KEY SCRIPTURE: Numbers 13:33 KJV “And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight”.

One pathetic mistake to make is to see yourself through the eyes of others. In the story of our key scripture, ten men among the twelve spies sent by Moses came back with a bad report. They decided to see themselves through the eyes of the so-called giants who were on the Land. To see yourself through another man’s eyes is to accept yourself for either what that individual is saying about you, or what you think that person is saying about you. The result o such a posture is helplessness and HOPELESSNESS.In 1st Samuel 18:6, King Saul interpreted the confessions of the WOMEN, that David was a better warrior than him, and the people preferred David to him. David could come for the throne, he thought. This drove him mad against David. (1st Samuel 18:6). The pain of Hannah came from what the rival used to say about her.

Many people are living in hell because of what they have come to accept about themselves through the mouth of others or what they think people are saying about them. The married woman without a child is tormented because of what others say about her and what she thinks some discuss about her. Some physically challenged individuals are barely living because people have changed their names to that physical condition.

Some Pastors are feeling depressed because they are struggling with a small congregation and cannot increase their numbers. They see themselves as failures because, they think others see them as failures. Such thoughts about oneself is depressive and makes one discouraged in himself.

Dear child of God you are in Christ. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, Old things have passed away, behold all things have become new. Stop seeing yourself as others see or think about you. You are one with Christ. Christ is your sufficiency. You are not barren. You can’t be a failure in any way. The greater one lives in you and God our Father sees you as a victorious, successful wonderful person. When the angel met Gideon, Judge 6:12 KJV” And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour”. Because the Lord was with him, he was a mighty man of valour. Gideon was feeling depressed and discouraged, yet the angel said he was a mighty man of valour. God is with you, no matter the state you find yourself. If you are a child of God, you are a mighty man, or woman of valour. This is how God sees you and calls you. Don’t see yourself after what men describe you.

CONFESSION

I am born of God, and have the life of my father God in me. I am not disadvantaged in anyway. I refuse to see myself as others see me. The word is God’s mirror and my true reflection is Christ Jesus

FURTHER STUDIES

1Samuel 18:8 KJV “And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?”

2Corinth 3:18 WEB” But we all, with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit”.

KEY SCRIPTURE:1Thessalonians 5:16 – 18 KJV” Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

We consider the last aspect of God’s prescription against discouragement. It says, we must give thanks to God always. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. To every occurrence there are two purposes. God’s purpose and the devil’s. The following statement is God’s purpose and thoughts for you in that event. Jeremiah 29:11 KJV “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end”.

It is in the light of a better end which God has programmed and designed for you, that you must thank the Lord. Thanksgiving places you in that will of God which is good and an expected end. When you complain, you land in Satan’s part of his purpose for bringing that condition to you. Satan’s aim is to destroy you with that situation.

The child of God must continually be filled with thanks. The scriptures teach we should be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be known unto to God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6&7. Thanksgiving declares that the issue at stake is settled and there is no cause for alarm. Remember that, discouragement is always a result of a bad situation persisting over a time or an unpleasant condition that seems insurmountable. A heart of thanksgiving has accepted that God has overcome the condition on your behalf. This is what faith is all about

Thanksgiving takes away every complain that would lead to a bad mood. Thanksgiving is always a blow to the devil. It disorganizes his arsenals in every form. Thanksgiving is a sign of being grateful unto God and silently declares that, the Lord repeat his goodness unto you again.

Giving of thanks is demanded by God. It is an act of sacrifice that pleases the Lord.

Psalms 107:22 KJV” And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing”. Anytime you give thanks you fulfill scripture and there is a release of divine provision to assist you to overcome.

CONFESSION

Thank you, heavenly father for you are the king over the universe, All things are subjected unto you. Your verdict for me is victory, triumph and peace. I thank you that I am always victorious. Glory be to your name. Amen

FURTHER STUDIES

Isaiah 51:3 KJV “For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.”

Jeremiah 30:19 KJV “And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.”

