Words from the Lord: New opportunities are coming your way!

The Lord says: 

"New opportunities are coming your way! If you've been struggling and seeing no hope in your current situation, be it in ministry, career, business, or in any area of life, do not lose heart. As you look ahead in your life, you are entering a time of many new opportunities and divine appointments. Look to Me, and you shall begin to see many favors and good surprises."

As I was seeking the Lord the other day, the Lord reminded me of the book of Ruth. Now, your situation may not be exactly like Ruth's situation in the area of relationships or marriage. Your situation may be in the context of your ministry, your career, your business, or in any other area of your life. Whatever your situation may be, the Lord has a good news for you today! 

Let's go to the book of Ruth now.

Ruth 1:1-2 says, 'In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah left his home and went to live in the country of Moab, taking his wife and two sons with him. The man's name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. And when they reached Moab, they settled there.' 

Here's the background. Elimelech had to leave his homeland because of famine. By the way, Bethlehem was a rich agricultural land. That's why the city 'Bethlehem' means 'House of Bread'. But times were tough at that time. There was a famine. So, he went looking for a greener pasture. He went to the land of Moab. Of course, he left for the land of Moab with the intention of returning to Bethlehem one day. But before he managed to do that, he died. 

Ruth 1:3-5 says, 'Then Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her two sons. The two sons married Moabite women (the women in that foreign land). One married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth. But about ten years later, both Mahlon and Kilion died. This left Naomi alone without her two sons or her husband.' 

And indeed, that was a huge tragedy for Naomi. You see, in that society those days, for a woman to be a childless widow or to lose her husband, that was a huge tragedy. There was no one to support her. There was no one to help her. It was a desperate situation. Not just that. Naomi had no family in that foreign land of Moab. 

Ruth 1:6 says, 'Then Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had blessed His people in Judah by giving them good crops again. So Naomi and her daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab to return to her homeland.' 

Ruth 1:8-9 says, 'But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go back to your mothers' homes. And may the Lord reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me. May the Lord bless you with the security of another marriage." Then she kissed them good-bye, and they all broke down and wept.' 

Ruth 1:14-16 says, 'And again they wept together, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye. But Ruth clung tightly to Naomi. "Look," Naomi said to her, "your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. You should do the same." But Ruth replied, "Don't ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God..."' 

Ruth 1:22 says, 'So Naomi returned from Moab, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth, the young Moabite woman. They arrived in Bethlehem in late spring, at the beginning of the barley harvest.' 

Yes, just on time for the harvest time! 

Ruth 2:1-2 says, 'Now there was a wealthy and influential man in Bethlehem named Boaz, and this Boaz was a relative of Naomi's husband, Elimelech. One day Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, "Let me go out into the harvest fields to pick up the stalks of grain left behind by anyone who is kind enough to let me do it."' 

For your info, the farmers in Israel those days were commanded to not completely harvest their fields. They were to leave some bundle of grains behind. This was a form of social assistance to the poor and the needy those days, so they could come and glean the remains of those grains. This would give the opportunity for the poor and the needy to be active and to be able to work for their food. In other words, this was a way to provide for them. 

So over here, Ruth, on her own initiative, set out to glean in the fields in order to support herself and her mother-in-law Naomi. She would not allow herself to sit back at home and just wait for food to come. 

Ruth 2:15-17 says, 'When Ruth went back to work again, Boaz ordered his young men, "Let her gather grain right among the sheaves without stopping her. And pull out some heads of barley from the bundles and drop them on purpose for her. Let her pick them up, and don't give her a hard time!"' 

By that time, Boaz had already found out who Ruth was. Boaz knew that she's the daughter-in-law of someone close to him. Boaz gave her favor. You see, as a foreigner, Ruth would have had a very hard time in someone else's harvest field. But because Ruth was in Boaz's harvest field, she received such favor. Speaking of being at the right place, at the right time! Her steps were indeed ordered by the Lord! 

Beloved, no matter what struggle you may be facing at the moment, or no matter what hopelessness it may seem in your life at the moment, keep looking to the Lord. The Lord has a good news for you today. The Lord is about to give you new opportunities and divine appointments. The Lord's face will begin to shine upon you, if you cling to the Lord, just as Ruth clung to Naomi. I'm going to show you later what is the significance of the name 'Naomi' and 'Ruth' in the context of us today. 

