Bible League: Living His Word I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.There are times when our faith and trust in the promises of God can waver. We see the trials, troubles, and tribulations of life and we begin to falter and lose heart. Although we have experienced great victories of faith in the past, something about the present difficulties leaves us weak in the knees. Although we have overcome faintness of heart before, we find it hard to imagine that this time we can do the same. It's at times like these that we must dig in like a soldier on a battlefield and be strong and take heart. Faintness of heart is not a viable option. It doesn't solve anything and it doesn't get you anywhere. If we stop believing that the Lord will come through with help in our time of need, then all is lost. A good soldier does not retreat or give up. A good soldier stands his ground and fights. We must take up the shield of faith and fend off all the flaming arrows of the evil one that are designed to undermine and destroy our confidence (Ephesians 6:16). Since our weapon in the struggle is faith, we must look to the Lord for the solution to our problem rather than to ourselves. We must wait for the Lord. Since we are good soldiers of the Lord God, we do not move forward on the battlefield apart from His command. Charging into the fray apart from God is doomed to disaster. We must wait for the command of the Lord to move forward at the right time and in the right way. If we remain strong and take heart, we will have the confidence we need to believe that the battle can be won. We will have the confidence we need to believe that we will see the goodness of the Lord not only in the next life, but also in this life---the "land of the living." Faintness of heart attacks the best of us. If, however, we overcome the attack, we shall see the victory. Today, be strong and take heart. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJoshua 19, 20 Joshua 19 -- Allotments for Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, Dan, Joshua NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Joshua 20 -- Six Cities of Refuge Designated NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 5:17-39 Luke 5 -- Jesus Calls First Disciples, Heals the Leper and Paralytic, Calls Matthew, Questioned about Fasting NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion It is useless for you to work so hardfrom early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones. Insight God is not against human effort. Hard work honors God. But working to the exclusion of rest or to the neglect of family may be a cover-up for an inability to trust God to provide for our needs. We all need adequate rest and times of spiritual refreshment. On the other hand, this verse is not an excuse to be lazy. Challenge Be careful to maintain a balance: work while trusting God, and also rest while trusting him. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Matthew 26:56 Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.He never deserted them, but they in cowardly fear of their lives, fled from him in the very beginning of his sufferings. This is but one instructive instance of the frailty of all believers if left to themselves; they are but sheep at the best, and they flee when the wolf cometh. They had all been warned of the danger, and had promised to die rather than leave their Master; and yet they were seized with sudden panic, and took to their heels. It may be, that I, at the opening of this day, have braced up my mind to bear a trial for the Lord's sake, and I imagine myself to be certain to exhibit perfect fidelity; but let me be very jealous of myself, lest having the same evil heart of unbelief, I should depart from my Lord as the apostles did. It is one thing to promise, and quite another to perform. It would have been to their eternal honor to have stood at Jesus' side right manfully; they fled from honor; may I be kept from imitating them! Where else could they have been so safe as near their Master, who could presently call for twelve legions of angels? They fled from their true safety. O God, let me not play the fool also. Divine grace can make the coward brave. The smoking flax can flame forth like fire on the altar when the Lord wills it. These very apostles who were timid as hares, grew to be bold as lions after the Spirit had descended upon them, and even so the Holy Spirit can make my recreant spirit brave to confess my Lord and witness for his truth. What anguish must have filled the Saviour as he saw his friends so faithless! This was one bitter ingredient in his cup; but that cup is drained dry; let me not put another drop in it. If I forsake my Lord, I shall crucify him afresh, and put him to an open shame. Keep me, O blessed Spirit, from an end so shameful. Daily Light on the Daily Path Proverbs 11:18 The wicked earns deceptive wages, But he who sows righteousness gets a true reward.Matthew 25:19-21 "Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. • "The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, 'Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.' • "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Timothy 4:7,8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; • in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. Revelation 3:11 'I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. 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