Read The Report!

Reports, reports, reports--do you ever get weary of reports? We do welcome the good ones-- a clean bill of health, a child's great report card, an income tax refund. We cringe at the bad ones--a scary X-ray, a not-so-good-report card, an income tax BILL...and of course, there's always the bad weather and news reports we live with on a regular basis!

Well, I've had my share of reports, good ones and crazy ones, all coming from two "reporters" you and I know very well. I trust the one Reporter implicitly; the other one is a "reporter from hell," literally, and by now, you know where I'm going. I am so tired of the devil's harrassment of Christians--you and me--of evil, scary, bad, ridiculous reports he throws in our face and would like us to believe. Well, I have NEWS for that "reporter from hell." If he will read the REAL Report, God's Word, he will learn his end and the end of ALL bad reports! Hallelujah!

In the meantime, we struggle daily to deal with this character and his "reports"...but we are not alone. "Read the Report" in God's Word and you will find account after account of people just like us who had to deal with evil reports...it may have been an evil report, but it was not a FINAL report...got your curiosity up? I hope so...come to the Well with me and let's READ THE REPORT!

The Fruit Report

Remember the story of the spies going to Canaan to check out the land? All but two came back with a bad report...there are giants in the land; we'll never make it. Oh, but forget the giants - there is MILK and HONEY in the land. It is a good land...Now whose report would YOU believe? As the song says, "We will believe the report of the Lord."

The enemy would have you believe that your dreams, your plans, your prayers are not possible. The "land" is filled with dangers bigger than you -- you will never make it. Worry, fear, doubt, unbelief--it's all in his report....UNTIL you open the BOOK and read the REAL REPORT...God is on your side. HE is your strength and help. HE is your banker, your lawyer, your counselor, and whatever else you need. God is in the business of fulfilling dreams and plans--it's all in the report. His Word. Fill your mind and heart with it, and when the "reporter from hell" shows up, rehearse to him the report of the righteous One--sound the Scriptures in his ears, and say, "Satan, read the report, and BEGONE! I believe God!

The Fury Report!

Remember the story of Paul in a stormy sea, with some scared-silly sailors, and a sinking ship? They had read the "report" and it wasn't good. The ship was about to sink; they were about to drown. But Paul had heard from another Reporter. One night GOD spoke to him. "You will not drown. I will bring you and all those in the ship safely to shore." Paul passes on the report to the frightened men, "I believe God that it will be even as it was told me. We will be safe." And were they? Not one man was lost--now granted they ended up on pieces of the ship rafting and swimming their way to shore, dripping wet, but they made it!

You may end up on a piece of your ship, rafting and swimming YOUR way to shore, dripping wet, but you are going to make it. GOD said it--He does not forsake His own. No matter how powerful, how dangerous the storm, He will bring you through. He is your God.....READ THE REPORT until His Word so builds up your faith that you're ready, if need be, to ride the waves, for you KNOW God is going to bring you through! He's the same God of the sea whom Paul served. He does not fail His servants who read the report and put their trust in Him. Believe HIS report, sound it in Satan's ears, and say, BEGONE! I believe God!

The Foolish Report!

Remember the story of Abraham and Sarah? I can relate a "little," not completely because I was not NINETY...grin...but I was "older" when I had both our children.. We waited a long time for God's promise to be fulfilled, and I'll be honest with you--my dear husband had a lot more faith than I did! (I kept saying, "Does God know how OLD I am?...don't laugh..do YOU ever doubt God?) Were there "evil reports, scary reports, you're-too-OLD reports?" Of course, there were, but we believed God, and He fullfilled His promises to us. Today we have two teen sons--we are proud of them and thankful for them, gifts from God (on MOST days, that is...grin).

Maybe it's not a BABY you are wanting at NINETY years of age--I hope not--but whatever God has promised, however "ridiculous" and "unbelievable" it may seem to our world, it is not impossible with God. Don't "laugh" as Sarah did at the report. Believe it, and just WATCH what God will do! And when the old devil begins to whisper in your ear, "That's impossible...that's silly," just show him the REPORT of God's Word. God says, "NOTHING is impossible with Me." Believe HIS report, sound it in the devil's ears, and say, "BEGONE! I believe God!"

A despairing, doubtful, down-in-the-dumps Christian is a delight to the devil. He'd keep serving you the bad reports, day after day, until you are a basket case! Well, it's about time we recognize the strategies of this defeated foe. He would block our service and ministry to God and our families; he would defeat our spiritual walk with God; he would tear us to shreds--if we continue to believe his reports. Tear THEM to shreds, whatever ones he is throwing at you this week, and go get your Bible, the REAL REPORT. Ask the Lord to enlighten your mind and heart to receive HIS report...and God will not disappoint you. It's amazing to watch how He works...He's done it for me, and I know He will do it for you. READ the REPORT...and shout the victory. It's YOURS, in the Name of the Lord!

...and that's just a thought or two--from my heart to yours!

"Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer; for I believe God, that is shall be even as it was told me (Acts 27:25)."

"Lord, I've listened to the bad reports long enough. Give me strength to turn from them to Your promises. I want to believe the REAL report. Help me. In Jesus' Name, Amen."

All Scriptures are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

Copyright 2005 by Peggie C. Bohanon, Springfield, Mo. Used by permission.
Visit "The Devotional Buffet" for more: http://www.peggiesplace.com/buffet.htm
Created at Peggie's Place: http://www.peggiesplace.com,
"the most fun Christian home on the Web."