In the day to day drudgery that life can be, sometimes it is tough to not have times of discouragement. Often, it begins with an idle thought. Or a false perception that we may have about a situation that we are in. It may have been caused by stress involving a sick family member, a difficult marriage or family situation, a lost job, or loneliness. Whatever the case, it can lead us into Stinking Thinking.
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. - Matthew 15:19
What I didn't realize until a friend brought it up the other day is that Discouragement is really a well disguised tool of Satan. And it is a very powerful one, too. We get so wrapped up in the problem that we are going through that we can experience doubt, loss of hope, frustration, impatience, and other bad feelings that can lead us down bad spiritual roads. Discouragement can take the joy that we have and suck it right out of us! It is the first step toward spiritual paralysis.
I sink in deep mire, Where there is no standing; I have come into deep waters, Where the floods overflow me. I am weary with my crying; My throat is dry; My eyes fail while I wait for my God. Those who hate me without a cause Are more than the hairs of my head; They are mighty who would destroy me, Being my enemies wrongfully; Though I have stolen nothing, I still must restore it. - Psalm 69:2-4
It's amazing to me. A thought here and a thought there and suddenly we are going down the road of stinking thinking. If I allow myself to entertain an untrue thought, suddenly I get bent a little bit and before I know it, I am getting discouraged, having doubts, and am on the way to Spiritual immobility. And I get so wrapped up in the cycle of it that I put all of my attention on ME instead of putting the attention on the only one who can solve the problem: our Heavenly Father. All of a sudden Jesus is off His throne and I am on mine. That's when I know I need to take a step back.
"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." - Luke 21:34-36
Though the Lord is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands. - Psalm 138:6-8
And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. - John 14:13-14
We will do well to remember this: Discouragement and Self pity are from the Devil. Whatever the situation that we are going through, the Lord is there and will not leave us.
For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones. - Isaiah 57:15
I called on the Lord in distress; The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is for me among those who help me; Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me. - Psalm 118:5-7
The pains of death surrounded me, And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the Lord: "O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!" Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. - Psalm 116:3-6
Sometimes all that we need to do is to pray: "Father, deliver me from evil" and then the Lord will clear our minds up and end the enemy's attack.
We have to remember that much of our battle is a spiritual one. Or as a professor of mine said in a sermon he delivered a couple of years ago: "We are in a spiritual war, and every inch of ground is contested by the enemy and there is no neutral ground." That may sound rather dramatic, but it is completely biblical and thus it is true. So, the battle is going on around us, whether we want to acknowledge it or not. So we need to get back into the fray. After all, we are either with Him or we are against Him.
He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. - Mattthew 12:30
There's really no stopping a person who is filled to the rim with the Holy Spirit of God.
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18
Renew your mind through His Spirit and His Word. When you allow His Truth to sink in to your mind again and to renew you, your joy will return and you will be able to be unleashed spiritually to live for Jesus and to make a difference in the world around you. Let go of the stinking thinking and lay it down for God to handle.
"And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32