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Here is a picture of how we can feel our life is at times. It’s funny to hear this, but it isn’t so funny to experience. It’s a cartoon of a pelican with a frog in its mouth. You may have seen a drawing of it. The pelican has grabbed a frog in its beak and the frog’s head and part of its body are in it. But the legs are hanging out on both sides and are kicking.
The funniest part is that the frog has his hands stretched out and wrapped around the throat of the pelican, choking it. There isn’t any way that bird will be able to consume the frog. It’s being choked so the frog can’t be swallowed. The caption on the cartoon says, “Never give up.”
Instead of a pelican, a problem has you in its mouth. It seems you’re about to be swallowed, but you’re kicking. You have your hands around the neck of that problem, and you are choking it. You’re determined not to give up, not to allow that problem to consume your life. You’re choking that problem by the power of God. You are not going to be swallowed! You’re going to succeed by the help of God.
Here’s what you can do. When that problem is trying to swallow you, you need to choke it by stuffing down its throat the Word of God. Say the powerful words of God and just cram them down the throat of that problem. Keep saying the truth of what your God will do. How He has the power and control.
It may seem in that cartoon that the pelican is in control, but he can do nothing because the frog is choking him. That problem can do nothing because by the power of God, you choke it and keep it from swallowing your life. You stuff in it the truth that God delivers, He supports, He restores and blesses and heals. You can expect help from God to come on time even if it feels you’re in the mouth of the problem.
Psalm 31 says, Be brave. Be strong. Don’t give up. Expect God to get here soon. (Ref. Psalm 31:24 MSG.) You can be brave! Be strong! You don’t have to give up because you can expect your God is getting there. And He will be there soon!
Keep choking until the problem opens its mouth and releases what is yours. That problem MUST release you when you stand in faith and believe the Word of God.
Someone who did this was Hezekiah in the Bible. The pelican had swooped in to consume King Hezekiah and all the people of Judah. It was the King of Assyria. He and his huge army set up camp around Judah and said they were determined to take them.
Well the enemy can determine he is going to take something from your life, but whatever his plan is, and however big the force is that comes at you, it can be defeated.
The devil’s forces camp around your family or work, they may invade your financial reserves, the lives of your children. At times you can feel the forces coming against your health or your home or a relationship. Trouble is camping out and causing bad conditions. The plans are to take you. He thinks he’s bigger and has more power.
It felt that way for Hezekiah and the people when that big army set up their camp and made known they would take them over. But Hezekiah began a strategy of choking the pelican. He brought the people together and said, Be strong! Take courage! Don’t be intimidated by the king of Assyria and his troops—there are more on our side than on their side. He only has a bunch of mere men; we have our God to HELP us and fight for us! (Ref. II Chronicles 32:6-8 MSG.)
Oh! We have our God to help and fight for us. The strength and weapons of the enemy are no match. So why should we give up? We can expect help to come in time.
The people came together and prayed, calling on God. Then God sent an angel who went into the Assyrian camp and wiped out everyone. Warriors, officers, everyone wiped out by an angel of God. The pelican, the problem was gone. The King of Assyria returned to his home in shame. (Ref. II Chronicles 32 MSG.)
The enemy may be determined to take over something in your life. But you are determined not to give up too soon. You expect help to come in the right time and right way. You’re choking that opposition, that problem, by your faith. You continue to believe until the enemy goes home in shame. He is defeated. The power of the problem is gone. So expect help from God on time!
Spiritual Powerline to say out loud:
“I WILL NOT GIVE UP!”
Lord, I know Your help is coming on time. The problem will not be able to consume my life. Your forces are coming in great number to help me. So I will not give up until I have the great victory that is mine. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
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