Discouragement

[JJB]

Hi everyone! I knew that title would get the attention of many....

Discouragement seems to be occurring with more frequency lately. I've been over in GA and wondering what's the point? I've heard others say similar things regarding other sections here on CF. Perhaps we need a thread that contains prayers, verses, poems or whatever you feel lead to share.

Discouragement is part of the Christian's life, but why is it happening more frequently now? Perhaps it is because of the time of year, with Christmas approaching.

Jesus My Glory

O Lord God,
Thou hast commanded me to believe in Jesus, and I would flee to no other refuge,
wash in no other fountain,
build on no other foundation, receive from no other fullness,
rest in no other relief.
His water and blood were not severed
in their flow at the cross,
may they never be separated in my creed and experiences.
May I be equally convinced of the guilt and pollution of sin,
feel my need of a prince and saviour,
implore of him repentance as well as forgiveness,
love holiness, and be pure in heart,
have the mind of Jesus and tread in his steps.
Let me not be at my own disposal, but rejoice that I am under the care of one who is too wise to err, too kind to injure, too tender to crush.
May I scandalize none by my temper and conduct, but recommend and endear Christ to all around, bestow good on every one as circumstances permit, and decline no opportunity of usefulness.
Grant that I may value my substance, not as the mediuym of pride and luxury, but as the means of my support and stewardship.
Help me to guide my affections with discretion, to owe no many anything, to be able to give to him that needeth, to feel it my duty and pleasure to be merciful and forgiving, to show to the world the likeness of Jesus.

~The Valley of Vision

 

[edie19]

"The city hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it."—Revelation 21:23.​

ONDER in the better world, the inhabitants are independent of all creature comforts. They have no need of raiment; their white robes never wear out, neither shall they ever be defiled. They need no medicine to heal diseases, "for the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick." They need no sleep to recruit their frames—they rest not day nor night, but unweariedly praise Him in His temple. They need no social relationship to minister comfort, and whatever happiness they may derive from association with their fellows is not essential to their bliss, for their Lord's society is enough for their largest desires. They need no teachers there; they doubtless commune with one another concerning the things of God, but they do not require this by way of instruction; they shall all be taught of the Lord. Ours are the alms at the king's gate, but they feast at the table itself. Here we lean upon the friendly arm, but there they lean upon their Beloved and upon Him alone. Here we must have the help of our companions, but there they find all they want in Christ Jesus. Here we look to the meat which perisheth, and to the raiment which decays before the moth, but there they find everything in God. We use the bucket to fetch us water from the well, but there they drink from the fountain head, and put their lips down to the living water. Here the angels bring us blessings, but we shall want no messengers from heaven then. They shall need no Gabriels there to bring their love-notes from God, for there they shall see Him face to face. Oh! what a blessed time shall that be when we shall have mounted above every second cause and shall rest upon the bare arm of God! What a glorious hour when God, and not His creatures; the Lord, and not His works, shall be our daily joy! Our souls shall then have attained the perfection of bliss.

~Charles H. Spurgeon





When we ponder this - how can we be discouraged?


edie

 

[JimfromOhio]

Great posts both of you. I know what discouragement means and here's my thoughts and encouragements.

We have to remember that we are not alone and that our spiritual lives should not feed on the negatives and that we need to focus on positives. God's knowledge of our discouragements is more than just knowledge; His knowledge is more personal, warm, and compassionate. He knows every pains we all are facing. Discouragements pushes us into the arms of God. We just need to cling to Him and have faith in Him. Our spiritual outlook is to be on God and trust that God's glory that will be revealed. We have to remind ourselves that if we frequently relive our reasons for discouragements, we will lose our positive spiritual direction. We need to focus in following God today and tomorrow. We just press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God called us heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14)

Allow discouragements to teach us patience and make us look upward to God for hope. Romans 8:28 basically means "Christian should always have hope" and later in Romans 15:13, "Hope comes from the Holy Spirit."

"Faith is confidence in the character of God, and hope is the sweet anticipation of desirable things promised but not yet realized. Hope is an electronic beam on which the Christian flies through wind and storm straight to his desired haven. To the child of God, hope is a gift from the heavenly Father 'who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope' " (2 Thessalonians 2:16).

Romans 5:3-4
".....we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."

By Faith, I am following 2 Corinthians 12:9
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. (NIV)

Be encouraged that God is with you and just look up to Him and He will provide whatever you need throughout the Holidays !!!

 

[CCWoody]

Hi everyone! I knew that title would get the attention of many....

Discouragement seems to be occurring with more frequency lately. I've been over in GA and wondering what's the point? I've heard others say similar things regarding other sections here on CF. Perhaps we need a thread that contains prayers, verses, poems or whatever you feel lead to share.

Discouragement is part of the Christian's life, but why is it happening more frequently now? Perhaps it is because of the time of year, with Christmas approaching.

I can't say that I haven't been discouraged by what happens on the GA and I have seen you out there with me, sister.

What cheers Woody up....

2Co 2:14-17 GB
(14) Now thankes be vnto God, which alwaies maketh vs to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the sauour of his knowledge by vs in euery place.
(15) For wee are vnto God the sweete sauour of Christ, in them that are saued, and in them which perish.
(16) To the one we are the sauour of death, vnto death, and to the other the sauour of life, vnto life: and who is sufficient for these things?
(17) For wee are not as many, which make marchandise of the woorde of God: but as of sinceritie, but as of God in ye sight of God speake we in Christ.

In short, there is never a point in which we are not in victory because we are to God the sweet savor of Christ.

 

[tryme]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Will of God will never take you[/font]​

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Where the Grace of God cannot keep you
Where the Arms of God cannot support you
Where the Riches of God cannot support your needs
Where the Power of God cannot endow you.
[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Will of God will never take you[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Where the Spirit of God cannot work through you
Where the Wisdom of God cannot teach you
Where the Army of God cannot protect you
Where the Hands of God cannot mold you.
[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Will of God will never take you[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Where the Love of God cannot enfold you
Where the Mercies of God cannot sustain you
Where the Peace of God cannot calm your fears
Where the Authority of God cannot overrule you.
[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Will of God will never take you[/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Where the Comfort of God cannot dry your tears
Where the Word of God cannot feed you
Where the Miracles of God cannot be done for you
Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you[/font]

 

[mlqurgw]

Our Lord jesus Christ should have been the most discouraged man that ever lived. He had no place to lay down His head, He was the poorest of the poor and was constantly harrassed by those who followed Him to trap Him in His talk. Few truly believed Him and even all of them deserted Him in the time of His greatest need. Yet we never read of Him being discouraged. It seems to me that discouragement is rooted in pride and selfishness. Of course these are traits that we all have. We wonder why we can't get through to other people and what is wrong with us that we can't do a better job. Unlike Christ, we fail sometimes to understand that people are blind and in darkness. We fail to rest in the perfect wisdom and power of God.

We expect people to respond positively to what we say and when they don't we wonder why. We say we believe in the sovereignty of God but do we rest in it?

Joh 16:32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.


Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

The answer to discouragement is to look to Christ.