"Selah" 3-Day Devotional

By. F. L. O.G. I. C

Introduction

In this 3-Day devotional you will journey with Breanna and Taylour to learn what it means to Selah and truly rest in the Lord. Using the biblical interpretation of the lyrics to their new song “Selah” you will discover the benefits of letting God’s word work in your life and what it means to make room for him so that you can walk in victory! 

Day One - The Fixed Battle 

In today’s society, we constantly see people battling against each other. Whether it’s blue against red, Black against white, or what’s in vs out of style, you can guarantee that at some point you are going to come across some battle about something. And that is exactly what the devil wants. He wants us focused on the temporary, distracted by trivial quarrels that take our focus off the true and important spiritual battle that is actually taking place. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” In 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 it says, “(for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” As you can see, we have a lot more to think about than whether or not someone likes us or if one should eat meat. 

The devil is roaming around the earth like a roaring lion seeking whom he can devour, and one of the ways he does this is by these trivial distractions. As believers we need to be vigilant and remain focused on the spiritual battle that is taking place. That is the battle that has already been fixed with a set winner - us. We just need to ensure that we are showing up to the right battle. And with the proper armor (Ephesians 6:11). As we look at the opening line of “Selah” it begins with the bold declaration “Stomping on the devil’s head.” This is not just wishful thinking. This is walking in authority. Luke 10:19 tells us “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” That is a promise that we must be willing to accept as true because God’s word is truth according to John 17:17. 

You need to know that Jesus won the battle for us when he died on the cross just for us. He rose on the third day with all power in his hands, and we must understand that by way of the Holy Spirit we too have that same power (Acts 1:8). So why is it that there are so many people who call themselves Christians who walk around as if they are defeated, falling victim to pointless arguments, irrational strife, and overwhelmed by “life lifing?” It is as if they are afraid of what the day may bring despite the Bible telling us that God hasn’t given us the Spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. So, how do we get to a place where we can flex on the enemy and walk in victory.  What does that look like? Well, Philippians 1:21 says, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.” And Romans 8:13 says, “Put to death the deeds of the body…”  In other words, we have to die to ourselves. Daily. We need to get rooted in God’s word and live our lives in congruence with what it says. We must get ourselves out of the way - our speech, our actions, our fleshly tendencies so that we can let God’s word work in us and thus in our lives. It is only when we operate from this spiritually mature place that we are suited for the pre-fixed battle and can expect victory. 

Reflection Questions: 

1. Am I trying to fight earthly battles in my own strength or spiritual battles in Christ’s?

2. What does it look like to “take it to the Head” (Jesus) first in prayer?

3. Are you fully dressed in the armor of God (Ephesians 6) for battle? 

“Selah” Session Exercise:

Read the following scriptures from Psalm 4:3-4, and take 3-5 minutes to Selah. 

“But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him. Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.” 

Prayer: 

Father God in the name of Jesus,

Thank you, Abba, for fixing the battle in my favor. Though it may not always look like I am winning, and I may be tempted to do things my way, I ask that you would help me to rest in your presence and the truth of your word. May you bless me with an obedient heart posture that respects the need to “Selah” and, like Psalm 46:10 says, to “be still and know” that you are God. 

In Jesus’ Name, 

Amen! 

Day Two - Walking in Victory

Yesterday we looked at the spiritual battle we face as Christians, and the victory we already have through Christ in that fixed battle. Today we are going to explore what it truly looks like to walk in the victory of that fixed battle. As believers we must avoid the snares of the enemy that seek to entrap us. More often than not we find ourselves coming across news about Christians arguing over whether or not an outfit was appropriate to wear, over a purchase some pastor made, and the list goes on. We also find ourselves trying to outdo one another in looks, success, and visibility on social media rather than outdoing one another in love. The lyrics “Imma eat my part of the crab, can keep the barrel” in “Selah” boldly exemplifies the confidence a Chrstian should have in life. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For all the promises of God in Him are “yea”; and in Him “amen” unto the glory of God by us.” So we need not be consumed by how many likes someone else is getting or how far ahead you think they’ve gotten. God’s grace is sufficient for you (2 Corinthians 12:9). 

