What Was Meant To Destroy Us, God Can Use For Our Growth
Saturday, January 6
Psalm 83:9-10 (NIV)
“Do to them as you did to Midian, as you did to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon, who perished at Endor and became like dung on the ground.”
Devotion
Who and what are our enemies? Everything in life that seeks to destroy us or separate us from God. Sometimes that is the poor choices we ourselves make, such as filling our day with hours of surfing on our phones, or playing games. It could be addictions, serving other gods, carnality, greed, self-obsession, pornography to name a few.
The psalmist specifies in verse 9-10, that he wants for God to destroy the enemies so that they are left upon the ground and become like dung or like fertilizer.
Fertilizer, although smelly and unpleasant, is full of nutrients that feed plants. In this week’s sermon we learned that it is important to yield to God in His tilling and turning the soil that He has planted us in, so that it becomes soft, and yielding. Then we can benefit from our enemies becoming fertilizer. We can absorb the nourishment provided by God defeating the enemies in our life rather than be hardened and miss it.
For example: In the old testament story of Joseph, his brother's plots against him actually lead to a course of events that brought him to a place where he was able to save many people, what they meant for evil, God turned for good (Genesis 50:20). Personally, Joseph’s heart softened by the tilling God did in the adverse situations he encountered, and all the unpleasant dung he endured ended up being a recipe for growth and fruitfulness! Genesis 49:22-26 says this about Joseph, “Joseph is like a grapevine that produces much fruit, a healthy vine watered by a spring, whose branches grow over the wall.”
Think of how that story might have ended if he had instead hardened his heart. We can praise God in all things. When it seems like our world is being turned upside down, or adversity comes our way, we can look for God to till and soften the soil, fertilize it with the defeated enemies in our life, and prepare us for growth and fruitfulness!
Today’s Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I praise You for being my source of wisdom and strength during each of the pitfalls of life. Help me to remember to trust You when unforeseen circumstances arise this year. I will start by spending time with You daily, and studying Your word, so that when the hardships arise, my first reaction is to run to You and seek Your guidance. I will lean in to You and listen to your gentle instructions. I entrust my life and everything I have into Your hands this year, because according to 2 Timothy 1:7, “You have not given me a spirit of fear and timidity, but one of power, love, and a sound mind”. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Apply It Today
We are all broadsided by unforeseen circumstances sometimes. Think of past ways you faced a variety of hardships and decide today if you should handle them differently in the future. Now is the time to make a viable plan for how you will face the problems that come your way. Determine a course of action you can take that will help you walk through each situation with God’s wisdom and strength.
Resources:
- Just when you think it’s over, Jesus steps in and turns things around. Be encouraged as you watch, “The God of What’s Left”.
- If you’re believing in God for restoration, we want to pray with you. Submit your Prayer Request today.