But before that, let's continue with Ruth chapter 3 now. 

Ruth 3:1-5 says, 'One day Naomi said to Ruth, "My daughter, it's time that I found a permanent home for you, so that you will be provided for. Boaz is a close relative of ours, and he's been very kind by letting you gather grain with his young women. Tonight he will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor. Now do as I tell you - take a bath and put on perfume and dress in your nicest clothes. Then go to the threshing floor, but don't let Boaz see you until he has finished eating and drinking. Be sure to notice where he lies down; then go and uncover his feet and lie down there. He will tell you what to do." And Ruth replied, "I will do everything you say."' 

And you know what? As the saying goes, the rest is history.

Ruth 4:13a says, 'So Boaz took Ruth into his home, and she became his wife.' 

Ruth 4:14 says, 'Then the women of the town said to Naomi, "Praise the Lord, who has now provided a redeemer for your family!"' 

To cut the whole story short, Ruth then bore a son. 

Ruth 4:17 says, 'The neighbor women said, "Now at last Naomi has a son again!" And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David.' 

Now, why is this story so important? Because it has to do with the genealogy of David, whose father is Jesse, and whose grandfather is Obed, the son of Ruth and the grandson of Naomi. Because of the faithfulness and obedience of Ruth, Obed was born. And Obed begot Jesse. Jesse begot David. And why is David so important? Because David had a descendant named Jesus! 

You see, God's hand is all over history. God always works out His purpose from generation to generation. God always sees farther. There is always a purpose when God allows something to happen. All things will work together for good to those who love the Lord. Amen! 

Very interestingly, the name 'Naomi' means 'delight' in Hebrew. It can also mean 'pleasantness'. But for the purpose of our study today, let's focus on this word 'delight'. How about 'Ruth'? The name 'Ruth' means 'friendship' in Hebrew. 

Now, Ruth clung on to Naomi. Ruth could have stayed in her own land and find a new husband among her people in Moab. But Ruth chose to cling on to Naomi. This is a 'picture' of you clinging on to the Lord and delighting yourself in the Lord. This is a 'picture' of you being a friend of God. And as you've seen in the story of Ruth just now, God showed her many good surprises and great favor, even beyond what she could imagine. 

Beloved, it is the same with you, whatever situation you may be facing at the moment. God can show you many good surprises and great favor. God can set up divine appointments for you. God knows how to open a way for you, going forward!

Let's cross-reference to Psalm 37:4-5. This is a psalm of David. And yes, David was the great grandson of Ruth. David wrote, 'Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.' 

In other words, He shall bring His purpose in your life to pass, and He shall bring His destiny in your life to pass. Hallelujah! 

The word 'delight' here in this context can be defined in these three ways:

- A heart that finds delight in the Lord. 

- A heart that finds pleasure in the Lord. 

- A heart that is soft and pliable before the Lord. 

It means you allow the Lord to turn you, like the Lord turns the river. You desire to flow with the Lord. And that's how your life is going to be restful, yet fruitful. Amen!

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God's love for you conquers all!

Words from the Lord: 

"There is a plan by the enemy and the spirit of anti-Christ to try to cause My people to doubt and fall away. But stay firm in Me. Stay firm in My Word. Look to Me. My love for you conquers all. You are made more than conquerors through Me who loves you. Receive My love. The hatred, ridicule, or mockery that some people throw at you, pray for them and return with love. Let My love fill them. When they know My love, they will know Me." 

God is not just loving. God is love. To know God is to know His love. To experience God is to experience His love. 

1 John 4:7:9 says, 'Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son (Jesus) into the world that we might live through Him.' 

Beloved, if you are one of those whom the work of darkness has tried to cause you to doubt your faith or to doubt the Word of God, the Lord is here to fill you with His love. Receive from Him. Look to Him. Let your focus be fixed on the Lord. Let your eyes be fixed on His Word.

Romans 5:5 says, 'Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.' 

You see, the Holy Spirit has been given to us. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of love. Romans 5:5 says this love has been poured out into our hearts. And you know what? There will always be hope in your life when there is love of God in your life! 

We humans are created to receive God's love. That's innate in our lives. We are born and created to receive God's love. And you know what? To receive God's love is to receive Christ! Why? Because Christ is the manifestation of God's love. You have read in 1 John chapter 4 that God's love was manifested toward us. In other words, God's love was shown toward us. How? Through Jesus! He came down and walked among us! So, Christ is the manifestation of God's love. He is the epitome of God's love. He is the very personification of God's love. What is personification of God's love? It means God's love came on earth in the form of Jesus, the Person of Jesus! 

