Psalm 3

           Look around you. Can you sympathize with the psalmist? For me, it seems everywhere I look, there is someone opposing me. The Christian life is a fight; our enemy is powerful. One of their foremost attacks is discouragement. Are you discouraged? Do you feel alone? Do you feel as though not even God can help

you? Are you falling into the lies of the world?

           Then stop and think. Who is God? I mean, really. Who is God? Is God some nebulous being who you talk to occasionally? Is He some aloof force who controls aspects of creation, but has no impact on your life? Or is He more? As Christians, we have far more, but we overlook our blessings.

Look at what David wrote about who God was to him. First, He was a shield, a vital instrument in battle. A shield is used for protection; God was David’s protection against his powerful and cumbersome enemies. Second, God was his glory. This word can be understood as “the one in whom I glory.” When we receive a gift of exceptional magnitude, we glory in it; we rejoice in it. David rejoiced in God, despite his enemies attacks. Third, God was the lifter of David’s head. God encouraged David. He lifted his spirits. Next, God is the one who answers our prayers. David cried to God and God answered. Fifth, He is sustainment. David did not worry about not waking up in the morning, even though he literally had people following him to kill him. God was there. God was taking care of him. After stating all of the things God is, David makes an audacious claim in verse 6: “10,000 enemies? Ha! I’m not afraid of you! I have God on my side. Bring it on, world.” (Modern vernacular, of course)

Verses 7 – 8 give the final encouragement for a discouraged Christian. These verses are a call of sure victory. Looking back at verses one and two, we see a complete transformation in the attitude of David concerning his enemies. Why? In the first 2 verses, who was David focused on? (I’ll give you a hint: it was himself) Once his focus shifted to what kind of God he served though, he was encouraged! Don’t be discouraged today. Your enemies may have the power of Satan on their side, but you have the power of God. Check and mate.