Embracing Valleys: Growth Through Spiritual Trials

Devotional

Day 1: Embrace the Valley as a Place of Growth

Valleys are inevitable and necessary for our spiritual journey. They are not just places of despair but are essential for our development and growth. In these challenging times, God cultivates within us the strength and resilience needed for the next mountaintop experience. Everyone, including Jesus, goes through valleys. These valleys can be self-inflicted, attacks from the enemy, or divinely orchestrated for our growth. The key is to understand that valleys are temporary and are meant to prepare us for greater heights. We must not adopt a victim mentality but instead, embrace the process of development that God is leading us through. [09:39]

Psalm 66:10-12 (ESV): "For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance."

Reflection: Think of a current or past valley in your life. How can you see God’s hand in your growth during that time? What steps can you take today to embrace this valley as a place of development?

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Day 2: Engage Actively in Your Spiritual Growth

It’s not enough to rely on others' prayers; we must engage in personal prayer, scripture reading, and repentance. This active participation ensures that the changes God makes in us are lasting and transformative. When we put in the work, we build a stronger foundation for our faith. Active participation in our spiritual growth means taking responsibility for our relationship with God and not being passive recipients. It involves a daily commitment to seek God’s presence and guidance. [17:51]

James 1:22-25 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."

Reflection: What specific actions can you take today to engage more actively in your spiritual growth? Consider setting aside dedicated time for prayer, scripture reading, or repentance.

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Day 3: Trust in God’s Promises and Avoid the Victim Mentality

Playing the victim card keeps us in the valley longer than intended. Instead, we should trust in God’s promises and actively work towards our deliverance. Remember that God has already overcome the world, and our victory is assured if we hold on to His promises. Adopting a victim mentality can hinder our progress and keep us from experiencing the fullness of God’s plan for our lives. Trusting in God’s promises means believing that He is faithful and will bring us through our trials. [29:43]

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you have adopted a victim mentality? How can you shift your perspective to trust in God’s promises and actively work towards your deliverance?

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Day 4: Recognize God’s Glory in the Valley

God’s glory is not limited to the mountaintop; it is also present in the valley. The same God who was with us on the mountaintop is with us in the valley. Trust that He is working in your situation and that your current valley is just a season leading to a new mountaintop. Recognizing God’s glory in the valley means acknowledging His presence and work even in difficult times. It involves trusting that He is using these experiences to shape us and bring us closer to Him. [32:10]

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (ESV): "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places."

Reflection: How can you recognize and acknowledge God’s glory in your current valley? What are some ways you can remind yourself of His presence and work in your life during difficult times?

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Day 5: Prophesy Your Victory

Speak life and victory over your situation. Declare that your breakthrough, healing, and blessings are on the way. By prophesying God’s promises, you align your faith with His word and prepare yourself for the victory that is coming. Prophesying your victory means speaking God’s truth over your circumstances and believing that He will bring about His promises. It involves declaring His word and trusting that He is faithful to fulfill it. [33:34]

Ezekiel 37:4-6 (ESV): "Then he said to me, 'Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.'"

Reflection: What specific promises of God can you declare over your life today? How can you speak life and victory over your current situation, trusting that God will bring about His promises?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the profound truth that valleys are an inevitable part of our spiritual journey. Drawing from Psalm 23:4, we delved into the significance of walking through the valley of the shadow of death and how it shapes our faith and character. Valleys are not just places of despair but are essential for our development and growth. They are where God cultivates within us the strength and resilience needed for the next mountaintop experience.

We acknowledged that everyone, including Jesus, goes through valleys. These valleys can be self-inflicted, attacks from the enemy, or divinely orchestrated for our growth. The key is to understand that valleys are temporary and are meant to prepare us for greater heights. We must not adopt a victim mentality but instead, embrace the process of development that God is leading us through.