For each person whom God created, whatever their upbringing or background may be, there is something inside each person, innate in each person, that yearns for God's love.

1 Peter 3:8-9 says, 'Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.'

We are to love and do good to others. Not just to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, but also to those who are against our faith or against our belief in Christ. Their spiritual eyes may not be enlightened yet, and they may say all kinds of untruth against our faith, but render not evil for evil. Render evil with good. Pray for them. Forgive them. Look at them with the eyes of God's love and compassion. I know it's easier said than done. But we can if we open our hearts to receive God's love and let God's love overflow in our lives. 

Let God's love fill our hearts right now. Let God's love fill our hearts to the overflow, so much so we can't help but to look at others with the eyes of God's love. Amen! 

In Matthew 5:10-12, Jesus says: "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

So take heart, beloved. Let your eyes be fixed on Jesus. Always remember He is the personification of God's love. When you have Him, you have everything. When you have Him, you have His love overflowing. So, even if people mock at your faith, or accuse you and your Bible as being wrong in their eyes, you know what God says today? Pray for them. Do not return evil for evil. Pray for their spiritual eyes to be enlightened. Pray for God's love to visit them. Be patient. Do not react. Remember, you are not fighting flesh and blood. You are to love one another. You are to love others. You are to love even those who are against you, or those who attack your faith. The Bible says so.

In Matthew 5:43-47, Jesus says: "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?" 

You may be asking why the Scripture mentions about tax collectors. There are reasons why there's such a low view of tax collectors those days. These were Jews who worked for the Roman government those days. No one likes to pay money to the government that's oppressive, like the Roman Empire those days. And that's what happened in the first century. So, those who collected the taxes for the government were seen as traitors. Rather than fighting the Roman oppressors, these tax collectors were helping them. Not only that. They were enriching themselves at the expense of their fellow citizens. Also, it was a common knowledge that these tax collectors cheated the people they collected money from. They would collect more than required and keep the extra for themselves. In other words, they were dishonest.

Now, back to this statement 'love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.' You see, you love not just in words, but you love in deeds and in action. So, whenever you have the opportunity, do good to others. Not just to others who are good to you, but even to others who hate you. Now, it doesn't seem logical here. At least not logical in the minds of this world. But you know what? Many times, God's Word and God's love is above human logic. This is a God who is above human minds and human logic. This is a God who is supernatural. And that's why many people in this world cannot understand who He is. Because they use their human logic to try to understand Him. 

Now look at Jesus when He was at the cross. Luke 23:32-35 says, 'There were also two others, criminals, led with Him (Jesus) to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.' You see, Jesus was put together with criminals. In other words, in the eyes of the world those days, He was seen as a criminal. He was punished on earth just like other criminals. But you know what did Jesus say? He said: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." Even when He was in pain, even when the nails were pegged on the palm of His hands, even when He was mocked and ridiculed, and even when He was being sneered at, He didn't react negatively. Instead, He said to His Father: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." I continue here. 'And they divided His garments and cast lots. And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God."' 

But you see, He chose to die for us. He died for our sins. He has carried away all our sins. Because He knows that we cannot save ourselves. All of us have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. He came to redeem us. Why? Because of His love for us! 

Romans 8:31-34 says, 'What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son (Jesus), but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.' 

Romans 8:35-37 says, 'Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.'

Romans 8:38-39 says, 'For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.' 

Beloved, God's love for you is everlasting. God's love for you never fails. When everything else on this earth fails, God's love for you never fails. Let us always remember this. And we have read just now in Romans 8:37 that 'in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.' It means God's love for you conquers all! When you know how much God loves you, and when you know that you are a beloved of God, you become more than conquerors, whatever situation you may be facing on this earth, or whoever that comes against you. Amen!

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How to train yourself to hear God?

People often ask me these questions: 

How do I know what to do in each time and season? 

How do I know when to hang on and when to move on? 

How do I know what is of God and what is not of God? 

In the Old Testament, the books of Samuel imply that whenever King Saul or King David needed to ask God for direction or guidance, they asked a priest for the ephod. 

For example, 1 Samuel 30:6-8 says, 'Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, "Please bring the ephod here to me." And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. So David inquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?" And the Lord answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all."'

