying the promise land.

They were never going to defeat them on their own. But that is why they needed the Lord. With

Him on their side they would defeat the stronger nations.

 

No matter how threatening the trials we face are, we need to know that YAH is with us and because

He is with us we will come out victorious. No matter how hard things get, we will be saved not because

we are strong enough but because YAH is the One who is strong enough.

 

As I end this post I want to leave you with one final thought.

The storms that come our way will always be bigger than us but we are not alone as we face them.

So maybe you feel overwhelmed because of the bills you have to pay and you feel like there is no

way out, know that there is a way out because YAH is with you.

Maybe your family broke up and your future is suddenly unclear, know that things will work out

for your good because the Lord is with you.

No matter the problem you are facing right now, know that the Lord of Hosts is fighting for you.

The devil will not win. He is a defeated foe and doesn’t stand a chance against the Lord of Lords!

Don’t be discouraged, put all of your hope in the Lord. He will help you in your most trying time.

Where you are weak He is strong!

Amen.

 

Rolain

 

 

You will remain standing at the end of the day…….

As I look back at the year and look at all that has happened I can’t help but

thank YAH. There have been good things that have happened as well as bad things

but the thing that matters is that I am standing!

I was speaking to a friend of mine recently about the challenges he and his

family were going through. It was a hard year for them but once again YAH

came through.

I would like to share a scripture that I read this morning which I have read many

times but really came alive this morning for me which encouraged me concerning

the trials and storms we face,

 

“We are like a bird escaped from the snare of the fowlers;

the snare is broken, and we have escaped!”

Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”

Psalm 124:7, 8

 

No matter what kind of trap the enemy sets we are like the bird spoken about

in the verse. YAH always rescues us!

We always escape! The trap will not accomplish its purpose.

No matter how difficult a situation is, YAH will deliver us.

No matter how foolproof the enemy thinks his plan is it will not succeed.

 

As I look back at some of the storms I have been in I am amazed how I survived.

I was not supposed to survive but I did! It’s only by His grace that I am here.

 

Be encouraged friends. There is a way out of the deep waters you are in.

YAH has a made a way out. Don’t lose hope!

Trust Him in the storm you in.

 

Our help is in the name of the Lord!!

 

Rolain

 

 

Thinking about the next generation…….

It’s been an amazing weekend indeed.

If you didn’t know, I work at my church’s children’s ministry. It’s such an honor

working there.

This weekend was amazing because we had a grade seven graduation. Grade seven’s

are twelve year old’s and every year we release them from children’s ministry with a

dinner and graduation. The dinner happens on a Friday night and the actual graduation

happens on Sunday in the main service. It was really emotional because as leaders we

have been with the children from the time they were six. So seeing them become

men and women of God before our very eyes is something so amazing that cannot be put into words.

My desire for them is that they grow deeper into YAH and not stray from the

path they are on.

 

But that got me thinking about the next generation. We need to do all that we can to teach them

the way of the Lord!

You may not be serving in a children’s ministry like I do but I want to challenge you,

 

Is there something you can do?

 

I encourage you to read Deuteronomy 6:6.

I know it addresses the parents but we can get involved!

David writes in the book of Psalms,

 

“So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim Your might

to another generation, your power to all those to come. “

Psalm 71:18

 

There is a generation that is coming that needs to know there is a God who

loves them and has a plan for their lives.

There is a generation that needs to know there is a God who will never forsake them.

There is so much they need to know about YAH and His ways……

 

The enemy doesn’t want the next generation to grow up knowing YAH.

He wants to take them out. But we can’t let him!

When YAH sees you, He doesn’t just see you, He sees the generations in you.

Look at Abraham.

YAH had a plan for his life and that plan included the generations in him!

So I will ask the question again,

 

Is there a way you can touch the next generation?

 

Bless you friends

 

Rolain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I am at my weakest…..

“He delivered me from my strong enemy,

From those who hated me;

For they were too strong for me;

They confronted me in the day of

my calamity,

but the Lord was my support.”

2 Samuel 22:18-20

 

I love this chapter. King David sang this song

when God delivered him from all his enemies,

and Saul.

God is a God of war and our enemies don’t stand

a chance against Him!

No matter how strong your enemy is the Lord will

deliver you!

 

“They confronted me in the day of my calamity but

the Lord was my support”

 

Of all the times to attack, the enemy chose to attack him

in the day of his calamity! Simply said, the enemy chose

to attack him when he was at his worst and weakest!

That wasn’t good news for David.

At his worst and weakest he was vulnerable.

He didn’t stand a chance!

 

 

The enemies tactics haven’t changed. He still tries to attack you

when you are at your weakest.

Why do you think it’s so easy to think negatively

when you are discouraged and crushed??

Some of the reason is because we are flesh and we

have a natural proclivity to be negative but the other

part of that is because we have an enemy

who doesn’t want us to accomplish all that God has for us!

As I look at the times I was discouraged and

down I remember how easy it was to think negatively.

But the truth of the matter is a bad day is simply a bad

day. It’s not a reflection on what the rest of your life will be.

It’s not a forthcoming attraction of what you are to expect in your

life!

 

 

“They confronted me in the day of my calamity,

but the Lord was my support”

 

The Lord is my support at my weakest.

That is why the enemy will not win.

I may be at my weakest and I may be having the worst day

but the Lord is my support!

I don’t have to fear because God is by my side.

 

When you are at your weakest turn to God.

He will deliver you from your strong enemies.

The enemy will not cut you down. He will not be

victorious over you!!

 

Believing God when life is hard.

 

“[What, what would have become of me] had I not believed

that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living!

 

Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good 

courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. 

Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord. “

Psalms 27:13, 14

 

It’s so easy to expect good things when everything is going well

for you. It’s actually hard to be negative when doors in your

life are opened and everyone loves you but what happens when

things go wrong??

What if nothing is working in your life?

What if everyone hates you?

What if things are falling apart?

It’s in those times, when expecting goodness isn’t so easy.

 

I have had a couple of rough weeks and to be honest it’s been

hard to expect the Lord’s goodness. Things have not been going

the way I wanted them to. . I have been public enemy number

one at times. In those circumstances it’s been hard to be

positive.

In my sad state it was easy to start thinking negatively.

It was so easy to tear myself down.

But that was not where God wanted me to stay.

He wanted me to focus on His goodness.

 

The enemy wants us depressed. He wants us to feel hopeless.

He wants us to believe nothing good will happen in our lives.

He wants us to believe God doesn’t care about us.

He wants us to experience God’s goodness period!

But the Lord wants us believe we will see His goodness in the

land of the living!

What are you believing today?

Do you believe you are finished?

Do you believe nothing good will happen for you?

Do you believe your circumstances won’t change?

 

The word for us today is to wait, hope for and expect the Lord!

It’s not easy to do those things but we have to be brave and

courageous!

We must expect the Lord’s goodness!

 

The author writes,

“what, what would have become of me had I not believed that

I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living?”

 

We can’t let the bad circumstances steal our hope?

We can’t allow the fear in the world to shape our expectations.

We can’t let the bad things that happen to us in life take God

out of the picture.

No matter how bad things are God wants us to believe we

will see his goodness!

He wants us to believe things will get better.

He wants us to believe that bad situation will turn around.

My encouragement to you is to expect the Lord’s goodness

in the land of the living!

Wait, hope for and expect the Lord!

He wants us to expect His goodness because He will

turn the bad to good. He will turn that bad situation into

good. He will not let that

winter last forever. He will answer our prayers.

He will give us that breakthrough we are trusting Him

for.

What will you do today???

 

Bless you friends!

 

Rolain