We also discussed the importance of not giving up in the middle of our trials. Biblical examples like Job, Jonah, and the disciples remind us that God’s deliverance is always on the horizon. The valley is a place where our true character is revealed, and it’s crucial to maintain a spirit of faith and perseverance.

Finally, we emphasized the need to actively participate in our spiritual growth. It’s not enough to rely solely on prayers from others; we must engage in personal prayer, scripture reading, and repentance. This active participation ensures that the changes God makes in us are lasting and transformative.

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Key Takeaways

1. Valleys Are Inevitable and Necessary: Everyone, including Jesus, goes through valleys. These experiences are unavoidable and essential for our spiritual growth. They prepare us for the next mountaintop by developing our character and faith. Embrace the valley as a place of growth and trust that God is with you through it all. [09:39]
2. Active Participation in Spiritual Growth: It’s not enough to rely on others' prayers; we must engage in personal prayer, scripture reading, and repentance. This active participation ensures that the changes God makes in us are lasting and transformative. When we put in the work, we build a stronger foundation for our faith. [17:51]
3. Avoid the Victim Mentality: Playing the victim card keeps us in the valley longer than intended. Instead, we should trust in God’s promises and actively work towards our deliverance. Remember that God has already overcome the world, and our victory is assured if we hold on to His promises. [29:43]
4. God’s Glory in the Valley: God’s glory is not limited to the mountaintop; it is also present in the valley. The same God who was with us on the mountaintop is with us in the valley. Trust that He is working in your situation and that your current valley is just a season leading to a new mountaintop. [32:10]
5. Prophesy Your Victory: Speak life and victory over your situation. Declare that your breakthrough, healing, and blessings are on the way. By prophesying God’s promises, you align your faith with His word and prepare yourself for the victory that is coming. [33:34]
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Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:53] - Vision of TAG Church
[01:28] - Announcements
[02:42] - Honoring Pastors
[03:57] - Introduction to the Sermon
[05:31] - Wrestling with God’s Message
[06:42] - Psalm 23:4
[07:20] - Prayer and Preparation
[08:28] - God’s Glory in the Valley
[09:39] - Valleys Are Necessary
[10:16] - Everyone Enters Valleys
[12:08] - Don’t Stop Reading in the Storm
[13:20] - Serve Notice to the Devil
[13:59] - Valleys Are Places of Development
[17:51] - Active Participation in Growth
[19:11] - Development for the Next Mountaintop
[23:05] - Victims Live and Die in the Valley
[29:43] - Avoid the Victim Mentality
[32:10] - The Valley is Not Your Home
[33:34] - Prophesy Your Victory
[35:00] - Praise Break and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to Psalm 23:4, what are the two things that comfort us as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death?
In 1 Peter 4:12, what does Peter advise believers not to be surprised about?
What assurance does Jesus give in John 16:33 about the troubles we face in this world?

Interpretation Questions

How does understanding that valleys are inevitable and necessary (as mentioned in the sermon) change our perspective on difficult times?
What does it mean to actively participate in our spiritual growth, and why is it important according to the sermon?
How can adopting a victim mentality prolong our stay in the valley, and what steps can we take to avoid this mindset?
How can we see God's glory in the valley, and why is it important to recognize His presence during these times?

Application Questions

Reflect on a recent valley experience in your life. How did you see God working in that situation, and what did you learn from it?
What are some practical ways you can engage in personal prayer, scripture reading, and repentance to actively participate in your spiritual growth?
Identify a situation where you might be tempted to adopt a victim mentality. How can you shift your perspective to trust in God's promises and work towards your deliverance?
Think of a time when you felt God's presence more strongly in a valley than on a mountaintop. How did that experience shape your faith?
How can you prophesy victory over a current challenge in your life? What specific promises from God's word can you declare over your situation?
Share an example of a time when you saw someone else go through a valley and come out stronger. What did you learn from their experience?
What steps can you take this week to remind yourself that the valley is not your home and that God is leading you to a new mountaintop?