As David sought and inquired of the Lord on what to do, the Lord answered. How did the Lord answer? The Lord answered through the using of Urim and Thummim!

What is Urim and Thummim? This is a set of two objects used by the high priest to answer a question, or to reveal the will (or direction) of God. Also known as 'lights and perfection', or 'revelation and truth', this is a priestly device for obtaining oracles (i.e. obtaining prophetic guidance on what to do or what not to do). Its purpose is to confirm or to refute about something, either 'Yes' or 'No', 'Innocent' or 'Guilty', 'Go ahead' or 'Not go ahead'. 

By the way, the word 'oracles' is from the word 'orare' in Latin. It simply means 'to speak'. So, 'to obtain oracles from God' is 'to hear God speak' or 'to receive guidance and revelation from God regarding something'. 

In 1 Samuel 30:6-8 just now, the Lord actually answered David through the operation of Urim and Thummim! 

To enhance our understanding of Urim and Thummim, and in cross-reference, let's go to Exodus 28:30. Here, the Scripture says, 'And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron's heart when he goes in before the Lord. So Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel over his heart before the Lord continually.' 

Aaron here speaks of 'priesthood'. Here, the high priest was to carry the Urim and Thummim, i.e. the two stones in a pouch (or pocket) on his breastplate. When he needed a decision, or needed to make a judgment on what to do (or what not to do), he would kind of cast lots to see the result from his casting of those stones. That's how the priest inquired of the Lord on behalf of the king (or the ruler) those days. Of course, this can only be used for the king, the court, or someone serving the need of the nation those days. In other words, it's not to be used randomly, or as and when anyone likes, like throwing dices. But it's done in the fear of the Lord. It's done in the presence of the Lord. It's about some major decision making. It's regarding the nation. It's regarding important decisions by the king. 

In 1 Samuel chapter 30, you can see that David needed to make a crucial and major decision, whether to attack or not to attack the enemy at that time. 

For the record, there are three main legitimate ways of obtaining oracles (hearing from God) in the Old Testament: 

1. Through Urim and Thummim

2. Through dreams and visions 

3. Through prophets 

In addition to all these three legitimate ways, there can also be sovereign overruling by the Lord through angelic visitation. The angels would speak on behalf of the Lord to the person.

Let's enhance our understanding further by looking at 1 Samuel 28:6. When King Saul inquired of the Lord at that time, see what the Scripture says here: 'The Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets.' 

When Saul saw an army of the enemy (at that time, it was the Philistines coming against him), he was afraid, and he sought the Lord. But the Lord didn't answer him. Why? Because the Lord has moved on from him. Why? Saul was disobedient to the Lord, and he was more concerned with advancing his own kingdom rather than God's kingdom. So here, the Lord didn't answer him. In this verse also, notice the three legitimate ways of hearing from God: Through dreams (and that includes visions), through Urim and Thummim, and through the prophets. 

But how about today? How about we as believers in the New Covenant? Because we don't use Urim and Thummim. In fact, many scholars believe Urim and Thummim have been lost since Babylonian captivity those days. 

So, how about today as believers in the New Covenant? You don't need the physical Urim and Thummim like those days. Why? Because you have something better! Because the Holy Spirit lives in you. You are the temple of the Holy Spirit. You already have it in your spirit, inside of you, i.e. your inner witness (or some people call it 'inward witness'). You will know whether there's 'Peace' or 'No peace' from the Lord regarding something, whether it's a 'Yes' or 'No', whether it's a 'Go ahead' or 'Not go ahead'.

But how do you train yourself? How do you train your spiritual senses to hear from God, or to hear God on what to do (or what not to do) in your life? 

What I'm trying to say here is, today in your life as a believer in the New Covenant, your inner witness (or inward witness) is the Urim and Thummim! In other words, you can receive guidance or direction from the Lord through your inner witness, i.e. 'Peace' or 'No peace', 'Yes' or 'No', 'Go ahead' or 'Not go ahead'! 

In Romans 8:14-17, Apostle Paul wrote: 'For as many as are led by the Spirit of God (i.e. guided or directed by the Spirit of God), these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ...' 

Just as God the Father spoke to God the Son, God can speak to you too. It's a matter of you allowing your spiritual senses to be enlightened, or to be clear to receive from the Lord.

