Bowed Down but Not Out
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“I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning” (Psalm 38:6).
Do you ever feel that way? Like the weight of the world is on your shoulders? There are days when I feel like a jinx. Everything I touch goes haywire. I wait for the next shoe to fall, and the next, and the next – as if a centipede was walking above me.
It seems the Psalmist had those days as well. In verse 8 he complains, “I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.” Talk about being oppressed, and depressed.
But, he doesn’t go on whining throughout this Psalm. He keeps declaring through all that happens, God is there. God hears and he has faith God will respond. “But for you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer” (vs.15).
A few weeks ago, my day started out as one of those days. But instead of expecting bad, I stopped. I said aloud to the ceiling in my bathroom, “Stop this devil. You will not steal my joy today.” When I dropped one of my last two earring fasteners in the sink, I laughed and said, “Nice try. Not working.” It stuck to the side and didn’t go down the drain. Two more things tried to go awry. I just laughed and said, “Really? Still trying?” The rest of the day went smooth as silk.
What changed? My attitude. My mother had a plaque on her fridge that said “We can’t change the direction of the wind but we can adjust our sails.” We can choose to see His mercies new every morning, or be bowed to the ground and only see our feet trudging along. We can choose to be blessed children of the Almighty, or have a woe-is-me pity party. The Psalmist over and over, Psalm after Psalm, ends up choosing the first. Slowly, I am learning to do the same.
Questions: Who will you let steal your joy today? Who will you let restore it?
About the Author Julie Cosgrove
7 Responses to “Bowed Down but Not Out”
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This certainly is a reminder. Sometimes it seems easier to just give up and feel down and depressed. I know I have allowed Satan to affect my happiness. Not anymore. Long ago are those days. It is great to stare Satan’s doings in the face and rebuke him through our powerful Lord. God always prevails and I am going to be a joyful happy soldier for God, nomatter what bombs satan tries to throw at me.
Thank you Ladies. You all have been beautiful little blessings to my day!
Amen, Sisters! Not only does Satan try to steal our joy, people can do the same thing. Isn’t it wonderful to know that our Mighty God is in control and just focusing on Him can make an annoyance seem like an anthill instead of a mountain?
Laughing at Satan’s antics is one of my favorite pastimes!
Thank you SO much! God certainly knew I needed to hear this message this morning. Coincidence? I think not. All part of his master plan? Yes, indeed. What a way to change my focus and attitude first thing in the morning. Absolutely LOVE the quote, and just might need to make some sort of plaque to remind me of it. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Thanks Julie…what an encouragement today! I confess that I have been letting Satan rob me of my joy lately. Re-focusing today on Jesus and with gratitude praising His name!
LOVE this devotional. I have experience the same thing and dealt with it just as Julie described her self doing! I remember a few months ago I got a flat tire, so I pulled over and go out of the car and said “Satan, you should know by now that flat tires don’t get me down.” As I lifted my spare out of the truck, I felt a drop of water on my nose and sure enough – down came the rain! :) I laughed out loud “Really? That’s all you got!” haha. I called a friend who came to help me and we laughed together at Satan’s wimpy attempts to bring me down. It really does help to confront Satan. He is real! It does us no good to ignore him or pretend He and the rest of the evil spirits don’t exist; they are at work as well. So I echo what Julie is teaching. Don’t let Satan rob you of your joy, rebuke him in Jesus Name and walk in the Spirit!! Plus if you just take a moment and recognize ALL the wonderful things God has done for you, then the one or two things that Satan throws at you won’t compare to the glorious riches God bestows upon us.
Thanks Julie for helping us set our sails to go with God. It’s a great way to start the day.
I do this also! Just this week did it w/ two black cats who crossed my path while I was driving to town. There was a time in my life when I was supersticious (especially w/ black cats), however I’m not anymore! I love the feeling of God’s VICTORY over satin! Thanks for sharing!