|
DON’T LISTEN TO DISCOURAGEMENT AND FEAR
Not much to encourage you in that scenario, if you look at it from the humanistic point of view. But, if we look at it from GOD’S point of view---through His Word---and take our thoughts captive, we can battle all discouragement and win! Because God’s plan for our future is NOT a dismal one. I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out--plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. "When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. Jeremiah 29:11(Message Bible) You are not going to end up helpless and useless, you can count on God to help you through what you’re suffering. He will deliver you--either from it or through it. But YOU need to work with God. You need to fight discouragement. There are three voices that can speak to you— 1.GOD’S VOICE, 2.THE DEVIL’S VOICE 2. YOUR OWN VOICE. WHICH ONE WILL YOU LISTEN TO? WHICH ONE WILL YOU AFFIRM WITH YOUR OWN THOUGHTS AND WORDS? The voice you listen to will determine what you experience. Have you allowed the enemy of your soul to lead you into discouragement and fear? Have you actually stopped and listened and then believed his words? If so, then you’ve actually turned from God’s path and gotten on a different one. And it won’t lead you to anything good. IF YOU'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THE WRONG VOICE YOU NEED TO STOP IT. You need to change what you believe and listen to. You need to get rid of the discouragement and fear. I want to ask you A question I have had to ask myself more than one time--and sometimes had to give the wrong answer. HAVE YOU ALLOWED THE ENEMY OF YOUR SOUL TO LEAD YOU INTO FEAR AND DISCOURAGEMENT? HAVE YOU ACTUALLY STOPPED, LISTENED, AND BELIEVED HIS WORD? IF SO, YOU'VE ACTUALLY TURNED FROM GOD'S WAY AND ARE GOING A DIFFERENT WAY AND IT WON'T LEAD YOU TO ANYTHING GOOD. You need to change what you listen to and believe--- to turn back to God. II know that in my life, I saw the same scenario for a long time--it's now been 7 years and haven't even walked outside except to get in a wheelchair and go to the doctor. There are times, I have been very discouraged---times I have gotten into pity parties. That made everything much worse. It led to fear, sickness, emotional pain Pity parties will get you into trouble. I had to change the way I reacted and, if you've been in that situation, so do you. How do we break the cycle and return to going GOD'S way? HERE IS A STEP BY STEP PLAN: Malachi 3:7 Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.
Return?
“But I haven’t left” you may be saying.
Well, in a sense,
each time we look away from GOD’S Plan for us and looked at
life through eyes of fear or discouragement
for a period of time, we are turning away. Oh, it’s not that
we’ve left God or His Kingdom, but we still need to return
to thinking God’s way.
Psalms 119:11
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin
against thee.
3. Restore your church attendance and support. Maybe you
can't get to a church building, but you can be a part
of a church or fellowship and have a pastor; you can tithe
to the place that provides your spiritual food. Tithing is
important. Being sick and even housebound doesn't exempt us
from that.
Malachi 3:10
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may
be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the
LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven,
and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room
enough to receive it.
III. RELY ON THE LORD Psalms 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
2.
Depend on Him. He never disappoints or fails. When you rejoice in God and worship Him, God inhabits your praise! You have His presence all around you and within you. It’s better than the best antidepressant or mood elevator. Not that there’s anything wrong with antidepressants. God knows we take enough medication that has bad side effects---what’s wrong with taking medication that has GOOD ones. Psalm 37:3-5 Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed. 4Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. 5Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass. If you have the right attitude, you will never be in PLAN B for your life. Years ago, when I first got into this situation, I didn't know what I would do with myself. I had to learn to get to the point where I trusted God to set me into the ministry and destiny that would fulfill my purpose. God gave me a ministry and a business right from home. He'll give you PLAN A for your life. SO, DON'T GIVE IN TO DISCOURAGEMENT AND FEAR. DON'T LISTEN TO THE DEVIL'S VOICE OR EVEN YOUR OWN NEGATIVE VOICE. LISTEN TO GOD'S VOICE AND LET HIS WORDS BE YOUR WORDS. SAY GOOD THINGS AND THINK GOOD THOUGHTS. Dear God, minister to each one here. There are those who have been in discouragement and fear--in pain and hurt. Lord, reach out and minister to their souls and their bodies. Encourage us and show us that your plans for us are to give us hope and a future. Amen.
|
GOD HAS GOOD PLANS FOR YOUR FUTURE
I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out-- plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
"When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen.
Jeremiah 29:11 (Message Bible) |
|
