Existence is relevant to the one living the experience, that would be all of us breathing today, and includes you if you are reading this. Everyone experiences discouragement, defeat and even depression at one time or another in our lives. God knew this and already factored this in when He decided to be obedient and willingly go to the cross to lay His life down for us.
In laying His life down for us, He gave us the following rights and promises: 1) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12 KJV 2) In solemn truth I tell you, anyone believing in me shall do the same miracles I have done, and even greater ones, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask him for anything, using my name, and I will do it, for this will bring praise to the Father because of what I, the Son, will do for you. Yes, ask anything, using my name, and I will do it! John 14:12-14 TLB 3) I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Matthew 16:19 NIV 4) Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you. Psalm 55:22-23 5) This is what the LORD says to you: Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. 2 Chronicles 20:15
When you or others close to you begin to be affected by discouragement, failure, sickness, rejection, isolation, pain, poverty, crime, death, divorce, job loss, or simply the bottom drops out of your life all at once. You may begin to hear lies and have negative thoughts, well......DON’T BELIEVE WHAT YOUR ENEMY TELLS YOU, DO YOU EVER HEAR THESE LIES/THOUGHTS?: 1) You’ve made a mess of your life, you will never recover, 2) No one wants to hear what you have to say, 3) No one likes you and no one wants to be around you, 4) It’s too late the damage is done, 5) I have nothing to offer anyone else, 6) I’m no good at relationships, 7) I don’t want to deal with that person BECAUSE THEY HURT ME!
These are your emotions kicking in, don’t let them! THEY WILL KEEP YOU HOSTAGE AND IN BONDAGE TO STOP THE VERY WORK GOD WANTS TO DO THROUGH YOU TO HELP AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS INCLUDING YOURSELF. You have the ability to completely change your destiny if you will only believe what God thinks about you. When you have asked God to change you to be more like Him, and He begins to do that work in you, you can be confident that He will complete that work in you: And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns. Philippians 1:6 TLB
So what if people don’t do what you think they should. So what if people shake their heads at you. So what if people reject you. So what if people won’t believe in God and do what’s right. So what!! That does not give you the right TO QUIT! He has called you to proclaim the goodness of the Lord, so PROCLAIM AWAY, while you have breath in your lungs, someone needs to be encouraged, and when you do, you will be encouraged and refreshed too!
On a journey of Healing and Hope with you,
Terri Lynne