In John 16:12-14, Jesus said: "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth (i.e. the Holy Spirit) has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine, and declare it to you." 

That's why it's so important for us believers in this end time to be spiritually sensitive, to walk in the reverence and fear of the Lord, and to cleanse our hands and our hearts. Because that's how we are going to hear and receive more clearly. Our 'spiritual antenna' will be sharp, and we are going to receive revelation and wisdom regarding our lives, regarding our future, and even regarding the nations and the world. Amen!

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How to beat discouragement in your life?

Words from the Lord:

"Do not lose heart, and do not allow yourself to be discouraged by what is happening to you at the moment. Instead, encourage yourself in Me and strengthen yourself in Me. For I am your Savior and your God. I have never left you nor forsaken you. Your time for recovery and restoration is at hand. Look to Me, and I will show you the way to your recovery and restoration." 

What are the areas in life that you need a recovery or restoration? 

It may be your health. It may be your finance. It may be something that you have lost in your life. It may be a situation that has discouraged you recently. 

Whatever it may be, know that the Lord your God is ever All-powerful - in the Old Testament times, in the New Testament times, even right now in your situation. He is not dead. He is still very much alive in your situation. Your part is to look to Him and put your trust in Him. Just do not limit Him that your answer must come 'like that means like that', i.e. must be in the way that you want. He can show you new ways, even ways that you cannot imagine possible. Remember, He is a God of all possibilities. 

Today, I want to bring you to 1 Samuel 30. Here, you can see how David, for a time, had lost it all; but he eventually recovered it all.

Maybe what you've expected in your life is not what it is in reality at the moment. Maybe what you've prayed for has not happened yet, and you are asking why is God silent, why is God seemingly so slow to respond, and if He's ever going to answer you. Maybe the healing that you've wanted or asked from God has not happened yet.

But today, I want to show you there are three ways for you to beat discouragement. 

Before that, let's look at David's situation in 1 Samuel 30. Here, David and his men came to Ziklag only to find that the enemy had invaded the place and even burned it with fire. Not just that. The enemy had even taken captive their wives, their children, and their possessions. In short, everything's gone! 

At that point of time, not only David had lost his wives, his children, and his possessions, but his own people were also turning against him! In other words, his leadership was questioned. In fact, his own followers even wanted to stone him! In those days, when people stone, it's not like throwing pebbles. When people stone, they really stone! You know what that means? They wanted to kill him! You see, that was the worst possible scenario where a person lost virtually everything - his wives, his children, his possessions, even his leadership and authority!

You see, David could have just wallowed in self pity at that time. David could have just become extremely negative, or even could have just killed himself. But no! Instead, he did the opposite. He encouraged himself. He strengthened himself. 1 Samuel 30:6 (NKJV) says, 'David strengthened himself in the Lord his God'. In King James Version (KJV), it's written: 'David encouraged himself in the Lord his God'. 

Beloved of God, no matter what your situation may be at the moment, you can take heart from what David had gone through here, and how David encouraged himself. You can, because like David, you are a beloved of God too!

Right now, there's a release of God's anointing to destroy every yoke of depression, every yoke of sorrow, and every yoke of grief in your life; and there's a release of fresh anointing upon your life! You are now set free! You can now embrace the new! You have a new strength and a new hope in your life! 

The word 'encouraged' here in 1 Samuel 30:6 is very interesting. It's 'khawzak' in Hebrew. It can be defined as 'to be restored to strength'. It means from being down and out, from being totally discouraged and distressed, a person is being restored to strength. That's exactly how David did it. He restored himself to strength. Like David, you too can restore yourself to strength! Another definition is 'be made strong' or 'be made secure'. Yet another definition is 'be fastened (to the Lord)'. It means 'to be tied to the Lord'. It means 'to not let go of Him in a time like this'. 

Yes beloved, in a time like this, in a time when you may be discouraged in certain areas of your life, do not let go of God. Keep looking to Him. In fact, be strengthened in Him. Be strengthened in your faith. That's how you are going to overcome. You are going to start to recover many things that you have lost. You are going to start to see yourself being restored, even in ways that you cannot imagine possible. To God, all things are possible. I declare upon you that you are going to see your recovery and you are going to see your restoration. Yes, if you need healing, you are going to see your healing. Be restored, be healed, and see your recovery. Amen! 

