The 4 UPs

He is like a tree planted by the streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Psalms 1 : 3

Good morning, friends. You may know the story below.

Hundreds of years ago, the Scotland King, Robert the Bruce had been beaten up by the King of England and his army six times in a row. Tired by the continuous defeats, the King laid in a cave getting ready to give up hope. He noticed a spider over his head, getting ready to weave her web. He watched her as she worked slowly and with care. Six times she tried to throw her thread from one edge of the cave wall to another. Six times her thread fell short. "Poor thing!" said Robert the Bruce. "You, too, know what it's like to fail six times in a row." But the spider did not lose hope. With still more care, she made her web the seventh time. Robert the Bruce learned a lesson, gathered his little brave army, waged a war against the King of England and won the battle.

Are you, too, frustrated that even after trying your best to accomplish something meaningful in your life, you’re failing in all that you do? Or for some reasons, you’re falling into the same temptation, and you lose the peace in your heart? I pray that you may find this message useful today.   

We have the living Word written for us which teaches us more than a spider could teach. Psalms 1 says that a man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the ungodly, who doesn’t stand in the way of the sinners, who doesn’t sit in the seat of the mockers but who delights in God’s law and meditates on it day and night will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, yielding its fruit in season and whose leaf doesn’t wither. Whatever he does prospers. You may think about your old golden days how God gave you peace, blessed you and whoever was with you when you were right with the Lord. Wait; don’t live in the glory of the past. What about your present state? Are you longing to see those days come back again?

Maybe your walk with God is not like it used to be. Something hinders you from coming closer to Him. It may be your sin, or the worries you have about your future, or the past failures you’ve encountered. Maybe you really want to come out of all these, and take steps to drive these away from you. Rather than improving, you are getting worse than before. Do you know why? Let us read what Bible says.

It says in Matthew 12 : 43 – 45 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”

I hope you understand what it conveys. Yes, the space occupied by all your fleshy desires, and the devil, should not be kept empty after they are gone. It needs to be filled by the Lord and His Word. If you don’t let God dwell in your heart, then you’re more likely to be a victim. Stand firm, else you’ll not stand at all. Invite God into your heart today and rejoice in His presence.

I read this today in a magazine. The four suggested ways to get connected with God are:

Make up your mind that you’re gonna be right with God so that you may find peace. Break up your flesh as it weakens you and makes you worse. Wake up your faith, let it not be dead. Take up the cross and follow Him every day. Stay right with God. Love His Word. Meditate them day & night. Whatever you do will prosper and not only you, but also your belongings and loved ones will be blessed.