When You’re Tempted to Get Discouraged
On your way to victory, there always comes a time when you're tempted to get discouraged and give up. You won't feel this way when you first start out. It always happens when you're tired or when you've been standing a long time, usually right before your breakthrough. That's when you're the most vulnerable.
The apostle Paul said in Galatians 6:9, "Don't grow weary in doing what's right for in due season you shall reap if you faint not." Two words are the key to this whole passage—faint not. In other words, if you don't give up, if you stay determined to shake off the weariness, if you put on a new attitude knowing that God is still in control and dig your heels in saying, "I've come too far to stop now," you will see the promise come to pass. Instead of complaining about how long the battle is taking, we should be saying, "This too shall pass. I know it's not permanent; it's only temporary. I'm not camping here. I'm moving forward."
When we look in scripture at the story of the children of Israel and the Promised Land, we see that they were close to their victory. In fact, they were literally right next door to their Promised Land. God already said He would give it to them. All they had to do was to go in and fight for it. But the problem is that they allowed weariness to set in. They had gone through the wilderness, overcome obstacles, and defeated all kinds of enemies. Now they were tired. Moses tried to encourage them, but their weariness had already turned into discouragement. When you're discouraged, you see the problem instead of the possibility. You talk about the way it is instead of the way it can become. They started complaining, "Moses, we can't take the Promised Land, the people are too big. We don't have a chance. We'll never defeat them." They made a permanent decision based on a temporary feeling.
If you allow yourself to become weary and lose your passion and enthusiasm, you too will be tempted to make decisions based on how you feel rather than what you know. When you feel that weariness coming on, that's when you need to start talking to yourself and say, "God, You said You have armed me with strength for every battle. You said I can do all things through Christ who infuses inner strength into me. You said I am more than a conqueror; a victor, not a victim." If you will talk to yourself the right way, you will feel that second wind begin to kick in and carry you through to victory.
Today, if you feel tired and run down, feel like you can't make it anymore, that it's too hard, recognize that talking about it will only drag you down and add fuel to the fire. Instead of talking about the way things are, start talking about the way they should be according to God's promises. When you're tempted to get discouraged, start speaking words of faith and victory out of your mouth. Declare "I am equipped. I'm empowered. I'm strong. I'm well able." Declare victory and blessing over your life and take hold of the "promised land" He has in store for you!
The apostle Paul said in Galatians 6:9, "Don't grow weary in doing what's right for in due season you shall reap if you faint not." Two words are the key to this whole passage—faint not. In other words, if you don't give up, if you stay determined to shake off the weariness, if you put on a new attitude knowing that God is still in control and dig your heels in saying, "I've come too far to stop now," you will see the promise come to pass. Instead of complaining about how long the battle is taking, we should be saying, "This too shall pass. I know it's not permanent; it's only temporary. I'm not camping here. I'm moving forward."
When we look in scripture at the story of the children of Israel and the Promised Land, we see that they were close to their victory. In fact, they were literally right next door to their Promised Land. God already said He would give it to them. All they had to do was to go in and fight for it. But the problem is that they allowed weariness to set in. They had gone through the wilderness, overcome obstacles, and defeated all kinds of enemies. Now they were tired. Moses tried to encourage them, but their weariness had already turned into discouragement. When you're discouraged, you see the problem instead of the possibility. You talk about the way it is instead of the way it can become. They started complaining, "Moses, we can't take the Promised Land, the people are too big. We don't have a chance. We'll never defeat them." They made a permanent decision based on a temporary feeling.
If you allow yourself to become weary and lose your passion and enthusiasm, you too will be tempted to make decisions based on how you feel rather than what you know. When you feel that weariness coming on, that's when you need to start talking to yourself and say, "God, You said You have armed me with strength for every battle. You said I can do all things through Christ who infuses inner strength into me. You said I am more than a conqueror; a victor, not a victim." If you will talk to yourself the right way, you will feel that second wind begin to kick in and carry you through to victory.
Today, if you feel tired and run down, feel like you can't make it anymore, that it's too hard, recognize that talking about it will only drag you down and add fuel to the fire. Instead of talking about the way things are, start talking about the way they should be according to God's promises. When you're tempted to get discouraged, start speaking words of faith and victory out of your mouth. Declare "I am equipped. I'm empowered. I'm strong. I'm well able." Declare victory and blessing over your life and take hold of the "promised land" He has in store for you!