Word of Encouragement: Counselor’s Corner Have you lost your hope?

One definition of hope is a feeling that something good will happen or be true.

Christian hope is different than the world’s hope. Christian hope rests on having confidence that something will come to pass because God has promised it to come to pass. Perhaps what God has promised you years ago has caused you to give up that promise will ever come to pass. Whatever God speaks to you as a promise and you can confirm the promise in the Word of God, than it shall surely come to pass. Having hope comes with faith. When it seems like what God has promised you is not coming to pass, having faith that God is faithful and will fulfill His promises to you will increase your hope.

A lack of hope leads to depression. An antidote for depression is hope, but not hope in just anything, the hope found in Jesus Christ.

Hope is an essential and fundamental element in the Christian life. Jesus is the reason for our hope, not placing our hope in what we can get from life or others. While hoping for things is not wrong, it can misplaced if we put all hope in the things we want and not in Jesus.

For in hope we have been saved, but the hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. Romans 8:24-25

Hope is synonymous with salvation and blessings that are promised in scripture. Christian Hope is the confident expectation and surety that what God has promised in the Word is true, has occurred, or will happen in the future. If we put our hope in anything other than the Lord we will be disappointed.

My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is in Him. Psalm 62:5

The hope of the righteous is gladness, but the expectation of the wicked perishes. Proverbs 10:28

Hope is not a feeling or an emotion. Christian hope is different from the world, it is “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). This means having a hope that is not moved by circumstances or what is seen.

Sometimes, we place our hope in everything but Jesus. We may have desires and wants that are unfulfilled, and we lose our hope. If you have experienced one heartache or trial after another, it may be difficult to have hope. We have all heard the scripture,” hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12. When dreams do not come to pass, depression can easily slip in. God’s time table is not ours, and our expectations of how we think He should fulfill our desires can make us have “heart sickness.” We can actually make things worse by holding on tightly to how we perceive things in our lives SHOULD turn out.

What if God has a better plan for our lives but we are not even willing to entertain anything but what we want?

There was a time in my life I felt my heart was truly sick from waiting on my prayers to be answered. Maybe you have been praying for a prodigal child, a spouse, salvation for your family, or healing, and you have lost hope. What if God has a plan that He is working on that you are not able to see, and perhaps it may look a little different than your expectations? I believe God’s plans are better than our plans.

We must learn to wait patiently on the Lord, and trust His ways.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25

Keep hope alive by believing in God’s promises not your circumstances.

The hope of eternal life (Titus 1:2, 3:7).

Hope of salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:8, Romans 8:24-25).

Hope laid up in heaven (Colossians 1:5).

Hope for the resurrection of the dead (Acts 23:6).

The hope of the Gospel and the fulfillment of the promises in the Bible (Colossians 1:23).

The hope of His calling (Ephesians 1:18, 4:4).

Jesus our hope. (1 Timothy 1:1).

Because of Jesus’ resurrection, we have hope for the resurrection (1 Peter 1:3, 1 Corinthians 15:12-20).

Counselor’s Corner: Enjoying Life in the Middle of Difficult Circumstances

Chances are if you have been going through a difficult circumstance that is unrelenting, you have had difficulty enjoying life. Depression can loom over you as you trudge through the muck and the mire of your adversity. Some mornings you just feel like pulling the covers over your head and would rather stay in bed until the calamities have passed. It is one thing to have a difficulty come through your life and leave, but it is entirely different when a difficulty parks and stays a while. Grief hits you smack in the face, and you begin to sink further and further like you were in quicksand. You don’t share with a lot of people what you are experiencing, because you are afraid the weights of what you carry will sink them as well.

It is possible to enjoy your life in the middle of your deepest and darkest pain, or what I like to refer to as, “the dark night of the soul, however, it won’t come easily. You will have to become a resilient fighter. You will have to decide one day when you have had enough of the enemy stealing your life, to choose to get up and live again. If the enemy cannot take you out physically, he will use your pain to turn you against God and rob you of the joy that is your inheritance.

Your pain is real and there is a time to grieve what you have endured or lost, but deep mourning should not be a continually theme in your life. Yes, it is hard to let go of people you love or accept the reality of a situation. When you place those seemingly impossible heartaches into God’s care, peace can rule in your heart. An exchange takes place when you say to God, “I can’t do this anymore, take it from me.” This exchange can open up the channels to begin enjoying your life again. Surrender is key to enjoying life again.