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "The valley cannot be overlooked because valleys are necessary in our life. In fact, they are unavoidable in our life. I would submit this unto you. I would say may I submit that how will we ever get to the Mountaintop if we do not first go through the valley? Do you understand what I'm saying this morning?" [09:03](

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2. "I wish that I could stand up here and I could tell you that when you give your life to Christ everything is just butterflies and rainbows and unicorns. I really want to see how unicorn was going to be signed okay I'm sorry butterflies rainbows and unicorns but in fact scripture is clear that giving your life to Christ does not make life easy." [10:16](

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3. "Don't stop reading the Bible in the middle of the storm. Don't stop reading when Job's got nothing left and he's abandoned by his wife and friends. No, no, no. Don't stop reading when Jonah gets swallowed by the fish. Don't stop reading when Elijah is in the cave asking for God to kill him. Don't stop reading when the sea is standing between freedom and the Israelites. Don't stop reading when Jesus is on the cross or put in the Tomb. Don't stop reading when Christ says in this world you will have trouble." [11:37](

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4. "You may be in the Valley now but God has not forgotten you and he has not left you and the devil is trying to take you out but I say that you need to serve notice to the devil this morning. It's time for an eviction notice to be served this morning. Devil, you had your chance but I Belong To The King." [13:20](

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5. "The valley is not your home. Step out of that victim Vortex and remember that the same God who was with you on the Mountaintop and who walked you down with you is the same God in the middle of the valley. The same Glory he showed you on the top is the same Glory he can show you in the bottom of the Valley. Can I tell you if he's done it before he'll do it again." [32:10](

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### Quotes for Members

1. "I have begun to observe a trend in the big sea church lately that many Christians want their Pastor to pray for their issue while they silently without praying stand there only to then assume that because the pastor prayed that God would hear the word of the mere mortal man and then answer the prayer. Pray or us as Pentecostals would come up and we would ask for prayer and we would receive that prayer and we would have someone praying for us and then we would fall down to the ground because we could not stand under the weight and the glory of God and all that is fine and true but then we would get back up and we would walk walk right back into the life that we were living before that prayer." [14:41](

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2. "If we do not put in the prayer, the reading of his word, repentance and striving to be more like him each and every day, then I don't care if you come to the altar, if you go to Dr. Buster and get therapy, I don't care what you do, if you don't put in the work it won't happen, it won't stay for you. Next time we have the temptation of the alcohol, the drugs, the gossip, The Pride, computer with no one watching, next time someone cuts us off in traffic we get we we backslide right to where we were." [17:13](

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3. "When you go through the valley and you have to walk in the mud, you have to fight, you have to pray, you have to hold on tight to God because if you don't hold on tight to God you know you won't make it through. When you've got to deal with some setback and you've got to pray when you don't feel like praying, you got to read the word when you don't feel like reading the word and you got somebody at work or at school that you you want to lay holy hands on them but you got to kill them with kindness. That's whenever we've got some skin in the game and that's when God is developing within us the character that is needed before he can take us to the next Mountain top." [18:33](

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4. "The valley is where you find out who you really are because it's really easy for us to get up here and act like everything's going good when everything is going good. But how did the Widow in Second Kings with Elisha who could not bear a child, not a widow, she could not, she was she was barren, she could not bear a child then after meeting Elisha is able to have a child and then not even a year later that child dies in the field working. How could she be going to see Elisha again, run into the assistant of Elisha and he asked how is everything going and her just simply say it is well I'm on the way." [21:06](

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5. "The valley is where victims live and die. Victims don't make it out of the valley. Have you ever met somebody who is always mad at the world or they always think everyone and everybody is out to get them? Have you ever met somebody who could have a sour look on their face eating some fried chicken and some fried Oreos or a ribeye cooked perfectly to medium rare? I know I lost some of y'all there on that one okay. Listen, the person that can sit there with a sour mad look on their face eating some fried chicken and some fried Oreos is somebody who lives in the valley." [23:05](

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Transcript

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