Even When We Are Downcast He Lifts Our Head

Even When We Are Downcast He Lifts Our Head (Psa 3:3-5)

We can praise God that He is the lifter of our head even when we are downcast. At a time of great despair, distress, discouragement and danger, David praised God with the words, "But You, O Lord, art a shield for me. My glory and the lifter of my head." (Psa 3:3)

No matter the severity of the adversity you may be passing through, the Lord is available to be your shield and the elevator of your downcast emotions. Know that no one is immune from adversity, hardship or attack from our enemies. When we know that there will be opposition we can more effectively prepare for it in advance. Praise God that He is our lifter, our liberator and the one who buoys our mind, heart, and motivations.

Lifter - Praise God that He elevates us above our worries, fears and short-sightedness. He alone has the power to work in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. He buoys us up when we are about to fall into the temptation of giving in to discouragement:

Illustration: from INSIGHTS from Bill Bright

Reflections from the late Founder and President/Chairman Emeritus of

Campus Crusade for Christ International

The Day My Father Died

It was approximately 11 p.m., the evening before Easter in 1982, that I received word that my father had gone to be with the Lord.

Because of his serious illness, the news was not unexpected, but at the same time it was a cause for great sadness. I suddenly had the grievous

feeling that accompanies the death of any loved one -- the feeling that I would never see my father again in this world. With that realization came a flood of tears.

I fell to my knees to praise, worship and give thanks to the Lord, who is sovereign above all. "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints" (Psalm 116:15, KJV). The New Living Translation says,

"The LORD’s loved ones are precious to him; it grieves him when they die," which tells me that the Lord was grieving with me. Even though the Lord knew my father was better off with Him in glory, God compassionately identifies with us in all our trials.

The body which had encased my father for 93 years had now been discarded like a worn out suit of clothes. With my praise to God came His gracious, supernatural peace and assurance that now my father was with

the Lord forevermore, and one day I would see him again in his resurrection body.

During one of my visits to the cemetery to visit the graves of my mother and father, I gave thanks to our gracious Lord for their long, rich lives, especially for the 36 years which I had shared with my father

after I had the privilege of introducing him to the Lord.

As I started to walk away, I saw next to his resting place a very short grave. Apparently, according to the inscription on the stone, it was the grave of a baby that had been born and died the same day. Here

almost side by side were buried the bodies of my 93-year-old father and a 1-day-old baby.

No one has a claim on life. No one knows how long he will live. The only thing that really matters in our lives is what we do for Christ. To this end we are to live holy lives, trust Him, love Him with all our

hearts, minds and souls, and do His will.

Bill Bright

The late Dr. Bill Bright was Founder and President/Chairman Emeritus of Campus Crusade for Christ, an organization which began as a campus

ministry in 1951 and now has more than 27,000 full-time staff and up to 500,000 trained volunteer staff in 196 countries in areas representing 99.6 percent of the world’s population. In the past 50 years, Campus

Crusade for Christ has seen approximately 6 billion exposures to the gospel worldwide. The film, "JESUS," which Bright conceived and funded through Campus Crusade for Christ, is the most widely translated and

viewed film of any type ever produced. Since its use began in 1980, the film has been translated into 827 languages and viewed or listened to by over 5.5 billion people in 236 countries. Dr. Bright was also the author of more than fifty books. Dr. Bright recently co-founded Global Pastors Network to "Touch, Teach and Train" a group of 5 million new house churches around the world 24/7/365 at

http://www.globalpastorsnetwork.org

The following are some of the ways that the Lord lifts our heart, mind, soul, spirit and emotions when we are feeling discouraged, attacked or defeated:

1. RESCUER - There are many times when we will need to be rescued. No one is exempt from feeling or experiencing discouraging times. David wrote, "The Lord is my refuge and strength. A very present help in the time of trouble. Therefore, I will not fear, though the mountains give way and they fall in to the heart of the sea. There is a river that makes glad the city of our God." (Psa 46:1,2)