DEC 5 DEVOTIONALS

.REFUSE TO END UP IN DISAPPOINTMENT.........

And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day. Judges 20:22 How to overcome discouragement is one lesson to learn in order to climb your ladder of success smoothly. Discouragement is universal, it knows no status, barrier, gender or calling. The low and the mighty have all tasted the sting of discouragement. Have you ever thought of what it looks like for a mighty prophet like Elijah, the anointed pillar of fire sitting under a juniper tree wishing himself death? (1Kg. 19) What would you do if when you were sure that you heard the voice of God before starting the project but things did not work out?....... So was the story of Israel in the above scripture...!!! From the text in Judges chapter 19 to 22, a man of Israel had just returned with a report of evil and wickedness that he had suffered in another Israeli town of Gibeah, belonging to the children of Benjamin; His concubine was sodomized and raped to death and so he cut her into pieces and distributed the body parts throughout the coasts of Israel seeking reprieve. This infuriated the whole of Israel who then decided to go to war against the tribe of Benjamin. In Judges 20:18 they asked of the Lord if this was a good idea and who should go first. And the Lord said, “Judah”. But it was a disastrous outcome. 22,000 of the men of Israel were killed in a day And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelite that day twenty and two thousand men. Judges 20:21 That was not good or encouraging outcome for an assignment that heavens backed up...!! But they asked again the second time and this time they lost 18,000 men again after the Lord had told them to go . And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him.) Judges 20:23 At this point, what would you have done ? ... that was a 2nd degree failure.! How could they have failed again having divine backing..? What could have been wrong..? What would you have done ?.....Get discouraged..? Give up or complain..? Yes.. they were seriously discouraged, saddened but they refused to give up, they picked themselves up to ask and do it again. Beloved, refuse to end up in disappointment..!, if you will not stay discouraged but ask and do it again the outcome will certainly change and your expectations and desires shall be fulfilled. Moses learned this lesson (Ex. 5:23), so was David (1Sam:30) We simply cannot take divine instructions for granted; assumptions is one of the many follies of religion. Courage is a grace to encourage yourself and do it again under divine instructions. Beloved, refuse to give up, discouragement can not be your end, you can rise above it and move forward. May you not end this year discouraged or in disappointment...may your vision and fire be rekindled as you wait on the Lord for new strength and instructions this month in Christ Jesus name..