Back to 1 Samuel 30 now. After David had strengthened himself in the Lord his God, now it's time for him to do something with that strength from the Lord. What did he do? He sought the Lord! He inquired of the Lord! David inquired, "Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?" The Lord then answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all." 

You see, as David sought the Lord, the Lord showed him a way! The Lord even promised him that he would surely overtake the enemy and without fail recover all that he had lost! 

David and his men then found someone from the enemy's camp whom his master had left behind because he fell sick. I believe that was a divine appointment. The Lord somehow caused David and his men to meet with someone from the enemy's camp whom his master had left behind. You see, God can raise up people whom you can never expect will be of help to you! God knows all. God sees further than you. God knows how to raise up even people who are from the enemy's camp! 

The rest is history. This man showed David and his men where the enemy's camp was. David and his men then launched an attack against the enemy's camp. They successfully recovered all that the enemy had carried away, and they rescued their wives and children alive! It was a great victory for David and his men on that day! Whatever the enemy had taken away from them, they recovered them all! 

Now, I want to show you three ways to beat (overcome) discouragement. I'm going to base this on Psalm 42:5. This psalmist wrote: 'Why are you cast down, O my soul? (In other words: 'Why are you distressed? Why are you discouraged?') And why are you disquieted within me?' And this psalmist answered: 'Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, for the help of His countenance.' 

So, I'm going to explain three keys here based on Psalm 42:5:

1. Hope in God 

2. I shall yet praise Him

3. He is present to help you right now

Before that, what are the possible reasons for discouragement in life? It can be any of these:

1. Unanswered prayers and God's seemingly slow response

How do you deal with this? Trust in the Lord for His perfect timing. He may seem slow to us (how we see it in the worldly way), but to Him, He is never slow. His timing is perfect. In His time, He will make all things beautiful. So, don't give up trusting the Lord. Keep trusting the Lord. And of course, let Him have His way. Do not insist that your way must be done. Because God has His way, yes, even in ways that you cannot imagine yet. 

2. Mocking and ridicule from people who don't understand you

Indeed, there can be mocking and ridicule from people who don't understand what God is doing in your life, and even in your ministry, your career, or your family. Yeah, some people get discouraged because no one seems to understand their situation. Not only that. There can also be people who are very judgmental. And worse is some of these people may be people whom you trust, or whom you have been friends with for some time. 

3. Memories of better days compared to nowadays

This can be very real. But with God's help, you can deal with this. Look at each new season more positively. See it as God wants to do something new in your life. See it as God wants to do something that will even surprise you, in a good way. There's a whole new world out there for you. There's a whole new opportunity out there for you. So, look ahead, and not look behind you. Yes, you can learn from your past, but you can always choose to look ahead and embrace your new season, knowing that God is a God who always does new things. 

4. Trials, challenges, and circumstances in life

As long as we are in this world, we can face trials and challenges in life. Financial constraints. Health issues. Loss of opportunity. Loss of job. Loss of business. Being entangled in office politics. Being compared with others who seem to be better off. The list goes on. How do you deal with all these? Know that the Lord is present with you, in spite of all these. Just as in David's situation, the Lord can somehow, against all odds, show you a way and show you an answer. Whatever your situation may be, know that the Lord knows how to deal with each of your specific situation, if you look to Him.

Three ways to beat discouragement (based on Psalm 42:5):

1. Put your hope in the Lord

Trust in Him that He knows what He is doing in your life. He knows you better than you know yourself. Why? Because He is your Creator and your Redeemer. Trust in Him that He knows the best timing for your breakthrough. Trust in Him that He sometimes allows something to happen in your life, yet He also knows how to turn things around for your good. There is always a purpose and reason for everything that happens. But always remember, all things will work together for good according to His purpose for your life. 

2. Praise the Lord 

As you begin to praise the Lord, you are putting your focus away from yourself and your problems, and you are putting your focus on the Lord. Instead of looking to yourself, you are looking to God. You are magnifying God. You are praising God for who He is. He is great, and He is greatly to be praised. When you begin to do that, things will begin to change in your life and around you. Take God's word for it! 

3. He is present to help you right now

Know that He is present with you right now. He is not absent. He is present to help you right now. Remember, He is your Savior, He is your Rescuer, and He will surely come to your aid. He is your God. He is present, no matter what happens in your life right now. He never leaves you nor forsakes you. He has never forgotten you. So, keep looking to the Lord in a time like this. Surely there will be an answer for you!

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