Reflect and ponder: How can you enjoy life when just getting out of bed is a chore? What do you do when your pain overshadows every blessing in your life? Are you willing to fight to get your life back and enjoy what is good in your life? Remember, this won’t come easy if you have been enduring the same difficulties for years. The enemy has enjoyed you being in the pit with no way out, and don’t be surprised as you are climbing out of the pit, he tries to kick you back in. This is where a “don’t give up, no matter what” stance must come over you. If you get kicked back in the pit, quickly get up and out, don’t look around that familiar pit that you are used to. Have a set mind that you will enjoy life again, no matter what!

Counselor’s Corner:

Practical tips for enjoying life in the middle of difficulties:

1.      Let go of everything that you cannot change. Accept what you cannot change. If you have tried over and over to change a situation or person and it has not worked yet-let go!

2.      Limit your “talk” time about your difficult situation. It is okay to share with trusted people, but not 3-4x a week. Run to the throne more than the phone. Opening your mouth and spewing out to other people your woe’s continually or without just cause, can open you up for more problems. Be careful who you share your personal information with. It can bring you true joy to find like-minded people who can walk beside you, and you know they got your back. It is another thing to deal with people who bring you more pain than gain. To enjoy your life again, you will need to stop allowing drainers, whiners, complainers, and manipulators into your life.  

3.      Simplify your life, cut out all non-essentials. Going through difficult times can deplete you of energy. Learn to say, “No,” and say it as often as needed. If someone complains or makes you feel bad about saying, “No,” just ask them if they would like to “walk a mile in your shoes.” Get plenty of rest and take as many stay-cations as you can. Enjoy the simple things in life, a stroll around your block or breakfast in bed.

4.      Learn when you need to pull away from the “crowds.” There are times being with other believers is good and fellowshipping with them, but there is also times where solitude can render inner peace and times of reflection. Being still with God can only happen when you are quiet. There are many times that God will call you to the “still waters.” I am called to these still waters often and I no longer fight these times, but accept that God wants to speak to me and bring me comfort.

5.      Protect your “sanctuary.” My sanctuary is my home, it is the place I have peace the most. This is why I guard my sanctuary carefully. I am very careful who comes in and out of my place of peace and rest.

6.      No more living bound in guilt. Guilt and condemnation are straight from the enemy. If God wants you to do something, He will give His grace, strength and peace. Guilt steals all joy.

7.      Make it a daily habit to bring all your worries and concerns to God. Take a few minutes and pray over your worries and then consciously leave them with God.

8.      Take good care of yourself. Eat balanced meals, exercise, sleep at least 7-8 hours every night, take a multivitamin, and spend time with God as often as you can (daily if possible). The presence of God can bring you much joy. When you feel good physically by taking care of yourself, you can enjoy your life more.

9.      Do something that brings you pleasure or happiness at least 2-3x per week. Maybe a movie and popcorn, planting flowers, painting, or taking a bike ride bring you pleasure. Enjoy the simple pleasures in life as well such as bird watching or swinging on a swing.

10.  Encourage someone or cheer someone up. Be a blessing to someone.

11.  CHOOSE to focus on what is good in your life, and say out loud daily or write down at least 5 things that you are thankful for.

12.  Stop asking, “Why me.” No more being a victim and feeling sorry for yourself. Being negative drains you, instead speak life, blessings and the Word of God over yourself.

13.  Learn to laugh again. You did as a child when you had no worries. Watch a funny movie or comedian (clean though).

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s learning to dance in the rain.

Vivian Greene

Is it time for you to dance?

MEDITATE ON THESE SCRIPTURES:

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Proverbs 17:22

The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I came that they might have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the fullest, overflowing).

John 10:10

Daily Encouragement: Counselor’s Corner by Stephanie R. Reck, LMSW, LBT, BCCC

January 23, 2017

The Lord is a Creative God

As I am looking outside today I see the brilliance of all the distinct birds coming to eat at my bird feeder this morning. One of the birds was a golden finch, I don’t know if you have ever seen a golden finch before but all I can say is wow! I saw a little chickadee bird as well, their tiny body and beautiful stripped black and grey heads are magnificent. Did I forget to mention the peaceful mourning dove that was sitting on a perch on my pear tree?

On Saturday, as I was walking my neighborhood, a westerly thunderstorm was approaching but from the east a most stunning rainbow caught my eye. I am always in such awe of God’s creativity through His creation. Our God is such a creative God. If you don’t think so then the next time you see a sunrise or a sunset think about the creativity God has to generate for such glorious displays for us to enjoy.

