Down but never out!!

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 {KJV}
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

Let's just face it, living in today's world can be very discouraging. Just watching the news can make a person miserable because its all so bad and hopeless. Christians we must learn to lift our eyes to the hills from which comes our help, for our help comes from the Lord. In the scripture above you can see that in spite of all the darkness, we can be down but never out. When your eyes are focused on Jesus, you can't sink no matter how devastating life can be. One of my favorite songs is called "Encourage yourself" by Donald Lawrence. Too many times we depend on others to lift us up but sometimes you have to lift yourself up. You have to speak the Word over yourself.

Not so long ago, I battled a very severe case of depression. I felt as if life was no longer worth living and I felt as if all I had ever done was a failure. God had to teach me how to go on no matter what the situation. Yes, many things had went wrong in my life but everyday I woke up was another chance to correct my many mistakes. Instead of praying against problems, I had to learn to pray for strength to deal with any given trial. The devil will throw things at us, but with God we shall overcome. Isaiah 54:17 {KJV} says: No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. Notice it didn't say that the weapon wouldn't be formed, it says even though the weapon will be formed it will not succeed.

In order to bounce back from trials and tribulations you must prepare ahead of time. Don't wait until a bad situation develops before you decide to run to God but everyday deposit the Word into your spirit so that it can be brought to your remembrance. Please know that nothing from nothing leaves nothing. If you don't make a deposit, don't expect to make a withdrawal. Proverbs 18:14 {Amplified version} says: The strong spirit of a man sustains him in bodily pain or trouble, but a weak and broken spirit who can raise up or bear? What happens if a person doesn't eat? Eventually they die from starvation, its the same way spiritually. The more you feed your spirit the stronger it will be during a struggle.

While going through that deep depression I learned to stand my ground. When thoughts of worthlessness came to mind, I had an answer from the Word of God. Let's look at Luke 4:2-4 {KJV}
2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
Every time the devil spoke to Jesus, he always had an answer from the Word of God. Again if you don't make a deposit, don't expect to get a withdrawal. I just want to encourage everyone today to stand firm. When you get down, get back up...don't allow yourself to stay down. Sometimes it seems like the harder you try to live right, the more you get ridiculed. Trouble can sometimes be a sign of whether you're close to a breakthrough or not. One of my favorite scriptures to quote during troubled times is Proverbs 3:3 {KJV} But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. With God you may get down, but you'll never be out because his grace is sufficient. God's power is greater than any power the devil has.

Let's take what I call the hand test. Pretend like the room you're in represents God and his power, now take your hand and cover your eyes. It seems like your hand is bigger doesn't it, why because that's what you're focused on. Now take your hand off of your eyes and compare the size of your hand to the size of the room you're in...it doesn't compare does it? Remember that your problems don't even compare to the power of God because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. Make a decision to be the victor and not the victim. It's time for us to victimize the devil with the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God. Yeah devil you had me down but you should have killed me while you had the chance, it's too late now I'm already on my way back up again. Things may not look good right now, but I refuse to give up on God's promises. Even if he doesn't deliver me from this situation, I am fully persuaded that he can. Somehow some way this situation is for my good, so I chose to bounce back and allow nothing to shake my faith in God.

Remain blessed