Vance K. Jackson leads readers in this powerful, life-transforming devotional. Why art thou cast down? Don’t let the cares of this world weigh you down. Don’t let the treasures of this world entangle your heart. Don’t idolize the troubles, cares and treasures of this world. Don’t magnify the temporary things. Choose to serve and honor God as you read this timely message.
Vance K. Jackson
Day 1
Scripture: Psalms 42:11
Why Art Thou Cast Down?
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” Psalms 42:11 KJV
Why art thou cast down? Don’t let the cares of this world weigh you down. Don’t let the treasures of this world entangle your heart. Don’t idolize the troubles, cares and treasures of this world. Don’t magnify the temporary things. Choose to serve and honor God. Choose to honor Christ. Choose to place your hope in Him. Redirect your focus and place your trust in the Lord.
Shift your focus and surrender your heart to Christ. Let your soul praise Him, for He is the health of your countenance. Let your spirit praise Him, for He is the Restorer of your soul. Let every aspect of your life praise Him.
Let your faith crush and conquer every fear and failure. Choose to exalt Christ beyond your faults and shortcomings. Humble yourself before Him. Choose to lift up Christ above every worry and concern. Let Christ be exalted in every part of your life.
Psalm 42:11 AMPC declares, “Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the help of my countenance, and my God.” Place your hope in God and shift your expectation. Place your expectation in Him. Set and establish your expectation in Christ.
Choose to wholly surrender to God’s Way of doing things. Let Christ completely heal your heart. Let Christ heal your soul. Let Jesus Christ make you whole.
God is the One who created you. God is the One who formed you and shaped you. He knew you and had intimate knowledge of you before you were ever formed in your mother’s womb. So surrender your heart to the One who formed every part of you.
Surrender your cares to Him. Don’t let the spirit of heaviness overtake you. Let the Light of Christ shine in you and through you. “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!” Psalms 42:11 NLT. Choose to praise Him again.
Day 2
Scriptures: Psalms 139:14, Proverbs 18:10, Psalms 61:3
I Will Praise Thee.
“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” Psalms 139:14 KJV
According to Strong’s Concordance, the Hebrew word for “Praise” is, ‘yadah’ (H3034) which means, “To throw, shoot, cast, to give thanks, to confess, confess (the name of God).” When you feel down — choose to praise God. When you are discouraged — choose to praise God. When you’re in the midst of a storm — choose to confess His Word. Praise His Name in every season of life. Praise His Name in every circumstance. Give God thanks and praise His Name forever.
Proverbs 18:10 KJV declares, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” The Name and the Authority of the Lord is a Strong Tower. According to Strong’s Concordance, the Hebrew word for “Tower” is, ‘migdal’ (H4026) which means, “Elevated stage, raised bed.” He is your Elevated Stage — stand on His Word. He is your Protection.
Elevate your hope in Him. Raise your expectation. Surrender to Him. Let His Word and His Way of doing things, rise above the entanglements and snares of this world. Christ is your Strong and Elevated Tower. His Word shields you from destruction. Christ will protect you from the wiles and arrows of the enemy.
Psalms 61:3 KJV declares, “For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.” He is your Shelter from the snares of the enemy. Choose to praise Him. When the storms of life rise up against you and wage against your ship — choose to let His Word navigate the course of your heart.
He is your Strength. He is your Security. He is your Peace. He will Protect you from the storm. Praise Him and He will comfort your soul.
Day 3
Scriptures: Psalms 3:3, Psalms 27:2, Psalms 91:2-7, Hebrews 4:12
He Lifts Up My Head.
“But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.” Psalms 3:3 KJV
The Lord is my Shield. The Lord is my Comforter. The Lord is my Peace and He Lifts up my head. When I am down, He comforts me. When I am afraid, He shields me. When I am in trouble, He protects me. He is the Lifter of my head.
Psalms 27:2 KJV declares, “When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.” When the enemy comes to eat up your flesh — The Lord will protect you and cause him to fall. “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.” Psalms 91:2-7 KJV
Don’t let the kingdom of darkness weigh you down — use the Word of God to command the enemy to flee. Don’t let depression weigh you down. Don’t let bitterness harden your heart. Use His Word to conquer the enemy — in every area of your life. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 KJV
Prayer:
Father God, in the Name of Jesus Christ, there is none like You in all of Heaven and in all of the Earth.
Father, my heart surrenders to You. Father, every aspect of my life surrenders to You. Lord, You are my Shield and my Buckler. You comfort me. You Protect me. Father, You Shield me from my adversaries. You are my Fortress. No one can be compared to You.
Depression cannot defeat You. Heaviness cannot overtake You. Father, You are my ever exceeding and great Joy. You are my Shield and Comfort and in You, I put my trust.