Treasures of Truth ministries . . . helping

women connect with truth that will

transform their world.

Four years in a row, our family made the midnight drive from Nashville to Memphis, Tennessee with a dejected son in the car.  Though playing for the Division 2 Tennessee State Football Championship was an honor in itself, our sons experienced the disappointment of not having the prize – of not reaching the goal – of not having something tangible to show for a season of grueling effort. All of those games were close and in some, we were ahead until the very end.  However, each year the victory always seemed to elude our grasp.  You have heard of the proverbial “fish that got away” – well, that’s what it was like, but worse!   

The fishermen who would become Jesus’ disciples experienced this quite literally. As Jesus was standing by the lake teaching, he noticed two empty boats. The fishermen were nearby washing their nets after toiling all night without catching anything!   

^“Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s . . . He said to Simon, ‘Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’ But Simon answered and said to Him, ‘Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.’”  (Luke 5:3-5 NKJV). (emphasis on underlined words mine) 

Despite a fruitless night of toil, a word from Jesus gave Simon the guidance, hope, and motivation to try one more time. 

Have you ever been there?  Have you ever felt discouraged and tired from what seemed like a long, dark “night” of fruitless toil, and ready to “put the nets away?”  Maybe you are feeling that way now.  If so, don’t put your “nets” away just yet. What you need is a word from Jesus for your situation.  We, like these fishermen often find ourselves most willing to receive a word from Him when we have tried everything and still find ourselves empty handed.  

“And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.  So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink” (Luke 5:6-7 NKJV). 

God gave the football team a word of encouragement for our fifth try! 

Like the fishermen who received a word from Jesus, my heart was quickened one evening while reading the Bible during the week preceding our fifth trip to the title game for the State Championship in Nashville. I was encouraged by the story of David’s victory over Goliath. Though David only used one of the stones, he collected five for his battle against the giant, Goliath. Five represents the number of grace in the Bible and as we all know, it was God’s involvement that delivered Goliath into his hands. I saw a connection and believed that with God’s help, the football team, too, could experience victory as well.   

My son’s coach called our home that evening to see if Josh could miss school the following day to attend a press conference for the upcoming game.  When he called, I decided to share this with him. He relayed what I had mentioned to him as the closing remarks at a meeting of the parents and players a few days before the title game.  As a result, some of the parents filled small plastic bags with 5 miniature stones, tied the bags with ribbon in our school colors, and attached a verse about David and the five stones.  Just hours before the big game, two parents handed one of these bags to each player as they exited the hotel to begin their customary walk from the hotel to Vanderbilt Stadium as a team. Approximately 100 football players walked into Vanderbilt Stadium that evening carrying five stones and a word from God.   

When the fourth quarter ended, the game was tied.  The coach told me later that when we entered overtime, which is known as the fifth quarter in football, one of the players who was standing on the sidelines, ran over to the him, held up the bag of stones, and said, “Coach, it’s the fifth quarter.  We are going to win!”  And we did!  

We won the game in the fifth quarter of our fifth try.  Winning that night was about a word from God, having the faith to receive that word, and an object lesson for 100 boys who will face obstacles in their adult lives much greater than that game.   

Ask God for a word of encouragement from His Word for your situation.  

If you are discouraged right now, I pray that you will immerse yourself in reading the Bible, ask God for His direction for your particular situation, and then, be willing to let down the “net” one more time!   

©2008 Lauren Fletcher all rights reserved               
                        

Return to the top of the page

 We live in a neighborhood which is a natural habitat for alligators, and people have become too comfortable with their presence.  Last week, my husband saw a man and his two young sons standing next to the body of water where I spotted the alligator - looking for him or her.  The real danger is that people become oblivious to the danger and feed the alligators, making them feel comfortable approaching humans.

Consider with me today, the realization that, regardless of where you live, you have a predator nearby.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8 NKJV).

1 Peter 5:8 is the Apostle Peter’s and the Holy Spirit’s “Beware of the Devil” sign to us.  You and I, however, may encounter temptation or a test where or when we least expect it.  Therefore, we must always be watchful.  The alligator I saw is not confined to the area near the warning sign in our neighborhood.  He roams the interlinked canals, ponds and lakes.  The same is true of the Serpent who slithers and “walks about” looking for prey.  The Bible gives much instruction on resisting this “predator”, but I want you to consider one phrase in the following verse.

^"Resist him, steadfast in the faith . . . " ( 1 Peter 5:8 NKJV).

Our response during an unexpected encounter is not to embrace him and “feed” him, but to resist him. The most powerful way to resist the devil is with truth.