Reflect and ponder: What are you waiting to do that you need God’s creativity for? Perhaps start that book you have been putting off, start a daily devotional with others on your Facebook page, at work with a new project or maybe rearranging your furniture. Whatever you need creativity for, God can give it to you.

God is amazing in how He provides creativity, things that you would never think about God can give you His insights. God can cause you to unleash hidden gems and treasures you did not even think that you had!

Counselor’s advice: Ask God today to release His creativity to you. Ask God to remove whatever hinders you from being creativity such as depression, discouragement, weariness/exhaustion, false guilt, worry or anxiety. These will zap all the creativity from you. Be set free today of all hindrances that come against your creativity. God has something that He wants you to accomplish, and He needs to be able to download His designs to you without anything obstructing His plans.

Being out in nature or among nature can increase YOUR CREATIVITY!

God can make all things new again, even the dull, dead and dry relationships, career, ministry, life purposes and yes even your old-boring furniture! HE CAN MAKE THEM NEW AGAIN BURSTING FORTH WITH NEW LIFE AND VITALITY.

MEDITATE ON THESE SCRIPTURES:

God CREATED man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He CREATED them. Genesis 1:27

The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hand. Psalm 19:1

What to Do When You Are Disappointed

A relationship does not work out, a job does not go through, or your prodigal child that you have been praying for does not seem to leave their rebellious life. We all have experienced times of disappointment, and it is a normal part of life. What is important to know is that if disappointment is not dealt with, it can eventually lead to depression. This is a scheme from the enemy. Something you really wanted does not work out, you dwell on why it did not work out, and eventually you begin to feel depressed.

Your thoughts will always follow your behavior.

7 Things to do when you feel disappointed:

1.      Consider that what may have not worked out could be God’s doing. Perhaps, He was protecting you from something you did not even know about.

2.      Go before God and ask Him to help you deal with your disappointment, and to show you the truth. Ask God to show you His perspective on the situation.

3.      Take every thought captive. Do not let your mind wander and think whatever it wants. When something disappointing has happened in your life it is natural to want to feel sorry for yourself or even think about it endlessly, but do not go there! IT IS A TRAP THAT WILL LEAD TO DEPRESSION.

4.      Do not feel sorry for yourself and “lick your wounds.” Go to God and tell Him how you feel and then release the need to feel sorry for what has happened to you.

5.      Realize that everyone, not just you, will have times that things disappoint them. It is what you do with the disappointment that will make the difference.

6.      Get up again. Shake it off. Cry if you need to, but then move on! That may sound harsh, but it is not. The enemy would love for you to “camp out” in your disappointment. He hopes you will stay a while so that it will develop into total despair.

  SIT at Jesus’ feet as long as you need to for Him to speak to you and lift off whatever is causing you to feel disappointed.

All kinds of discouraging encounters can happen to us. When they seem to pile-up on us, that is when we need to be most aware. One disappointment in our lives can be tough, but when a series of disappointments come at us, that can be paralyzing if we are not careful. Recognize those times in your life when it seems that one thing after another is occurring in your life to bring you discouragement. Discouragement is always rooted from the pits of hell, and is never originated from God. Check the source, is it God bringing discouragement or the enemy? Think about where you are at in your life that so much discouragement is coming your way. It is always a set-up to defeat you.

Ask yourself the following questions:

1.      Are you getting free from some sin area in your life, or have completely been set-free from some long-term sin in your life?

2.      Are you standing for the truth in God’s Word?

3.      Are you using your life to better the Kingdom of God?

4.      Have you recently given your testimony somewhere?

Answering yes to any of the above questions could be a very good indicator why so much discouragement has come your way. Ask God to show you. Keep moving forward, do not stop and look at all what has gone wrong, and resist the enemy and he will flee from you. Worshipping and praising God will lift off feelings of discouragement. Keeping things in perspective as well as counting all that is a blessing in your life will help.

What about you? How do you deal with disappointment in your life?

Stress and Exhaustion

Life can be tough, and at times overwhelming. One of the main things that I hear Christians say is, “I am so stressed and exhausted.” There is no doubt the enemy has launched his attacks against Christians.

Some Christians are falling away from their faith because of the stresses of life that have crushed them. Then, there are Christians who are growing closer and deeper to God as the world around them ensues in chaos and turmoil.

