“Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” ~ Mark 10:48
REFERENCE
It is easy to become discouraged while pursuing the things you consider important. Pressure is mounting across the world, and some things that were once easy are more complicated today. Times like these push believers to draw strength from the place of prayer. Knowing the power and possibility therein, Satan will attempt to shut you up, but don’t keep quiet. Keep on.
Bartimaeus was born blind and lived his whole life blind. He must have sought the joy of getting a glimpse of light for a moment all his life. That opportunity came knocking on a particular day; upon ascertaining it was what he thought, he cried out desperately, “Jesus…have mercy on me.” Many people (who had their sight) warned him to keep quiet. See how satan tried to make him miss that opportunity. However, Bartimaeus was undaunted; he cried out all the more.
How often do you hear a voice say, “Be quiet, don’t try again, give up, stop praying, don’t reach for more, you are doing too much, desist, etc.?” Our society often limits our ambition or desire to be better. The people around Bartimaeus felt he should not disturb a ‘big man,’ and someone of his status should not seek to be in the presence of someone of Jesus’ status.
Are you a victim of such voices? Do you find it difficult to dream, pray, think, or speak big? Are you surrounded by people who think you should be content with where you are and not strive for more in life? On the other hand, are you the one who tells those around you to keep quiet and stay in their place? That is not like God; in God, there is always a place called ‘forward.’
I read of a parent who, while thinking back on how he raised his children, recalled constantly telling them, “Don’t do that, don’t climb that, don’t attempt that, that’s too high for you, stop stretching, drop that so you don’t spoil it, etc.” Regrettably, this parent prayed silently, “I hope they were not listening.” He realized that he was unknowingly killing the ambition in them; he was keeping them quiet. Tell yourself today, “________ (your name), don’t keep quiet!”
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXTS:
Isaiah 62:6-7 and Hebrews 10:35-39
PRAYERS:
+ Lord, heal me from the influence of the many negative voices that have spoken into my life for many years. Voices of fear, intimidation, low self-image, incompetence, etc.
+ Bartimaeus was determined to improve; Father, I stir up the determination to improve within me in Jesus’ name.
+ I REFUSE to be quiet, to stop praying, trying, reaching, giving, or serving. In due time, I will reap.
Yes, I REFUSE to be quiet, to stop praying, trying, reaching, giving, or serving. In due time, I will reap, in Jesus’ name.
#AprilSixteenth
Today’s devotion is so timely.
When my alarm rang at the time for my devotion this morning I just put it off and continued struggling in sleep, didn’t feel like it. Praying was difficult when I did finally get up. Only to open this and hear these words. Thank you sir.
I Urhiefe won’t be quiet, I won’t give up.
Amen! Glory be to God. And He will keep supplying you with strength, in Jesus’ name.
Amen 🙏
I will not be quiet!
Those voices can be so, so persistent and like mosquitoes keep coming back after you have swatted them away. I choose to continue to draw strength from the Holy Spirit to keep speaking. If they won’t keep quiet, I will be louder still!