During His time of temptation in the wilderness, Jesus’ response to Satan, each time was, “It is written. . .”  Every scripture He used to defeat the Devil was written in what we know as the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy.  He spoke Biblical truth and prevailed. 

^". . .  the devil . . . departed from him for a season" (Luke 4:13 KJV).

When Satan surfaces, we must be ready to say, “It is written . . .” This will discourage the devourer.

 Here are some examples:

 When you are having a hard time, instead of, “Things will never get any better”, say . . . It is written . . .

^"But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold" (Job 23:10 NKJV).

"You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, Shall revive me again, And bring me up again from the depths of the earth" (Psalm 71:20 NKJV).

^"You shall . . . comfort me on every side" (Psalm 71:21 NKJV).

When you are terrified, instead of saying, “I am worried that ____________ will happen”, say, It is written . . .

^"My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:2 NKJV).

^". . .  the LORD is with me as a mighty, awesome One. . . . " (Jeremiah 20:11 NKJV).

When you have fallen, and feel you can’t get up, don’t speak words that emphasize your defeat.  Instead, say,

^"My eyes are ever toward the LORD, For He shall pluck my feet out of the net" (Psalm 25:15 NKJV).

Go to the “Printable Resource” page on this website to print off a list of scriptures you can speak for a variety of situations.  Keep it with you.  Meditate on these verses. Practice speaking what is written in God’s Word - over and over - until the devil flees.

You can change the path in which you walk, but you must still “Beware” and “Resist” in order to discourage the devourer.  He is not always in the most obvious place – you may not always see him first, but he sees you as a target - and we must be vigilant!

©2008 Lauren Fletcher all rights reserved

Return to the top of the page

Week 4 – Overcoming through Quietness and Confidence  

Thirteen years ago, as part of a science unit, three other teachers and I decided to take our students to the Army Ranger Jungle School located on Eglin Air Force base near Fort Walton Beach, Florida.  There, the students would be able to watch Army Ranger Instructors handle poisonous snakes and observe a variety of reptiles kept on the base.  The instructors laid down strict rules before the show.  They told the students that though it was highly improbable, a snake could possibly get loose. In the event that it did, no one was to move or leave their seats because it would be very difficult for them to retrieve the snake in the midst of confusion and chaos. These instructions were repeated two or three times to the students for emphasis.

 The trained Rangers effectively handled several snakes without any problems, and then . . . one of the snakes became extremely difficult to manage.  As the two instructors were using their sticks to get a snake back into its cage, it appeared to be inadvertently deflected off one of their sticks and ended up being batted into the assembled group of students and teachers. 

 As the snake sailed through the air, I happened to notice that it was coming right toward my face.  And what did the teacher beside me and I do?  We left our seats and ran in opposite directions . . . while one hundred students sat quietly as instructed.  A student behind me picked up the plastic snake and returned it to the Army Ranger instructors. They enjoyed a good laugh while I gained yet another life experience.  Little did I know that I was the prearranged target!

It’s not easy to sit quietly and confidently when life throws the unexpected at you.  However, that is exactly what the Believer is required to do!

“For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.’ But you would not,” (Isaiah 30:15 NKJV).

Now, granted, the Ranger’s word was man’s word and man is known for his fallibility.  But, still, how seldom do we obey God’s infallible Word?  God’s promises are certain and His instructions are sure.  If we would, then, just follow them “in quietness and confidence”, God could work mightily through our prayerful faith.

If you have ever watched the Andy Griffith Show, you will know the answer to this question.  Who was more effective - Barney Fife or Sheriff Taylor?  Barney was certainly not a model of “quietness and confidence" and Andy Taylor quite often had to rescue his panicking deputy.

The power of resting in the Lord with a quiet confidence is often ignored in the midst of the unexpected.  But, consider this . . . Before the walls surrounding the city of Jericho fell, the people were instructed in Joshua 6:10 that “not a word” should proceed out of their mouths.  In 2 Chronicles 20:17, the Israelites were told they would not need to fight, but should simply stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.  Wives are told in 1 Peter 3:1 that they can win their husbands without a word - with “a meek and quiet spirit”.  Psalm 46:10 instructs us to “be still and know” that He is God. When people have done something to stir us up, Psalm 37 instructs us not to fret, but to “rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him”.

Has something terrifying or unfair been thrown your way?  Get still and quiet before the Lord.  Ask Him to calm your heart and direct you to a verse from the Bible for your situation.  Listen, wait, and rest in Him, and then, proceed with quietness and confidence according to His direction.

 ^“ . . .  Blessed are all those who wait for Him.” (Isaiah 30:18 NKJV).

©2008 Lauren Fletcher all rights reserved

Return to the top of the page