Bible in One Year:
Friday, October 16, 2009
(Judg 16 - Judg 18)

Memorise: "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD" (Ps 112:7)

Read: Psalm 112:6-8
6 Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.

One lesson you must take serious if you must reach your goal is never to allow the praises or criticisms of those around you to destabilize you. A young man was crowned king. In his zeal, he thought he could expand his kingdom by attacking and conquering an elderly king. He invited the elderly king for a fight but was told to mind his business, especially since the elderly king was not bothering him. He refused. When he persisted, the elderly king instructed his soldiers to go and fight but not kill this young king. They defeated him in the battle and brought him captive to the elderly king. He told him he would teach him a lesson before killing him. He gathered his subjects in the town square and asked some people to line up on the right and some on the left. He gave the captive king a glass full of water and told him to go from one end of the town square to the other and back. The executioner would be right behind him. And if a single drop of water falls from the cup, his head will be cut off; but if he could go and return without spilling a drop, his life would be spared. As he commenced the task, those on his right cheered and praised him, while those on his left criticized and spoke discouraging words to him.

The young king successfully bore the cup filled with water from one end to the other without spilling a drop. The elders congratulated him for a job well done and asked: "Which group helped you; is it the people on your left or those on your right?" He replied he didn't even notice anyone on his left or right because he was carrying his life in his hands. So he was asked to return to his kingdom and apply the lesson learnt. From this story, you can make it in any assignment if you refuse to listen to praises or criticisms of those around you. Be focused. Let God be your hope. Numbers 23:19 says God is not a man that He should lie. Romans 3:4 says even when you can conveniently call all men liars, God remains truthful. Why rely on the report of liars? Some believers believe the doctor's report more than the One who created and endowed the doctor with all he or she knows. This is unfortunate. David asked king Saul why he was believing the report of men. What report of men have you believed that is negatively affecting your destiny? Drop it today!

ACTION POINT:
When you chase three rats going in three directions, you end up catching none. Focus on your goal and you will achieve it.