Daily Devotional Feb 26th 2021: What to Do When We Lose Hope and Courage?

First, don't lose hope. As a follower of Christ, we must always place our trust in the LORD. Always! But I have been low, too, literally losing the will to forge on and fight. This happened recently during the three weeks from late December when I got progressively sick by the day. I could not and would not eat properly. My energy levels were sub-zero. My grief over the loss of Keely overwhelmed me as her January birthday approached. The election steal, the massive false flag at the Capitol on January 6th, and the certification of the stolen election in Congress - all these things sucked every ounce of will and energy from me. I was suffering - alone. Deep in my heart, I trusted God; but my sickness had taken its toll. Don't lose hope. Cling to the LORD. Cry out to Him.

Second, phone a Christian friend. Air your grievances. Release the burden from your heart. I am an anti-social person; you see. I don't have many friends, and I like solitude, privacy, peace, and quiet. But a good friend will lift you up. And this is exactly what I needed. In my low hour, I called someone I trusted, a Christian. We weren't close, but I knew he was a true Christian. Our call lasted only 12 minutes. My friend built me up, reinvigorated my will to recover and fight. After the call, I started feeling better. Within three days, I had recovered.

Proverbs 27:17
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” 

1 Thessalonians 5:11
“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”

Proverbs 27:9
“Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.” 

My friend kicked my butt... he reminded me of several things I had an obligation to do, both in spirit and deed. It was this kick I needed to regain my fighting spirit. I rather hear the truth from a friend than charming deceit from an adversary.

Proverbs 27:6
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”

But there are many misled, mis-taught, and fake Christians out there. I chose my company carefully. I set my bar to trust someone heavenly-high - thus; I don't have many friends. It is better to have no friends than false ones. People will fail us.

Psalms 41:9
“Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.”

There were a few. When this happens, I walk away without looking back, often even without explanation. I don't owe a treacherous "friend" a thing. I owe the enemy nothing. It is wise to walk away from someone who is not willing to listen to godly advice. I have done so many times, because there may be others who need your friendship and value it.

Matthew 10:14
“And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.”

For accepting friendship, God is giving us valuable advice. Look at these verses:

Proverbs 22:24 - 22:27
24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
26 Be not thou [one] of them that strike hands, [or] of them that are sureties for debts.
27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

When I called my friend back in January, he built me up. He awakened me from my stupor. He spoke to me with compassion. He criticized me with love. And both he and I were blessed by the LORD. I now feel better than I have in a long time, and even though the country is in despair, I know, our future is bright. Call on a Christian friend to build you up when your spirit is low. Iron sharpens iron.

How to Pray

LORD, we praise you, now and forever. All glory belongs to You. Thank You for my salvation. Thank You for my inheritance that is in You.
Forgive me, Father God, for choosing ungodly friends, for trusting in man more than in You.
Help me, LORD, by Your Holy Spirit, to discern who is friend, and who is foe.
Help me, LORD, to show compassion to those who make unwise decisions, just as You have shown me compassion and rescued me from the snares of evil.
Help me, LORD, send people my way who may need my friendship, and let my path cross with those who are good friends in Your eyes.

Proverbs 18:24
“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” 

In Jesus' name
Amen

#Devotional #Scripture4TheDay #friends #badFriends #GodlyCounsel

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