I confess: I fight being depressed, discouraged, feelings of uselessness, helplessness and loneliness but…
PHILIPPIANS 3:14 KING JAMES VERSION
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
One of the things that plague me daily is the discomfort I feel physically. The Apostle Paul said he had to “press” towards that mark because his body perishes. Lately, there have been many days when I did not want to.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:16 KING JAMES VERSION
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
How can I allow the enemy to bring ungodly spirits on me that stop me from pursuing what God has for me? By: listening to the wrong people, hearing words that are opposite of the Word of God and paying more attention to my flesh than the spirit that is in me.
ROMANS 10:17 KING JAMES VERSION
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
What I hear will influence what I have faith in. I have shut out most news sources, but, I do listen to news sources that are not found on network or cable television. I hear a lot of people talking about their aches and pains and what their doctors are doing to make things better. I am not surrounded by nor do I interact much with people who trust God with all their heart, soul and body. My world has become imbalanced with the ways of the world being more prevalent than the ways of YHWH.
JOHN 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
John 10:10 has become my 2nd needed verse in the Bible, Matthew 6:33 is my number one (Seek first the kingdom of God…). It is Satan, his demonic forces and those who allow themselves to be influenced by anything and anyone not of God (a.k.a. demonic influenced people) that will lead a person to depression, discouragement, feelings of uselessness, feelings of helplessness, and/ or feelings of loneliness. These emotions are steelers and killers of your motivation to live the life God has promised.
1 SAMUEL 30:6 KING JAMES VERSION
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
Despite all the good David had done, the people wanted to kill him. These people felt the need to make him suffer for their personal pain; misery not only loves company but it wants to make someone else feel worst. David turned to Yahovah Eloheem, the Lord God (1 Samuel 301-8).
I have to do what David did, not look at my past successes and have a pity party. I cannot do what the people did, try to make someone feel worst by putting them down, stoning them with negative words.
1 KINGS 19:11-13 KING JAMES VERSION
And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
How did Elijah overcome discouragement? He wrapped himself in his mantle and came out from where he was, in a cave. He had to leave the noise of the wind, and the earthquake and even the fire in order to hear the whispers of God.
And God asked: Why are you here?
Had David not sought the Lord God and given into discouragement he would have been stoned to death.
Had Elijah continued to hide in the cave because he was fearful of Jezebel, he would have starved to death.
Why am I in this place of discouragement? Why am I focused on my discomfort? Because I have been focused on feelings and opinions. If I continue to listen to people talk about their aches and pains and the drugs they take; if I choose to ride the motorized wheelchair when I am in the store instead of walking; if I allow living alone equate to being lonely, then I will die slowly but surely both physically and emotionally. But Matthew 6:33 is my go to verse thus even in my growing despair I hear that still small voice saying: Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be given to me. I, like David, have to walk away from the voices of discouragement and be still so that I can hear only His voice.
I remember what my Lord and Saviour did so that I could have an abundant life. I know I am healed because of what is written:
ISAIAH 53:3-5 KING JAMES VERSION
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Jesus the Son of God endured 39 stripes so that I could be healed. Jesus gave us the victory over physical and emotional hurts. Yeshua, was rejected and despised so that I would not be depressed, discouraged, feel useless, feel hopeless or feel lonely. He who did not sin became sin for me (2 Corinthians 5:21) so that I could receive and live in the blessings of my Creator.
1 CORINTHIANS 15:57-58 KING JAMES VERSION
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
I am writing this post for myself, I have to remind myself that I have the victory in Him. I have the Word planted in my soul. The Spirit of the Living God is in me and around me. I can be stedfast (persistant), unmoveable (unchanging in my faith in God), always abounding in the work of the Lord (living my life according to His purpose for me). I am sharing these words with you because I know that I am not the only one. There are so many people struggling today, so many of God’s children who are fighting and are growing weary but we have to press. The Message Bible (not one I go to often) expresses my thoughts very well:
PHILIPPIANS 3:12-14 THE MESSAGE BIBLE
12-14 I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.
In addition to remembering His promises. God has called me to eat right, live right and exercise. I am 61 not 16 but I want to run like a teenager; God wants me to be a healthy productive 61 year old woman. Getting my body in shape will take time and effort and I cannot let what I cannot do TODAY discourage me from going where my Creator wants me to go. If He says I can, I can; in fact, I can do ALL THINGS in Christ (Philippians 4:13)and I will walk without a cane and run too (Isaiah 40:31).
Finally: I am sharing Ephesians 6 verses 10-18 below but I want to make sure you read verse 13. The Voice Bible reads as follows: “And this is why you need to be head-to-toe in the full armor of God: so you can resist during these evil days and be fully prepared to hold your ground.” We are in evil days and Satan is killing, stealing and destroying Gods’ children. Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might and you will have the victory. AMEN. Written by Marsha L Floyd
EPHESIANS 6:10-18 KING JAMES VERSION
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
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