There is a war, a spiritual war being waged against Christians in these last days. I believe the enemy is assaulting Christians with circumstances that are gut-wrenching. How many Christians do you know are battling with depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, troubled family and marriages, and financial difficulties?

Stress is caused by a perceived unmanageable set of circumstances that are out of our control.

Stress makes you physically tired, irritable, frustrated, can lead to depression, anger, anxiety, and a host of other mental health issues. Stress can lower your immune system, cause ulcers, gastrointestinal problems, high blood pressure, and insomnia. People who are under stress usually isolate themselves. If you are tired and sick the enemy is “setting you up,” as the enemy being the predator and you being the prey. As in the wild, a predator stalks its prey and watches until it gets alone, possibly injured or sick, and when the prey is tired; then the predator devours the prey. This is what the enemy does to us, he sets up difficult circumstances to weaken us, and at the right time he tries to destroy us.

To keep from succumbing to the stresses in life, we have to stay close to the Lord Jesus. We must spend regular time in the Word of God. We must quiet our minds to hear His voice, and listen to His instructions concerning our lives. Write and journal what the Lord speaks to you, and your inner pain. Talk it over with a mature-Christian friend. Let it out, don’t keep it bottled-up inside. You’re not alone, countless others have gone through and experienced stressful situations.

We cannot have our stability and security with people, possessions, or positions. The only sure stability in this world is Jesus Christ. I would encourage you to keep your faith and trust in God, even if you have lost much in this life, for it is nothing to the place God is preparing in eternity. Allow the Lord to comfort you in all your distress. Work out your pain with God, cry out to Him, and tell Him how you feel. Don’t hold anything back, tell God exactly how you feel.

“When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought joy to my soul.” Psalm 94:19

He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock, when a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it because it was well built. Luke 6:48

Cast your cares on the Lord, and He will sustain you. He will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22

Stress Less by Don Colbert, M.D., a book on stress written by a Christian doctor.

Healing from Unresolved Grief through Emotional Resiliency

Unresolved grief is different than normal grief. With grief there is closure eventually, such as with a death of a loved one, but with unresolved grief there is no closure. Over time, the unresolved grief may lessen but that does mean there has been a recovery from the loss. Some examples of unresolved grief could be having a child that is addicted to drugs or alcohol, an adult child that rejects their parents, infertility, having a missing family member or having a disabled child. Not being able to have closure can cause a host of mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Unresolved grief is complicated grief, in that there is a need to still keep hope alive but it also interrupts the mourning process. This can feel like a wound that never heals. As a mother of a prodigal child and having experienced unresolved grief after 10 years, I began searching for ways to heal effectively. At some point, I believed there was no hope and that I would continue to live in grief. I honestly do not believe that is God’s plan.

Unresolved grief can cause you to feel stuck and unable to move on with your life.

Unresolved grief affects current and future relationships. You begin protecting your heart from any further hurt, which means relationships suffer. Unresolved grief is usually at the root of fear about new relationships. One may also experience constant fear of loss, anger/cynicism, guarded emotions, helplessness, loss of identity and chronic depression. Issues need to be resolved before you can begin to have healthy relationships. You may need to write a letter to your loved one expressing how you feel, but then you may choose to burn that letter or bury it.

People who experience traumatic loss are more susceptible to developing PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), and can suffer from psychological stress.

Some symptoms of trauma related stress:

Nightmares, trouble sleeping, being on edge/easily alert, low energy, feeling depressed, memory problems, feeling overwhelmed by the smallest of tasks, feeling irritable/agitated, fearful of the future, feeling emotionally numb, withdrawn and disconnected, and relying on alcohol and drugs to ease the pain.

Healing from unresolved grief and any trauma related stress starts when we acknowledge the loss and accept the loss. Part of acceptance means letting go. Share your story with someone who you can trust, but then take it to God. Tell God exactly how you feel. Ask God to bring healing to your unresolved grief, and help with moving on with a new life. You are not betraying your loved one if you move on with your life, and it does not mean that you do not love them.

Pray that God gives you emotional resiliency.

Being resilient means to become strong, healthy or successful again after something bad happens (able to return to an original shape). Emotional resilience simple means being able to adapt to stressful situations or crisis.

Emotionally resilient people get knocked down, but they get back up quick. Emotional resilience can be learned, but I believe that Jesus can aid in that learning.

