Feeling Forgotten?
Devotional message by Pastor Malcolm Burton
(Today's Teaching is Based Upon Psalm 13:1; 5-6)
Demons are clever.
The know they cannot separate us from God.
So, they do the next best thing . . . work on our emotions.
They create circumstances to make us feel separated from God.
1 How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
The Psalmist was having a bad day
He was convinced he had lost God's favor.
His emotions were screaming, "Will this ever end?"
We have all been there. God seems a million miles away.
Life's circumstances keep piling on and stacking higher and higher.
5 But I have trusted in Your mercy;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
David had mastered a key to living in victory.
David spoke his desires instead of just his heartache.
David built his own faith with the reminder that he had always been rewarded for trusting God.
David was in a place of emotional pain that day. But, David declared he would be living in manifest victory . . . and very soon!
6 I will sing to the LORD,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me.
David is doing two things in this verse.
He is saying he will praise God in the moment.
He is prophesying he will have reasons to praise in the future.
Instead of wallowing in self-pity, what victory are you declaring today?
The victories of tomorrow are created by words of faith spoken today.
I'll see you tomorrow,
Pastor Malc
[Editor's Comment: Malcolm Burton is a treasured friend of mine. I greatly admire his love for the Word of God, and the God-given ability he has been given to proclaim what he has learned. I am amazed and greatly blessed daily as I go to my computer and read his commentaries on the Scriptures that often speak words of hope, faith, and love in my own spirit.
I can only imagine how many of my readers will gladly receive this word today that he has shared with me and others who take his daily devotional messages. It is a word we all need when we face tough times, and feelings that run wild to rob us from the victory God has for us. There is never any situation so hopeless that God cannot solve. His Son, Jesus Christ has defeated death, hell and the grave, and openly defeated Satan. He rose triumphantly from the grave, appeared for 40 days with many infallible proofs that He is alive, and invited men to a breakfast on the shores of the Sea of Galilee that He, Himself, had prepared. What a Savior, Deliverer, Healer, Friend and soon coming King. He's big enough to conquer every giant of fear in my life and bring me peace.
The Apostle Paul said it best when he wrote these immortal words concerning God's unfailing love for us:
Romans 8:34-39
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
KJV
Do you believe that Word from the Bible? If so, with a voice of thanksgiving let Him know how much you love Him and are grateful for His unfailing presence and provision in your life. He wants to hear your voice of gratitude. Live in victory by focusing on God's love and favor He has for your life. You will gain the victory in your spirit and run and dance for joy.
The Rev. Mr. Malcolm Burton is the senior pastor of Northgate Family Church in Spring, TX. He and his wife, Sulynn, are co-pastors of this dynamic church that is bringing hope and new life in their community. I have preached in their church and over the years I have known them had great fellowship with them. Malcolm is the assistant superintendent of the Grace Bible Ministries Conference (formerly Texas Conference). He gave me permission to share with you his devotion he wrote today.]
Posted on
Sun, July 17, 2011
by Hugh Morgan