Don’t allow the devil, or even yourself, to keep you enslaved to a mindset of comparison and trying to fight a battle you are not equipped to fight. Trying to fight from your own strength will leave you feeling depleted and overwhelmed. You must pick a side. We are in the world but not of the world, and thus must live by the kingdom principles that govern our citizenship. So if you were curious as to why that upgrade you made to your car to feel better about yourself after seeing your friend’s new purchase didn’t work or why “matching the energy” of the nasty cashier only left you feeling bad after now you know why. None of those worldly actions are going to do anything for you. And even if you are deceived into thinking that they will, you will quickly realize that the relief is not long term. You may feel good in the moment, but eventually those payments begin to add up, that conversation begins to replay in your mind, and you find yourself needing to repent and return the cross. Matthew 16:24 says, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” And guess what? The weight of the cross is heavy. It cost Jesus his life. But thank God that he laid down his life for us and he took the weight of our sins in our place. So cling to Jesus. 

Hebrews 12:1 says,  “...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” You only have the grace to run your own race. We as believers must remember that. When we stay in our lane it allows God’s word to work in our lives. If you find yourself feeling like you are losing the battle or like you can’t finish the race then perhaps you are on the wrong track and field. God makes it clear in Philippians 1:21 that to “live is Christ, and to die is gain.” So we can be certain that we already have the victory. The question is, do you have Christ? Really be intentional about looking at the benefits of citizenship in Christ’s kingdom. Oftentimes we are so consumed by the world and the things in it, so much so that we begin to forget how good we really have it. Matthew 16:26 says, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” If this doesn’t get you to see how useless it is to chase down the things of this world I don’t know what will. Be intentional and choose the winning side. Jesus has already bruised Satan’s head and won the battle over the world. So why would you choose to be on the losing team? Or choose to teeter the lines of both sides which is even more dangerous and will guarantee you a quicker death getting lost in the crossfire. You don’t think so? The B clause in Revelation 3:15 says, “I would thou wert cold or hot.” In other words, pick a side. And I don’t know about you, but I choose to be on the winning side and walk in my victory. 

Reflection Questions: 

1. Are you walking in victory? What does that look like? 

2. When was the last time you declared the promises of God in your life? 

3. Do you need a reminder that victory is yours? Look to the cross. 

“Selah” Session Exercise:

Write a list of things you have been struggling to have victory over  - addiction, insecurity, financial hardship, lust, anger, etc... Then rip up the list and toss it in the trash. Read Psalm 4:4, and take 3-5 minutes to Selah. 

“Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.”

Prayer: 

Father God in the name Jesus,

Help me, Abba, to die to myself today so that I may live. You said your yoke is easy and your burden is light so I can trust that you will not put more on me than I can bear. I pray that you would give me the confidence to walk in victory, and put my faith in you. Forgive me for not resting in you and for forfeiting the dominion you have blessed me with. Give me the desire to meditate on your word day and night so that I may be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bears fruit in its season. Your word says in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” And because I have you I too can overcome the world. Help me to remember that I have the victory! 

In Jesus’ name, 

Amen! 

Day Three - Selah 

Today is the last day of our three-day “Selah” devotional. We hope that it was a blessing to you and that you feel more equipped to rest. Sometimes we feel so burdened by the weight of the world and our circumstances that resting feels counterintuitive. We feel guilty taking time to rest. But the Lord has given us both dominion and rest, and as believers we should always be operating in one or the other. Don’t rob yourself of the rest God has given you. Even God in all his power and might modeled rest for us in the book of Genesis. One the seventh (Sabbath) day he rested. If he could rest, what makes us think we are too “booked and busy,” too cool, too strong to rest? The devil is a liar. To refuse the rest God has instructed us to is a matter of pride. We must resist the urge to be prideful. And we can only do that by walking in the dominion and rest God has blessed us with. What does that look like? Reading that word of God and knowing what it says about you. When you do that you won’t be concerned with what someone else has or overwhelmed by trying to prove to everyone, including yourself, who you are. You can be like Jesus who while tempted in the wilderness quoted scripture back to the devil. Notice I said back to the devil. Yeah, he knows the word so you better know it too. He tried to distort the word and use it against Jesus to get him to fall for his trap and be prideful enough to try to prove who he was. (Read Matthew 4). But Jesus knew the word of God and thus knew himself and did not fall for Satan’s trap. He spoke with the authority God gave him and rested in the truth of God’s word. 

