When we think about what God did for us yesterday, it gives us the strength to handle whatever today brings. We often fear today because we so easily forget how we overcame yesterday. No one survives the den of lions and frets at the sight of a dog, nor does one who has been to the furnace fear the heat of the sun at midday.
Men and women who must live in constant victory must learn how to recount, not the gloomy side of yesterday but the beautiful testimonies God gave (Psalm 105:5). While it may be true that yesterday was not all rosy, we should never forget how God gave us the food meant for angels right in the middle of our wilderness experience. We should never forget too how He brought forth water from the rock and how He made our bitter water sweet. In the midst of the toughest of times, God never leaves us without a testimony; a reference point for times to come. Our experiences through the prison often prepares us for life in the Palace. In the midst of our challenges comes the many manifestations of the divine hand. This is the beauty of our faith walk with God.
Faith entails trusting in God’s promises even when they are not physically visible, as well as believing in the unseen based on God’s character and reliability.
The Bible provides a comprehensive portrait of God’s nature. We learn that He is trustworthy, incapable of lying, and perfectly reliable. Our faith is anchored on God’s character. We accept His promises not necessarily occasioned by tangible proofs but on the unshakable truth of who He is. As we trust in Him, we experience His miraculous work in our lives.
For David, his experiences with the lion and the bear were undoubtedly his training grounds ahead of his encounter with the fierce-looking Goliath. We read of how he boosted his confidence against the giant by reminding both himself and his audience how that God had earlier enabled him to kill both the lion and the bear. Hear it in his own words: “let no man’s heart faint because of him (Goliath), your servant will go and fight with this Philistine. Your servant has killed both lion and bear and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them…, The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of the Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:32, 36, 37). This is the attitude the LORD requires of us this season. He wants us to talk tough and talk faith; not just hollow talks, but talks of faith based on the victory He gave us yesterday.
The book of Matthew gives an account of a uniquely instructive experience the disciples of Jesus had with the Master. The disciples had forgotten to carry bread on this particular trip. Jesus coincidentally was teaching on the leaven of the Pharisees and the disciples began to reason that He was alluding to the fact that they had forgotten to carry bread. Then Jesus made the following remark: “You have so little faith! Why are you arguing with each other about having no bread? Don’t you understand even yet? Don’t you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up? Or the 4,000 I fed with seven loaves, and the large baskets of leftovers you picked up?” (Mathew 16:8-10). Clearly, Jesus had expected that they remember the miracles of the bread and so to never worry about bread once He was in their midst.
This is also what God is calling us to do in this season. He wants us to intentionally revisit our pasts and recall the good things He has done for us in the past. Looking back on what God has done in the past strengthens our faith in the present. Our testimonials from yesterday prepare our hearts for today’s victory. When we forget what God has done in the past, we are more likely to faint and lose confidence. It is imperative that we regularly rehearse to ourselves, God’s wonderful works in our lives. If we would daily count our blessings and name them one by one, we would not only see how truly blessed we are, but also how powerfully God has been on our side, giving us victory all the way.
Remain blessed,
Pastor Jerry Orhue
Senior Pastor, Gracevine Chapel
For more sermon notes, please visit https://www.gracevinechapel.org/notes-devotionals
