In our Focal Scripture, after the Philistines had taken out the eyes of Samson, they brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass. Notice that in this same city of Gaza, Samson had taken away both the gates and the pillars that held the gate, all alone. He had done mighty works in Gaza. Gaza was once the place where he displayed the power that God put in him, but in the same Gaza, he was reduced to nothing.
Friend, hear me as I hear the Lord: the place of your exploits will not become the place of your reduction. You will not be reduced in the same places where you were congratulated by men. You will not be mocked in the same places where you were celebrated. You will not go down in the same places where you have gone up. You will not fail in the same places where you once succeeded. You will not be a victim in the same places you once were victorious and undefeated.
Gaza was the place where Samson awed the men that came against him. His exploit in Gaza was resounding and unprecedented; but in the same Gaza, he was reduced to nothing. Hear me as I hear the Lord: every plot of the enemy to reduce you in the same places where you have been previously elevated, let fire answer. Every plot of the enemy to make you ordinary in the same places where you have been extraordinary, let fire answer.
Today, I pray for you: your destiny will neither be reduced nor extinguished. You will not move forward and suddenly start to move backwards. You will not rise and later begin to fall. You will not be celebrated openly only for men to come back later to mock you. You will rise and rise and rise and rise. Whatever exploits you were known for in time past, will be nothing compared to your next exploit. Your path shines brighter and brighter.
Your best days will not be in your ‘yesterday’. It will never be said that you were an example of rising and falling.
