Discouragement is one of the devil’s trusted weapons to take out God’s people. There are many different words for discouragement in the Old and New Testaments.
One word means to weaken, to slacken and to forsake (rapa). Another means to faint, to melt or to waste away (masas). A third means to cut down or shorten (qasar).
These definitions lay out satan’s plot for you. The enemy wants you to throw in the towel, and if he can’t get you to give up all together, he wants you to slow down.
Too many reasons…
Perhaps you were certain that you were about to get your breakthrough and then the cloud the size of a man’s hand floated back out to sea. Maybe everyone around you has been getting blessed while you have waited and waited from the sidelines.
Maybe you have been standing in faith but you just don’t know how much longer you will have to wait. Surely it should have happened by now? Perhaps people have made cruel comments that have caused you to crumple.
Kick it out
Whatever caused it, let’s look at three steps that will help us to kick it out of our lives.
1. Remember God – Abraham and Sarah were promised they would have a son but nothing happened for more than two decades. Delay does not mean denial and 25 years later, they held their baby boy.
King David was given a word when he was a teenager that he would rule over Israel. After a brief period of prominence, everything went horribly wrong and the young warrior spent ten years on the run. Then a week after his darkest day, David was made King of Judah.
Joseph had a dream that he would be great then spent 13 years as a slave and in prison. Then one day, he was promoted straight from prisoner to Prime Minister. The God who has done it for them will also be faith to you and me.
2. Remind yourself – Go back to the promises that God has given you. Dig out scriptures that confirm these promises. Remind yourself of every time that the Lord has come through. Shift your focus from your circumstances to His greatness. He is faithful and He is able.
3. Rebuke the devil – I started this blog by saying that satan uses discouragement to derail God’s people. It’s time to defeat the devil and kick out discouragement from your life.
Rise up on the inside and rebuke every doubt. Discouragement is when we lose courage. Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Take courage, the same God who did it for Abraham, Joseph and David will come through for you. Sometimes what’s holding us back is deeper than discouragement.
Let God refresh you from the inside out. Our next UK Healed for Life is in January – what an awesome way to start the year. And we have a Refresher event in the US at the start of February. Join us!
