Don’t Let Discouragement Dull Your Faith And Steal Your Joy

Proverbs 16:3,4,7,9,20,24

Commit your works to the LORD, And your plans will be established. The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil. When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. He who gives attention to the word shall find good, And blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Ephesians 3:20,21

 Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory.

  When something in your life has not turned out the way that you wished it would, don’t let discouragement dull your faith or steal your joy.  God is the one who controls the game. In a blink of an eye, He can turn everything around.  God made the world, raised the dead, sends the floods and the sunshine.  In a moment He can change everything.  And that’s where faith comes in.  But here’s the trick, sometimes after you’ve prayed for something for a long time and it still hasn’t happened, your eyes of hope become dull with discouragement.  So here’s the strategy to use when that happens:  Blink three times and say to yourself right out loud: “I am not going to let discouragement dull my faith or steal my joy.”  Discouragement is one of Satan’s most powerful tools that he sends your way because he wants your eyes on him; on all things that might go wrong, instead of looking to God and intensely expecting the answer to your prayer to show up at any minute.  God’s got a specific plan for your life.  It may not be your plan, but it is the best plan, beyond all that you could hope for.  That’s why God wants you to be continually prepared so that when He’s ready to move, He finds you at peace with the people in your world and in a state of hopeful anticipation.  God wants your heart to be joyful at all times, not just when things “look” great.  That’s how you demonstrate your faith to others so that they can think, “Hey, my friend believes her miracle is right around the bend.  I will too!” God also knows that as you allow your heart to be cheerful in anticipation of your answered prayer, you will act better and feel better and as a result, people will treat you better so ultimately you will feel more cheerful.  That’s why “a cheerful heart is a continual feast” (Proverbs 16:15).  One of the ways to stay on the “joy train,” no matter what is going on your life is to “feast” on God’s word. That just means, keep reading your Bible verses or inspirational literature, so that God can speak through them to comfort your heart.  Memorize verses or strategies so that you can remember and use them when your road gets tricky. So the next time you start to feel yourself becoming anxious, feeling dull, or even alittle dead inside, blink your eyes clear of the rain of discouragement that Satan has sent your way. Get up, out and moving! God will direct your steps.  Literally, in the “blink” of an eye, your answered prayer is right around the corner.  Don’t give up on the brink of your miracle.   

Click the link below to see my books,
"Keeping Your Lamp Lit"
http://www.amazon.com/Keeping-Your-Lamp-Lit-Schuler/dp/1451559321/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277386999&sr=1-1#noop
"Good Strategies for Bad Times"
http://www.amazon.com/Good-Strategies-Bad-Times-Schuler/dp/1438257775/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265471485&sr=8-1