Wednesday 2 April 2014

The Antidote to Discouragement


 "The Lord is near the broken hearted; He delivers those who are discouraged"

We can all get discouraged at times, especially as we live in an "instant-take-away" world and one of the tactics of the enemy is to bring discouragement during waiting times.  I have experienced this quite a few times, especially recently, in my calling out to God to change me and open my eyes to the supernatural realm.  I know that there is more, an abundant life that Jesus wants us to walk in, and for those who believe, He promised we would see the glory of God.  

Honestly, I see more of my faults then the glory and wonder sometimes if I'll ever be "good enough" to carry His Glory.  But it is not depended upon my "goodness" but on my belief.  Those of us who believe that the same great and excellent power that God exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him in Heavenly places far above;  that same creative power, abides in us.  God's Holy Spirit dwells in us and it is through His Spirit that God wants us to bring a heavenly taste of glory to those who need it the most.

Look around!  So many people, hurt, bruised, sick and broken and who need to know the Saviour, Jesus Christ, the anointed One.  And God wants us to show them His Love, Glory and Power.  We are overcomers, that is what His word says, but are we overcoming and allowing His Word to be effective in us, and through us, or ineffective because of our unbelief, doubt, discouragement or low self worth.  

We are the sons and daughters of the Most High God.  OH WHEN WE WILL GRASP A HOLD OF WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO US AND RUN WITH HIS PRESENCE, POWER  AND GLORY, to see the captives set free, healed and delivered. I don't know about you but I want this and I want it bad.  What joy to be able to bring those captives into the Kingdom where they will have a touch of the Saviour and Healer through the powerful anointing that dwells in us who have already tasted freedom and seen that He is good.

Jesus, Himself, was reliant on the Holy Spirit to do all His works.  He only began His powerful, anointed ministry after being baptised and filled with the Holy Spirit.  He Himself testified:-

'I tell you the solemn truth, the Son can do nothing on His own initiative, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise." Jn 5:11

Jesus listened and obeyed the Father exclusively.  Listened and obeyed!  I seem to have a hard time listening to His voice but I am encouraged as Jesus said, "my sheep hear my voice", so I will keep on practising, believing....that I do indeed hear His voice. (Maybe God knows that I still need to learn obedience!). I am mindful of the scripture that says, "be not weary in doing well, for in due time, we will reap, if we do not give up." Gal 6:9

There it is, back to "due time".  There is always time involved.  A seed must first be planted and after time comes the harvest.  The encouragement is to keep on keeping on.  When discouragement comes, be mindful of the character of God who is faithful and on the power of the Holy Spirit who can comfort and encourage.

"For this is what the High and Exalted One says:  the One who rules forever, whose Name is Holy:  I dwell in an exalted and Holy place, but also with the discouraged and humiliated, in order tocheer up the humiliated and to encourage the discouraged." Is 57:15

Maybe the waiting game helps us to become more reliant and dependant on Him. God has a "due season" and He brings it to pass in His time and not ours.  We can be assured harvest will always come if we do not faint and give up and this is why discouragement is such a powerful weapon against us.  It causes us to give up, drop the dream, have a self-pity party, lose our identity of who we are in Christ and how powerful He is in us.

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." 1 Pet 2:9

We are ambassadors for Christ, with a heavenly calling and anointing to do the works which God has planned for us to do before the foundation of the world, and.....there is a reward for those who "do not grow weary".

"I am also aware that you have persisted steadfastly, endured much for the sake of my Name, and have not grown weary."  Rev 2:3

God is aware! God sees!

"I am coming soon.  Hold on to what you have so that no one can take away your crown." Rev 3:11

God promises!

"The Sovereign Lord has given me the capacity to be His spokesman, so that I know how to help the weary. He wakes me up every morning; He makes me alert so I can listen attentively as disciples do."  Is 50:4

"But as for you, be strong and don't get discouraged for your work will be rewarded," 2 Chr 15:7

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