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Psalm 44:3 Only By God’s Power And Hand

For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them. Psalm 44:3

Everyday people are doing many different things. Most feel that what they are doing is by their own ability and strength. Some will give a little credit to others for their support in accomplishing some tasks, but most think it is their own work. When things occur outside their abilities, then it is often seen as good luck.

Some of the sons of Korah are remembering what God has done for the Israelites. They remember that they did not gain possession of the land or save themselves by their own abilities, but by the right hand and arm of God because of His favor.

When someone does something it is easy to think that it is done by one’s own power, strength or ability. Very seldom can one physically see someone or something else making the action possible. Mankind believes that they are able to do anything and everything that they want as long as they have the will power, determination and strength to go for it.

Believers can sometimes fall into this same frame of thinking that they did something on their own, forgetting that God has given them the ability or that it was done by His power. God has given the believer His Holy Spirit to give one strength, wisdom and ability to accomplish great things.

Most believers today will never need to take over a physical land, but every believer needs to take back spiritual land: the hearts of those who are lost, overcoming addictions, overcoming sins, destroying the works of the devil, bringing about healing and salvation of bodies and souls, and much more. These are all done by God’s power and favor.

God has worked in your life to give you strength and abilities not your own. He will work through you to accomplish His mission here on this earth.

Do not let personal pride get in the way and think that the things you have done was by your own abilities. Give God the praise and glory for what He has done in and through you. Everything done is by His powerful arm and favor, not yourself.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know God’s hand at work in your life; that you will see God’s favor upon your life; and that you will know God’s power working through you to take back the spiritual lands around you.

Picture by John Reed on Unsplash

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Deuteronomy 34:4 Consequences Of Actions

Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.” Deuteronomy 34:4

Positive consequences are something that most people like to think and talk about, but rarely like to think or talk about negative consequences. Often the negative side is downplayed to the point it does not exist. Everybody is allowed to win whether they earned a winning score or not.

As Moses was about to die, God allowed him to see into the promised land. He was told he could see it but was not allowed to cross the river into it. This was due to his disobeying God by striking the rock.

In the same way that the world downplays negative consequences, many in the church are doing the same thing. Sin is allowed in the life of a believer with the expectation that there will be no bad consequence. Often this is viewed because God is willing to forgive the sin because of the death of Jesus upon the cross.

While forgiveness brings about removal of the sentence of death upon the believer, it does not always stop all consequences of the action or sin in this life. The person who kills someone may be forgiven by God but will still have to go to prison to pay for the crime.

Any disobedience to God is a sin, regardless of how great or small it is or whether man sees it as bad or not. God has a plan for every believer that must be followed step by step. If one chooses to not follow the plan of God, it is sin and there may be negative consequences. One will still be saved but may not get all the blessings originally intended.

God has plans of blessing for you that are dependent upon your obeying His commands. You may know what these blessings are, or you may not.

Strive to obey every command God gives immediately. Do not allow yourself to turn to the right or left of His commands. Do not allow yourself to be in a position in which you miss out on the full blessing of God in your life.

Live in a way that you will qualify to cross the river into greater blessings.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know the commands God has for you; that you will obey all the commands of God; that God will allow you to cross the river to greater blessings; and that God will not have to bring on negative consequences due to your actions.

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Deuteronomy 1:21 Take Possession Of The Land

See, the Lord your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 1:21

Throughout history nations have invaded other nations and taken the land for their own possession. Individuals have also taken land from other individuals.

While some will have courage to take new lands, others will hold back in fear and never expand. Some will also attempt to take some land but stop due to the difficulties that bring on discouragement.

Moses told the Israelites that were to go in a take the land God promised them without being afraid or discouraged.

Taking land from an enemy will be a costly and dangerous mission to accomplish. No one will give up land freely without a battle.

Although the Israelites were going in to physically take some physical land, believers are to take land today, however, not physical land but spiritual land.

Satan, with the world, has taken the hearts and minds of the people–a spiritual land. Hearts and minds have been given over to the control of sin and death.

Once a person becomes a believer, he is now the enemy to the world and on God’s side to take back what the devil has stolen. As a witness for Jesus, the believer is to go out and take back the hearts of men and women for God. These hearts are of those who are in the workplace, neighborhood, family, city, nation or anywhere else one may be.

Just as taking physical land is difficult and dangerous, so it is with taking the hearts of people. The world will rise up to fight back which can cause fear or discouragement, however, the believer is to have no fear or discouragement, because God will be with him as he takes possession for God.

All around you are people who have been taken captive by the world and Satan. Those people are headed to hell and it is part of your responsibility to take back the land (people) God has put in your life.

Do not allow yourself to be afraid of the world and what it may say or do as you are a witness of Jesus. And do not allow yourself to get discouraged when some will reject the message you bring.

Fight to take the land God has put before you.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will be a witness for Jesus wherever you go; that you will point many people to Jesus; that God will draw many through your testimony; and that God’s kingdom will be built daily through you.