What to do When You Get Discouraged...

The last couple of years (for many of us) has weighed heavily on our faith. A Down turned economy still impacts our livelihood...National and World disasters destroyed 100's of thousands of lives.

Personally, every ounce of my strength and faith has been tested. In moments when darkness seems to only get darker, it's easy to get discouraged, knocked off course, overwhelmed by the endless onslaught of insurmountable impossibilities...

If you're in the thick of the battle...If darkness presses against you, making it next to impossible to breathe...I want to encourage you...YOU ARE NOT ALONE...GOD IS STILL NEAR.

Psalm 91:9-16 says, "If you make the Most High your dwelling — even the LORD, who is my refuge —  then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." (NIV)
Friend, I know at times life doesn't make sense...you can do everything "RIGHT" and still not witness the "RESULTS YOU DESIRE"...BUT...regardless of our circumstances...GOD WILL WORK ALL THINGS TOGETHER FOR OUR GOOD. One of the things that helped me through the darkness is a little principle I live by (especially when I don't know how or even what to pray anymore). Are you discouraged? Do you feel at a loss of how or what to pray for? Maybe this will help...

Pray the Scriptures. Take for example Psalm 91 from above.

Father, I choose to make you my dwelling place. I want to live in the center of Your will. Surround me and help me rest in you...to live every moment of every day in Your Presence. Be my refuge. Protect me as your Word promises. Thank you that no harm will befall me, no disaster will come near my tent. Thank you Lord that you give command over your angels concerning me to guard me in all my ways (that as I minister you are with me protecting me. That you protect my marriage and keep the relationship strong. That you protect me in my job, my home, while I work, while I sleep.) Thank you that you charge your angels to lift me up in their hands, so that I will be protected....Thank You for rescuing me, that you searched for me and called me unto You. You rescued me from a childhood filled with pain. You called me and protected me so many times throughout my life (name them). I KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOD. I call upon You, rescue me from all this darkness, move on my behalf, and thank you that You promise to help me and to answer me to be with me in trouble, (let me feel Your presence, I feel so alone and I need You. Give me Hope again.) Your Word promises to deliver me and honor me and that with a long life YOU will satisfy me and show me Your DELIVERANCE and SALVATION."

Well, anyway, I guess by now you probably get the picture...

The truth is whether in your in the midst of sunshiny skies or pitch black darkness...Praying the Scriptures calls God to action and aligns Faith with God's Word.

Hope this simple practices helps to expel the darkness of discouragement far from you. Have a blessed day.