There has got to be more then just pulling yourself out of bed each morning… and in some cases "each after noon". There has got to be more then just the "have to(s)" in life.
Where has this negative slant on life come from? Where is the life filled with expectation and love for others gone? Where is the daily assurance in Jesus Christ gone? When did the opinions of men and women become more important then God’s opinion of us?
Why is there more importance on the material things, which will soon find their way to a landfill? Why embrace worldly ideals, which will soon change like the wind? Why chase such things that will make you lost and empty? Why run a race that is on a treadmill? Why turn from Godly wisdom and understanding?
I am concerned for such individuals who seem to turn to from and/or choose something other then what God’s word states. I am not talking about being discouraged for just a few days or weeks but months and years.
When someone is discouraged and depressed for that long period of time I wonder what has happened to those people. What has happened to their faith that they think God has forgotten them or isn’t interested in them?
I don’t want to sound like an Eliphaz, where I am "as unreliable as a season brook that overflows its banks in the spring when it swollen with ice and melting snow but when the hot weather arrives, the water disappears. The brook vanishes in the heat. The caravans turn aside to be refreshed, but there is nothing there to drink, and so they perish in the desert. With high hopes, the caravans from Tema and from Sheba stop for water, but finding nothing, their hopes are dashed." (Job 6:15-21) I want to be of some help, hope and encouragement.
Have they denied the words of God?. I don’t know... but seems as if doubt has taken up permanent residence in their hearts. Some have fear and some don’t. Some just don’t care anymore. Some have grown impatient and hardened- setting themselves up for thoughts that God will never intervene on their behalf. I don’t ever what to experience what they are experiencing.
"As a face is reflected in the water, so the heart reflects the person." Proverbs 27:19
So is a man who thinks in his heart so he becomes…. Is this not true?
I can only imagine that the devil himself has carefully placed these debilitating false ideas into a welcoming wounded specimen where the victim hashes over them in some way or form until they become as if fact in their minds. Some people are even aware that these debilitating thoughts have come from the devil himself but they couldn’t care less. They have stripped off their armor accepting whatever comes.
Paul writes, "Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm." (Ephesians 6)
The devil has no power over you unless you give it to him! The devil is the father of lies. He tells you something, you know the opposite is true. If he wants to get in your face, "Tell him to go see your older brother, Jesus Christ, and your Father, God Almighty."
You say but my enemy is flesh and blood. I say, pray for your enemy and if you don’t have the power and love to pray for them then ask God for the power and love to do so. Why do we base our worth on how others treat us? I did this and made myself miserable. People are like grass; they are here today and gone tomorrow. God is forever and I know He thinks more of you then those who think negatively about you.
Helpful Scriptures:
Galatians 6:9 "So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time."
1John 5:4 "For every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory"
Psalm 37:5 "Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. 37:6 He will make your innocence as clear as the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. 37:7 Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes."
Philippians 4:6-9 4 "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again- rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you."
Philippians 1:6 "And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again." 2:13 "For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him."
Philippians 1:29 "For you have been given no only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him."
Hebrews 10:35-36 "Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you! 10:36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised."
Romans 8:26-27 "26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will."
1 Corinthians 6:19 "Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,"
1 Corinthians 8:3 "But the person who loves God is the one God knows and cares for."
1 Corinthians 10:13 "But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it."
Matthew 16:25-27 "25 If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life. 26 And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? Is anything worth more than your soul? 27 For I, the Son of Man, will come in the glory of my Father with his angels and will judge all people according to their deeds."
Colossians 1:23 "But you must continue to believe this truth and stand in it firmly. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the good news."
A person conquers evil thoughts and desires when they think on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in place of honor and power. (Colossians 3:1-2)
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