Emotional resilience is a must in dealing with unresolved grief.

Emotional resilience means that you accept that you cannot change your painful situation. Resilient people are characterized by an ability to experience both positive and negative emotions after a difficult or painful situation. Losses are mourned, but emotionally resilient people find the potential redeeming value in most challenges. Resilient people always find the silver lining in the most painful or difficult of circumstances.

When adversity strikes, focus on what you are thankful for, and this will boost your resiliency, and choose to focus on what is positive and good in your life. Taking regular breaks, nurturing, and taking care of yourself and doing things that you enjoy, regular exercise, laughing, being kind to others and yourself, social support, and continuing to learn, can help build resiliency as well.

You cannot control everything that comes at you, but you can control how you react to it.

Putting our hope in people, will almost always lead to disappointment, but placing our hope in Jesus will never disappoint.

The navy SEALs have a saying: “Get comfortable being uncomfortable.”

Learning to be uncomfortable at times instead of running and escaping will force you to learn from the situation that is causing you pain. Resilient people learn and grow from pain and challenges. Resilient people who need to survive the harshest situations and still accomplish goals (like POW’s, Special Forces units and Nazi holocaust survivors like Corrie ten Boom) balance a positive outlook with a realistic world view. Emotional resilient people do not remain focused on the negative, and they tend to rapidly disengage from problems that appear unsolvable. Emotional resilient people face their fears, they do not let fear overpower them.

PTSD was mentioned in this article, but someone can also experience the reverse: post-traumatic growth. Many people who experience hardships and get through them properly can come out stronger not weaker!

Hope in Times of Discouragement

KJV dictionary definition of discouragement is to extinguish the courage of; depress of spirits; to deject; to deprive of confidence or hope; to attempt to repress or prevent; to dissuade from.

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines discouragement as a feeling of having lost hope or confidence; something (such as failure or difficulty) that discourages someone.

Discouragement refers to a sense of being overwhelmed, weary, and losing hope over circumstances. Other times, discouragement can overtake us when we have just had a spiritual victory, or making progress in our spiritual walk. In any case, discouragement will cause you to feel hopeless, lose heart, and lose confidence.

Discouragement Synonyms: Hopelessness, despair, dishearten, loss of hope, depression

Discouragement Antonyms: Encouragement, hope, and hopeful confidence.

Discouragement is a weapon to prevent our progress, derail us from moving forward, and prevent our destiny and purposes being fulfilled. Rest assured, if you have been discouraged, the enemy wants to stop something from happening in your life. Usually during this attack, your weaknesses get exposed and the enemy bombards your mind with negative thoughts about yourself. If you listen too long to the enemy’s voice, you will end up feeling hopeless, depressed, and feeling like a failure. You will also lose your confidence to move ahead in what God has planned for you. This is where a lot of Christians are derailed; when discouragement invades them. During discouragement you can experience “old issues” coming up again. You may even think,” Didn’t I deal with that issue before? Or Was I not delivered (healed) from this?” The enemy is a master illusionist, so he can make you think you are truly dealing with old issues again, and you were not healed or delivered.

Signs to look for when Discouragement comes:

1.       Fatigue: Your defenses are lower when you are fatigued, and you may not feel as spiritually strong.

2.       Sickness/Illness: When you are not feeling well it is easy to become discouraged, especially if you have been healed from a certain illness, and it appears like it is coming back, or you are still waiting on healing.

3.       Women’s monthly cycle: Hormones change, and so does your emotions. Women are more prone to being sensitive during this time, and discouragement can easily seep in.

4.       Failure: You perceive that mistake you made has doomed you, or you can never get passed it. You may feel like you can’t do anything right during this time.

5.       Spiritual victory/progress: You have determined to go forward with the things that God has called you to do; you have made progress in your spiritual walk with God. The enemy does not like progress.

6.       When you take your eyes off Jesus: You look to your circumstances, and you start to magnify them, ponder them, analyze them, and try and figure them out.

Steps to overcoming discouragement:

1.       Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to overcome your discouragement. Command, in the name of Jesus that discouragement flee from you if you discern it is a spiritual attack.

2.       Count your blessings daily and out loud.

3.       Be still and know that God will get you through. Keep a good attitude during this time, and watch what you speak. Don’t allow your words to agree with the enemy’s.

4.       Rest, pull back, and take time away from the “crowds.” Renew your time with God and Let His word refresh and restore you. Limit your schedule during this time, and who you are around. Don’t surround yourself when you are discouraged with negative, faith-less, discouraging people.