Are you resting in the truth of God’s word or do you find yourself always having to convince yourself and others about who you are? Buying and saying things that are counterbiblical in order to fit into the culture. “Everybody wanna be famous and cop a little bag, runnin’ round for riches and crowns and things that never last.” Those lyrics in “Selah” are a reflection of 1 Peter 1:24-25 which warns us that  “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” We live in a world where everybody believes their own hype. Social media and technology as a whole has enabled everyone to have a platform and a voice. And those that have amassed an audience, be it organically or purchased, now can feel like they have their own little throne. But we must take this scripture seriously. None of those followers, platforms, and the like (and likes) will last. Only the word of God will stand. We must get serious about getting grounded on a firm foundation. That is why we created “Bible Sturdy,” a weekly Bible study session that we hold on YouTube Live Fridays at 8pm ET to help believers get sturdy in the word of God. 

If we are honest with ourselves, sometimes we feel overwhelmed and unsettled because of pressures we have placed on ourselves. A marriage by a certain age God never told us, a business we didn’t consult God about before starting, a strained friendship we chose not to let go of even after God said to. We carry unnecessary weight due to our own disobedience and lack of surrender but then we blame God that we are not “winning.” As the “apple of his eye” we must know that he does not want it to be that way. So what does it look like to walk in the victory of the fixed battle and be able to rest knowing that we do, in fact, have the victory? Well, Matthew 7:13-14 says, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” In other words, it’s easy to fall into the large traps of the world and land in destruction, but you can choose the narrow path that leads to life. You will have to say no to things that the world convinces you is cool and “giving,” but the eternal reward is so much greater than temporary satisfaction. 

Reflection Questions: 

1. Do you tend to act or speak before taking the time to think? Why or why not? 

2. How do you allow the word of God to work in your life? 

3. When was the last time you spent time reading and meditating on God’s word? 

“Selah” Session Exercise:

Write down something you have been trying to handle on your own. Then read Habakkuk 3:13, and take 3-5 minutes to Selah. 

“Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah.”

Prayer: 

Father God in the name of Jesus, 

There is beauty in resting in you, Abba. I pray that you would help me Selah everyday. Thank you in advance for blessing me with renewed strength and clarity as a result of my enhanced relationship with you. I ask that you would help me to discern your voice more quickly and accurately as I take the time to study your word and learn what you sound like and how you show up. I vow to leave space for you in prayer to hear your voice, and I invite your presence into this day and everyday.

In Jesus’ name, 

Amen! 

Conclusion

We hope that this devotional blesses and encourages you to choose Jesus, and to walk in the fullness of joy that comes with a life dedicated to him. It is a privilege to be a part of the Lord’s family and while the world is uncertain, bitter, angry, and restless, we are able to Selah and lead by example. Don’t mimic the world and then wonder why it looks the way it does. As we Christians get better we will see the world get better. Let’s keep our family empowered and in order! 

If you don’t know who Jesus is and want to be a part of our family and winning team, I invite you to say this prayer. 

Lord Jesus,

I am a sinner. I acknowledge my sins to you. Thank you for dying on the cross just for me. Forgive me of all my sins. Wash me in your precious blood. I believe you came here on earth as fully God and man, died on the cross just for me and rose on the third day. By faith I receive you into my life as my Lord and Saviour. I am saved! And now, I choose to Selah, and rest in you. 

In Jesus’ name,

Amen! 

Peace and Love! 

F. L. O.G. I. C