Above Only Daily Devotional june 30 2019 By Archbishop Margaret E. Benson Idahosa Topic: Never Stay Down 2

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Psalm 30:5 (NIV) For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Proverbs 24:16 (NIV) For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.

Proverbs 24:16 (MSG) No matter how many times you trip them up, God-loyal people don’t stay down long; Soon they’re upon their feet, while the wicked end up flat on their faces.

There may be times that you will feel sown; not because you fell into sin, but because of a certain difficulty or frustration that you may face. God does not want you to stay down as a result of any situation that comes your way. Our first text above does not say weeping will endure for a night. It says, weeping ‘may’ endure for a night because it is not compulsory. For you, sorrow and weeping only a possibility. The same verse says joy will ‘surely’ come in the morning. It does not say that joy ‘may’ come in the morning. Because for you, joy is not a probability; it is a certainty. Surely, goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life.

Do not grow weary in the good that you are doing, for in due season you will reap if you refuse to faint, Gal. 6:9. Your due season is coming. Don’t stop sowing because of your temporal tears, Psa. 126:6. Learn how to take refuge and solace in God. David declared, “when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I” Psa. 61:2. In his time of anguish and distress, he desired for God to bring him into a new level of refuge and solace in Him. Lift up your eyes to God your help comes from Him. Don’t depend on the refuge and solace of anyone or anything else. Do not be drunk with wine wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit of God, Eph. 5:18. Enter God’s presence and receive the fullness of His joy and grace for your life. That situation is temporal, but God’s love and blessings for you are eternal. By God’s strength, rise up, rejoice and be strong.

Prayer:

Loving and gracious Creator, I ask that you continually fill my heart with Your love, Your joy and Your plans and promises for me. I trust you.

Bible in one year reading plan: Job 17-19, Acts 10:1-23.