FAITH CAPSULE: In a challenging time, take a conscious stand of faith and not be afraid.

Psalm 3 

When trouble resists, it becomes challenging trouble. 
When challenges resist, it is bound to graduate to permanent trouble. 
Resisting trouble is with force to terminate troubled ones. 
In a time of challenging trouble, the faith of the troubled one is questionable. David, a man after the heart of God, had increasing trouble saying, “Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” (Psalm 3:1-2,)
David testifies how he dealt with his increasing trouble. 
First, David acknowledged God for His awesomeness by stating, “But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head.” (Psalm 3:3) 
David did not allow his challenge to the cloud is worship before God. 
David worshiped instead of worrying when he acknowledged God for what He did and doing in his life. 
Acknowledging God in a time of troubling challenge is a way of thanking God for provoking His hand of intervention.
Secondly, David testifies, “I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill.” (Psalm 3:4) 
Crying is not a sign of weakness. 
David did not let pride take charge but cried out loud to God. 
It was a cry with his voice from the depth of his heart; it was a cry that went out loud to His holy hill. 
The word of God requests open mouth wide, and God will fill with the request. (Psalm 81:10) David testified that the Lord heard him from His holy hill. 
Thirdly David mentioned, “I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.”(Psalm 3:5) 
After worshiping in the place of worrying, David slept over his trouble just like Jesus. 
Once, during the cross-over of Jesus in His journey with His disciples, a troubling storm became a challenge. (Mark 4:35-41) 
Amid the storm, “Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a pillow.” (Mark 4:38) 
When the disciples could not exercise faith, they woke Jesus up, and Jesus rebuked the storm. 
With trust in God, David lay and slept despite troubling challenges. 
David rested his case in the hand of God.
Fourth, David disallowed fear not to have a place in his troubling challenge. 
He said, “I will not be afraid of ten thousand of people who have set themselves against me all around.” (Psalm 3:6) 
It is true that when fear rises, faith will sink.
Faith and fear do not tolerate each other believers must eliminate fear. David stood consciously against fear when he declared, “I will not be afraid.” 
In the face of your troubling challenge, take a conscious stand of faith and not be afraid.

Prayer for today: Ask God to enable you in faith in the place of fear.