FAITH CAPSULE: Know to only behold positive in the place of negative challenge.

1 Samuel 13

Behold means to observe; look or see. What a man observes determines what a man sees. Whatever a man sees is what man receives and it becomes of man. When a man looks into challenges with negativity nothing will come out of such challenge but negative. One that sees and act based on the promise in the word of God will see positively in the place negativity. The children of Israel, despite the promises of God and the testimonies of God could not see positively in Gods promise to take them to Promised Land. As the Egyptians drew near them, with no way of escape, “…the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptian marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord.” (Exodus 14:10) The Israelites behold their enemy, fear took over. What are you beholding or looking up to? Beholding the challenges of life will hold back man from moving forward in life. As a believer that sees in the spoken word of God which does not fail, negative challenges should be engaged positively knowing that God is abundantly able.

Daniel’s three friends (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego) saw in the testimony of God and their faith was energized for them to stand trusting God. When judgment was against them, they were confident; they could not look away from their God. It is written, “Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.” (Daniel 3:19) The fullness of fury in the eyes of Nebuchadnezzar and his command was not enough for the bulging of the three friends of Daniel.
Have you been looking too much into the face of your challenges which are not beyond God? What you need to be doing is to set your sight on the promises of God; look not into what your challenges are communicating but behold the promise of God over your challenge and see His salvation.

Samuel commanded King Saul to wait for seven days in the face of intimidating challenge. King Saul could not wait and Samuel came stating to Saul, “What have you done?” Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, then I said, ‘The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord.’ Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.”” (1Samuel 13:11-12) Saul could not recover for beholding negative. Know to only behold positive in the place of negative challenge.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to always see in the promises of God to overcome your challenges.