Daniel Ausbun
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3 Steps to Prevent Discouragement

12/19/2012

1 Comment

 
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Have you ever had a great idea, shared it with others, only to be ignored? Do you have God-sized plans, cast your vision, only to be told it cost too much?

Jesus warned His followers in Luke 18:1 not to be discouraged. He spoke in parables to prevent discouragement.

Everyone will experience discouragement at times, maybe many times. I remember 7 years ago trying to launch a single adult ministry from scratch at First Baptist Moreland. A big party and movie was planned, spent $100 on food, many hours in outreach - only to have 2 people show up - and one was the leader - she didn't count. I was not only discouraged, but embarrassed.

Here are 3 steps to identify and prevent discouragement:

1). Stop making comparisons. God's standard is His Word, not other people. There's always someone prettier, better, stronger and wealthier than you. Whatever you do, someone can do it better.

When you're making comparisons, you'll likely miss God's unique plan He has for you. You'll be tempted to surrender to discouragement. God calls you to faithfulness - this means being faithful to someone else - God. We're faithful by fulfilling the responsibilities He has given you. These responsibilities include a follower of Christ, a husband, a father and a employee.

2). Stop being consumed. If you're going non-stop for 18 hours everyday - your defenses become weaker and things seem bleaker than they really are. If you're tired, soon you'll gripe, grumble and groan. Burning your candle at both ends doesn't make you brighter - rather you'll be burned up sooner.

You must make time for rest. It might mean missing a church event or cousin's birthday party. If it's Tuesday and you're looking forward to sleeping late on Saturday morning - your time is too consumed.

3). Stop being a casualty. Does everything you do seem to fail? Nothing goes as planned, problems persist, people are pessimistic. When you keep being passed over for the job, its easy to become a casualty. Just when you think you can make ends meet, someone moves the end.

Failure doesn't mean you're doing the wrong thing. You could be you're doing the right thing the wrong way. If something isn't working, change it. Try a new approach, change your friends, change churches, change careers - there is no reason to live your life as a casualty to discouragement.

If you feel discouraged, its your choice, no one is making you feel that way. Recommit your life to Christ - there's incredible motivating power in faith.
1 Comment
Vicki Gann link
12/19/2012 06:07:13 am

Good post, I would like to add something. Sometimes we feel discouragement we need to experience it. It brings us to perseverance and hope through our giving our discouragement to our Lord and Savior. Waiting on the Lord can bring discouragement but when we give it to Him we receive peace, patience, strength and perseverance that gives us hope and faith in Him that we will be overcomers. If we move from place to place are we not letting the relationships and circumstances control us? If we grow tired are we doing for Him or for us? Don't we know not to compare because we have the Holy Spirit telling us He has a work for us to do, it is for us to do that He Himself has given us, so how can we compare with any else isn't Him doing it? Our faith in Him gives us all things for wisdom and knowledge of Him through the Holy Spirit. If we do not have discouragement how can He overcome it? When I'm discouraged I get to see His power within me overcome it! He grows within me every time I get discouraged and His plan comes together and it is always better than anything I have come up with through each circumstance and relationship. Just another way to look at it, but I have experienced the kind of discouragement that makes you move more in His direction. Make sure it is in His direction and not yours to avoid something you are not facing.

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