Sitting by the river

This morning in my devotional time, I read the 137th Psalm. This Psalm was written by the Jews living in the Babylonian captivity, far from the temple and home. The Psalm opens with a scene familiar to any one who has lived anytime on this earth.

“By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept when we remembered Zion” (NASB) Have you ever been in a situation that basically you just cried when you remembered the “good times” and now feel as if you are in a captivity of dark depression? To be walking in a deep valley and have the enemy of your soul taunt you to sing the songs of praise now! To remind you of the times you walked in great faith, and joy and felt the favor of Almighty God, only to now be in a place where victory doesn’t seem possible. It is in these “crying times” that we need to change our focus.

Stop focusing on where you have been, or even on all the battles fought won, or lost, and remember where our journey ends. We have so many examples in the Bible but my favorite is the story of Paul and Silas in prison. Talk about a crying time, there to help, cast out one little demon, now you are beaten, and put into a dark prison to await trial. Rather than crying, allowing the enemy to convince them that they are done, defeated, and forgotten, they begin to pray and sing. You know how the story ends with a “jailhouse rock” (forgive me there my Elvis nerdism is showing.) The lesson is to remember our captivity ends, our run on the earth is going to end for the believer with death and graduation to heaven, or rapture. Focus on the joy we have in Christ, for we are more than conquerors, and have the power to walk on top of our enemy.

The next thing to remember is God will turn it around. He has made us great and might promises and He will keep His word. He has defeated the enemy and one day according to the Book of Revelation we will stand, around and cheer as our enemy is bound and cast into torment forever. He will never again trouble God’s people and we shall live in the presence of God forever. If that don’t make you smile then nothing will.

So today take the time to praise God and remember your restoration is coming if you hold on to Christ and the power of Cross. As a friend of mine loves to sing, “Victory is mine, victory today is mine, I told Satan to Get thee behind VICTORY today is mine.” So keep singing. Grace and peace be multiplied to you and may you live today blessed and highly favored.

Eric