All Is Not Lost
"Please deliver me from the hand of my brother."
GENESIS 32:11
+
All Is Not Lost
Such prayers, which are poured out in extreme despair and the greatest dangers, are very pleasing to God. These are the ineffable and vehement groanings by which the godly rouse themselves against despair. . . . This is the struggle of the godly, in which they awaken faith powerfully by the remembrance of the promise and the divine command and by trust in it. I must and will preach, but the devil offers resistance. Very well, preaching there must be, even if the world should be torn apart...Here the devil urges that all is lost. "Why do you cry out?" he suggestively asks the afflicted man. "It is all over with you and time to give up." But the Spirit says in opposition: “All is not lost; quite the contrary! It is by no means all over! I know that God has determined and promised something else in regard to me." This is the great fervency and power of the Spirit in weakness. It is a very pleasing sacrifice to God according to Psalm 51:17, for it is the sacrifice of mortification: "The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise." . . . Therefore we should learn to be strong and unbroken in courage, whatever evils and dangers confront us and however much despair catches the attention of our hearts. . .. In this manner God wants our faith to be exercised and aroused that we may grow from day to day and become stronger.
GENESIS 32:11
+
All Is Not Lost
Such prayers, which are poured out in extreme despair and the greatest dangers, are very pleasing to God. These are the ineffable and vehement groanings by which the godly rouse themselves against despair. . . . This is the struggle of the godly, in which they awaken faith powerfully by the remembrance of the promise and the divine command and by trust in it. I must and will preach, but the devil offers resistance. Very well, preaching there must be, even if the world should be torn apart...Here the devil urges that all is lost. "Why do you cry out?" he suggestively asks the afflicted man. "It is all over with you and time to give up." But the Spirit says in opposition: “All is not lost; quite the contrary! It is by no means all over! I know that God has determined and promised something else in regard to me." This is the great fervency and power of the Spirit in weakness. It is a very pleasing sacrifice to God according to Psalm 51:17, for it is the sacrifice of mortification: "The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise." . . . Therefore we should learn to be strong and unbroken in courage, whatever evils and dangers confront us and however much despair catches the attention of our hearts. . .. In this manner God wants our faith to be exercised and aroused that we may grow from day to day and become stronger.
Posted in Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2024
January
Faith Comes By HearingAll Day LongThe Lord Keeps for HimselfSalvation Has ComeGrafted InStand Fast By FaithKindness and SeverityThe MysteryMercy on AllUnsearchableLiving SacrificesGiftsGenuine LoveThe Meaning of LifeGod EstablishedThe Summary of the Law is LoveThe Armor of LightMade to StandLiving to the LordEvery Knee Shall BowStumbling BlockTrue FreedomServant of the ChurchOur ExampleFellow WorkersAbound in HopeA Good TeacherGod’s WorkTravel PlansThe Fullness of His BlessingStrive TogetherWelcomeGreet One AnotherWatch Out
February
GreetingsAble to StrengthenAuthorityBlessed BeRedemption in His BloodSpiritual BlessingsGive ThanksDead Men WalkingBy GraceImmeasurable RichesBy GraceGod's WorkmanshipSeparatedBrought NearNo More HostilityTotal AccessFellow CitizensFor This ReasonMystery RevealedLeast of AllEternal PurposeFaith in HimSpiritual StrengthAbundant GiftWalk in LoveChrist's MeasureGifts to MenUnity of the FaithTo and Fro
March
Truth in LoveWalking a New PathA New SelfPut Away FalsehoodNew LifeImitators of GodSons of DisobedienceChildren of LightThe Will of the LordOne FleshFilled with the SpiritThe Church SubmitsChrist LovesProfound MysteryChildren of PromiseBring Them UpBondservants of ChristYour MasterStrong in the LordThe Whole Armor of GodStand FirmLove IncorruptibleGrace and PeaceHope Laid UpRedemptionThe Fullness of GodReconciledThe Hope of GloryToilGreat StruggleRooted in Christ