5.       Praise and worship God. Listen to some praise music to lift your spirits.

6.       Understand discouragement will pass, don’t give into the lies. Do not repeat, dwell or accept the lies of the enemy. Speak what God says not what the enemy is trying to tell you.

7.       During times of discouragement, don’t follow your feelings; wait until the discouragement has passed before making decisions.

Reflect on these scriptures…                                

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their trouble. The Lord is near the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:17-19

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22

But they who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

Everyone will face discouragement at some point, but we don’t have to entertain or accept discouragement. Don’t give into self-pity, and don’t talk down to yourself. Recognize discouragement comes to all at some point, but we must not let the “seed” of discouragement take root.

7 things to do When You are disappointed

A relationship does not work out, a job does not go through, or your prodigal child that you have been praying for does not seem to leave their rebellious life. We all have experienced times of disappointment, and it is a normal part of life. What is important to know is that if disappointment is not dealt with, it can eventually lead to depression. This is a scheme from the enemy. Something you really wanted does not work out, you dwell on why it did not work out, and eventually you begin to feel depressed.

Your thoughts will always follow your behavior.

7 Things to do when you feel disappointed:

1.      Consider that what may have not worked out could be God’s doing. Perhaps, He was protecting you from something you did not even know about.

2.      Go before God and ask Him to help you deal with your disappointment, and to show you the truth.

3.      Take every thought captive. Do not let your mind wander and think whatever it wants. When something disappointing has happened in your life it is natural to want to feel sorry for yourself or even think about it endlessly, but do not go there! IT IS A TRAP THAT WILL LEAD TO DEPRESSION.

4.      Do not feel sorry for yourself and “lick your wounds.” Go to God and tell Him how you feel and then release the need to feel sorry for what has happened to you.

5.      Realize that everyone, not just you, will have times that things disappoint them. It is what you do with the disappointment that will make the difference.

6.      Get up again. Shake it off. Cry if you need to, but then move on! That may sound harsh, but it is not. The enemy would love for you to “camp out” in your disappointment. He hopes you will stay a while so that it will develop into total despair.

7.      Sit at Jesus’ feet as long as you need to for Him to speak to you and lift off whatever is causing you to feel disappointed.

All kinds of discouraging encounters can happen to us. When they seem to pile-up on us, that is when we need to be most aware. One disappointment in our lives can be tough, but when a series of disappointments come at us, that can paralyzing if we are not careful. Recognize those times in your life when it seems that one thing after another is occurring in your life to bring you discouragement. Discouragement is always rooted from the pits of hell, and is never originated from God. Check the source, is it God bringing discouragement or the enemy? Think about where you are at in your life that so much discouragement is coming your way. It is always a set-up to defeat you.

Ask yourself the following questions:

1.      Are you getting free from some sin area in your life, or have completely been set-free from some long-term sin in your life?

2.      Are you standing for the truth in God’s Word?

3.      Are you using your life to better the Kingdom of God?

4.      Have you recently given your testimony somewhere?

Answering yes to any of the above questions could be a very good indicator why so much discouragement has come your way. Ask God to show you. Keep moving forward, do not stop and look at all what has gone wrong, and resist the enemy and he will flee from you. Worshiping

 and praising God will lift off feelings of discouragement. Keeping things in perspective as well as counting all that is a blessing in your life will help.

What about you? How do you deal with disappointment in your life?

Dealing with the Spirit of Suicide

This is a difficult and sensitive subject to talk about. Many have dealt with thoughts of suicide, and have been too fearful to tell someone. Having generational curses and familiar spirits in this area can cause you to have a bent towards these spirits. A bent meaning, a weakness towards feeling or having thoughts of suicide. Usually this spirit is very patient and can wait as long as it needs to gain advantage during times of weakness. A spirit of death has one intention and that is to destroy.

This is very real, though we do not wage war against flesh and blood, but unseen forces. These demons are unseen, but can be discerned spiritually as very real to us. We may hear a voice or voices in our minds that say,” You can have relief from all your pain.” You can even hear demonic voices that can taunt you with thoughts that God does not love you, or that you have messed up so badly that there is one solution-death. Be mindful that if you have a family history of mental illness, suicide, or depression; these familiar spirits will try and destroy your life.

