DON’T FALL BACK by Marsha Burns:

I heard this phrase in my spirit:  Don’t fall back.  If we can’t move forward, we must hold our ground and certainly not fall back.

Proverbs 14:14  The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, but a good man will be satisfied from above.

This is one of those messages you might want to download and keep.  God spoke these things to me in a time of potential crisis.  But faith and prayer made the difference.

In a recent vision I saw a huge tornado heading in my direction.  It was cutting a wide swath.  Then, it began to elongate and become really skinny at ground level.  The wind began to blow and the tornado lifted up to be horizontal instead of vertical.  And, I remember that years ago I saw an actual tornado do exactly that when I prayed.

Conditions that tempt us to fall back:

Difficulties

Disappointment

Discouragement

Don’t freak out and get afraid.  That won’t help.

Fear is the most powerful factor that keeps you from moving forward.  Take control of your thoughts and negative emotions.

Small Straws:  Many of you, My people, need to reorganize your thought process to exclude the mental clutter that has made you feel scattered.  You can do this by focusing on that which is actually important to your life and spiritual well-being.  The things that demand your time and attention are many and varied, and you would do well to prioritize and establish yourself in peace, says the Lord. Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.

Proverbs 3:25  Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes.

2 Timothy 1:7  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

We must not lose our eternal focus, but rather keep our eyes on the prize.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27  Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.  And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.  But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Things may not always work out the way we want them to, but we need to remember that all things work together for our spiritual and eternal good.

Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

If we get stopped in our tracks by some situation or circumstance, we must determine to go on with God regardless of how things appear.

We can learn valuable spiritual lessons through life’s difficulties, and we need to remember that God is with us and for us, and He will bring us through.

We cannot be in fear and in faith at the same time.  Remember that a double-minded man gets nothing!

James 1:6-8  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.  For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Keep the faith.  Continue to believe God for His wisdom and direction.

Be unwavering.

Romans 4:20-22 He (Abraham) did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.  And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness."

Be strong.

Joshua 1:9  "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Ephesians 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Be grateful.

Philippians 4:6  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Colossians 3:15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Find your place of refuge in Him.

Refuge is defined as:  a place of shelter, protection, or safety for aid, relief, or escape.

Psalms 91:2  I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."

Psalms 94:22  But the LORD has been my defense, and my God the rock of my refuge.

Encourage yourself. 

Remember that David encouraged himself in the Lord:

1 Samuel 30:1-6 Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep.  And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened (encouraged) himself in the Lord his God.

I would venture to say that none of us has found ourselves in such dire circumstances as these, but we can still remember in the midst of our trouble that we can trust God.

Be reminded of things you have overcome in the past.  It doesn’t take much to remember when you had no other recourse than to trust God, and He came through for you.  Amen?

Establish yourself in peace.

Philippians 4:7  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Peace comes when you can trust God with the outcome.

Psalms 4:5  Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.

Psalms 20:7  Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

The “name” is His character and nature…His will and purposes for His people.

Recap: 

Don’t be afraid, stay focused, be unwavering, be strong, be grateful, seek refuge in Christ, encourage yourself, be at peace, and trust in the Lord your God.