Discouragement 3

Continuing the thoughts on discouragement. Yesterday I started the list of things we can do to combat discouragement in our lives - Here is the conclusion to the list:

5. Correct the way you have been thinking. This is similar to point #1, but once we find God’s mind concerning our life, we have to do the hard work of readjusting the way we think. It is likely that we have gotten ourselves into some very critical and shameful thought habits. Paul said:

In Philippians 4:6-8 Paul writes Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

        

We have to “change the channel” of our minds and make sure we don’t fixate on negative, discouraging things – no matter what we are going through. Allow God’s perfect peace to rule your heart and thoughts.

6. Believe what God says. The truth sets you free. God spoke to Joshua and He speaks to you: NLT Joshua 1:9 I command you - be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. God never commands someone to do something that He does not empower them to do. So. when God commands you to be strong and courageous, you can do it - He has promised to be with you. Value the anointing and presence of God - He has given you these for your help and comfort.

In the New Testament is the Greek word for encourager is parakleto. It means “to come along a side of”. (para = beside; kleto = to call) Paul uses this word in Thess. 3:2, when he spoke of sending Timothy to establish and encourage the Thessalonians in their faith. Parakleto is the word for “encourage.” This is also seen in one of the names of the Holy Spirit. He is our Parakletos - the one who comes alongside us. When Jesus said He will send a “comforter”, the Holy spirit, Jesus used this word: parakletos. The same word is used when Paul tells us to, “comfort those in trouble.”

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

7. Josh. 1:10-11 Move on - The children of Israel allowed the pilgrimage to set in their spirits again. It is important to get up and move forward.

A discouraged person tends to live in the past, either a past of failures or a past of glory days. God designed us as people to look to the future not the past. Take your eyes off the past. It is certainly a good thing to honor the past, but we need to look towards the future. NIV Isaiah 43:18 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” God wants to do a new thing in your life.

8. Stick to the assignment and direction God has given you. Think and pray about the work you're currently doing for God. Ask Him to clarify whether or not He has truly led you to your current assignment. Reflect on the successes and failures you've experienced so far and see if you can recognize a pattern that can help you discern if you're doing what you're supposed to be doing. If it seems as if you're doing what God wants you to do but you just need to overcome some challenges while doing it, don't give up. Instead, fight discouragement by writing down a fresh vision for how to continue your work in the future.

Hab. 2:2 Then the LORD answered me and said: Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.

9. Make sure you stay connected with others and find comfort in God’s people. A discouraged person tends to withdraw from other people and hide away from relationships. The way out of discouragement is to draw strength from others. First and most importantly, God is there to give you strength and courage. God spoke to Joshua and He speaks to you: NLT Joshua 1:5 For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. God will not force Himself upon you, but He is there, if you will but reach out to Him. He is always as close as your breath. He is never more than a whisper away. Ask Him for strength and submit your life to Him.

If you're discouraged, don't keep it to yourself. Don't let pride or shame prevent you from sharing honestly with people who will listen empathically and respond wisely.

“Encourage” Gk. “parakaleo” –to call alongside. In a military context, the word was used to call for reinforcements.

Spend time with someone who isn't discouraged. Time in that person's positive presence will naturally make you feel better yourself.

10/ Take care of your whole self - body, soul and spirit.
When we get discouraged we often loose hope and the motivation to take care of ourselves. Giving your body the care it needs will help you feel less discouraged. Eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. (Hmmmm...I'm in need of all three of these!)

Prov. 15:13 A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance. But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Prov. 17:22 A merry heart does good, [like] medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.

Refill your spiritual energy tank. Identify what's causing your spiritual energy levels to run low, write down the problem, enter into a disciplined plan to have fun, laugh, read the Word, spend time with others, do something different. Don’t waste time with things that don’t build you up.

11. Give to people in need. Reaching out to help other people will prove encouraging for you because it will give you the joy of knowing that God has used you in significant ways. Thinking about others can also be helpful.

12. Choose faith over fear. Recognize that God is always with you - even in the middle of the most discouraging circumstances. Whenever you feel afraid, choose to trust God despite your fear. God may not change your circumstances when you would like HIm to, but He will always give you the encouragement you need to deal with them as longs as necessary. Your faith makes you whole..

Matt. 9:22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.

Sometimes we allow fear to take hold of our hearts and minds. Again – we have to work to keep fear from having a refuge inside our minds. The psalmist said: The Lord is my light and salvation, whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength (defense) of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Ps. 27:1)

In John 14:27 Jesus said: Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid.

13. Set realistic goals for your future. One reason for discouragement is that we have become overwhelmed by the tasks ahead of us. We feel like a failure. Or…we don’t have any goals at all and feel that we don’t measure up to others. Set goals that are attainable - something small that you can achieve and see some accomplishment in your life.

14. Never give up!  Keep holding on to God's promise that He has an important plan for your life. Keep praying for the encouragement you need to fulfill all of His purposes for you.

15. Praise God - Encourage yourself in the Lord - 1 Sam. 30:6 David encouraged himself in the Lord with songs of praise. Praise is the greatest faith-language.

Ps. 34:1-4A Psalm of David when he pretended madness
before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.

I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.

Hab. 3:17-19 Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And the be no herd in the stalls -

Yet I will rejoice (triumph – jump for joy) in the LORD, I will joy (spin around with violent emotion) in the God of my salvation.

Job – in the face of extreme injustice made the choice to bow and worship (Job 1:20) and pray for his friends (Job 42:9)

Job 1:21 Job had a theology for when the Lord “takes” – not just for when the Lord “gives.”

We all need to build into our lives a theology for the bad times

as well as for good times.

Discouragement 2 HERE
Discouragement 4 HERE