Remember Elijah in the Bible (1 Kings 19:4), he asked God to kill him and so did Abimelech (Judges 9:54). There are ones in the Bible that contemplated and even succeeded in suicide. I believe the voice that is heard to harm oneself comes straight from the pit of hell. The mind is the battlefield. The enemy will trespass our minds and plant thoughts that are contrary to the thoughts of God. Every thought that comes into your mind, is not coming from Christ.

One of the reasons that a lot of people attempt suicide is because suicide is in their family history. When one or more family members submit to an evil spirit to commit suicide, that same spirit can persuade other family members to do the same thing. This also can include not only suicide but idolatry, divorce, pornography, addiction, lying, witchcraft, rebellion, etc. Evil spirits will live in a family line as long as they can, and will look for ones who will host them. When a person is joined together with someone who is under the influence of evil spirits they too will start to experience the same evil influence.  

The first thing to recognize in dealing with this spirit is to know it is not your thoughts. God does not bring these thoughts to you, but the destroyer, satan does. Secondly, you must enter into prayer whether you feel like it or not. Prayer is a powerful weapon against the forces of darkness. The enemy must flee at the name of Jesus Christ. Plead the blood of Jesus over yourself, your home, and family. Thirdly, if this is generational, you must be aware of the enemy’s plan to use this against you and break familiar spirits and generational curses off your bloodline. Lastly, get in the Word of God and let the truth speak to you over the lies of the enemy.

Resources and Prayers:

www.praise-andworship.com/spiritual-warfare-prayer.html

www.savvyinternetladies.com/blog/biblestudy/swhandbk.pdf

www.battleinchrist.com/deliverance/.../prayer-for-deliverance-from-evil-spirits/

7 things to do When You are disappointed

A relationship does not work out, a job does not go through, or your prodigal child that you have been praying for does not seem to leave their rebellious life. We all have experienced times of disappointment, and it is a normal part of life. What is important to know is that if disappointment is not dealt with, it can eventually lead to depression. This is a scheme from the enemy. Something you really wanted does not work out, you dwell on why it did not work out, and eventually you begin to feel depressed. Your thoughts will always follow your behavior.

7 Things to do when you feel disappointed:

1.     Consider that what may have not worked out could be God’s doing. Perhaps, He was protecting you from something you did not even know about.

2.     Go before God and ask Him to help you deal with your disappointment, and to show you the truth.

3.    Take every thought captive. Do not let your mind wander and think whatever it wants. When something disappointing has happened in your life it is natural to want to feel sorry for yourself or even think about it endlessly, but do not go there! IT IS A TRAP THAT WILL LEAD TO DEPRESSION.

4.    Do not feel sorry for yourself and “lick your wounds.” Go to God and tell Him how you feel and then release the need to feel sorry for what has happened to you.

5.   Realize that everyone, not just you, will have times that things disappoint them. It is what you do with the disappointment that will make the difference.

6.     Get up again. Shake it off. Cry if you need to, but then move on! That may sound harsh, but it is not. The enemy would love for you to “camp out” in your disappointment. He hopes you will stay a while so that it will develop into total despair.

7.    Sit at Jesus’ feet as long as you need to for Him to speak to you and lift off whatever is causing you to feel disappointed.

All kinds of discouraging encounters can happen to us. When they seem to pile-up on us, that is when we need to be most aware. One disappointment in our lives can be tough, but when a series of disappointments come at us, that can paralyzing if we are not careful. Recognize those times in your life when it seems that one thing after another is occurring in your life to bring you discouragement. Discouragement is always rooted from the pits of hell, and is never originated from God. Check the source, is it God bringing discouragement or the enemy? Think about where you are at in your life that so much discouragement is coming your way. It is always a set-up to defeat you.

Ask yourself the following questions:

1.      Are you getting free from some sin area in your life, or have completely been set-free from some  long-term sin in your life?

2.      Are you standing for the truth in God’s Word?

3.      Are you using your life to better the Kingdom of God?

4.      Have you recently given your testimony somewhere?

Answering yes to any of the above questions could be a very good indicator why so much discouragement has come your way. Ask God to show you. Keep moving forward, do not stop and look at all what has gone wrong, and resist the enemy and he will flee from you. Worshiping and praising God will lift off feelings of discouragement. Keeping things in perspective as well as counting all that is a blessing in your life will help.

What about you? How do you deal with disappointment in your life? Share your story, leave a comment. Others will be blessed by your words.  Thank you and may God bless you!