KEY SCRIPTURE :1Thessalonians 5:16 KJV Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

In the above key scripture, we have three major instructions that I believe if effectively employed, nothing should be able to discourage you.

These scriptural instructions are as follows

1.Rejoice always

2. Pray always.

3.Thank God always

We considered the first instruction in our earlier discussion on this topic. We now consider praying always.

The Lord says pray without ceasing. Praying always builds up confidence in God. Praying always in the spirit builds up one’s spiritual stature. Jude 1:20 KJV “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost”, A man who has built up his spiritual stature has great dominance on natural events and happenings. Please understand that just as we have the physical body, we also have a spirit nature, which is built up through consistent prayer.

Many get discouraged due to challenges that appear unsurmountable. The Lord Jesus assured us in Matthew 7:7 that “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:” The Lord added that those who ask receive, those who seek find, and to those who knock , the door is opened unto them. He assures us to call upon him, and He would answer, and show us great and mighty things that we do not know (Jeremiah 33:3) Everyone who ask in childlike faith receives, bringing glory to God. The Lord Jesus knew that, the only way to fulfill his mission on the earth was to consistently pray. He encountered contradiction of sinners yet he prevailed (Heb 12:3).

PRAYER SETS up a legal channel for God to come into the affairs of men. The posture of prayer is a demonstration of man’s dependence on God. Luke 18:1 KJV” And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Many of the oppositions that come up against us are mostly demonic oriented. They would normally require God’s power to totally stop them. Do not wait for problems to entangle you, before you start praying. Make prayer your lifestyle.

CONFESSION

I have committed myself to a life of prayer. I pray without ceasing. God my father helps me out of various situations in my life and therefore do not get discouraged about those situations.

FURTHER STUDIES

Hebrews 5:7 KJV” Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;”

Luke 22:46 KJV “And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation”.

KEY SCRIPTURE:1 Thess 5:16 – 18 KJV Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

 Discouragement is always linked to bad moods resulting from negative situations or negative anticipation. The scriptures gives us very positive instructions that would break every wrong mood, that can lead one to being discouraged. The instructions are as follows

1. Rejoice Always

 2.Pray Always

3. Give thanks always

The very first instruction of scripture is to rejoice evermore. To rejoice means to be excited in your heart, which is mostly expressed in singing.  We are called upon to rejoice in the Lord always. (Philip 4:4.). To rejoice in the Lord, you consider the completeness of Christ as your very completeness, and being joyful about it. (Col 2:9&10) Joy is a manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit. It is a focus on what the word says rather than what is happening. Isaiah 12:3 KJV” Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation”. With joy you would provide answers to difficult situations. Joyfulness gives you staying power

A JOYFUL heart is the same as a merry heart, and the scripture says it does good as medicine, whiles a broken spirit dries the bones (Prov 17:22). A broken spirit is a sign of a discouraged person. Refuse to be broken in your spirit. The man with a joyful heart always has a continual feast. (Proverbs 15:15) Remember that joy is our strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) You can’t be discouraged with a joyful heart. The scripture that says rejoice always is a command. This means you rejoice on principle. You choose to rejoice. Have a song of praise on your lips. It could be a song that declares your victory in Christ. The scripture says we must count it all joy, when we encounter divers’ kinds temptations (James 1:2). It means when times become hard and you don’t know what to do, just decide to be joyful

The worse enemy of a joyful heart is to complain. The scripture says do all things without murmuring and disputing. (Phil 2:12) The moment you start complaining, you stop the flow of divine energy into you. You instantly cut off the grace of God when you complain. Just after the scripture said, we must not complain, it added that it is God who is at work in us. There is a supernatural power working in you to overcome every situation. It is the expression of joy, that makes it function fully in you.

CONFESSION

My heart is continually joyful. With joy I am in a constant feast and strengthened to do more all the time. I do not have any iota of giving up because, I have a constant supply of divine provision to keep on excelling.

FURTHER STUDIES

Proverbs 15:13 KJV” A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken”.

Psalms 63:5 KJV “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 11:25 KJV “Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul”:

The Lord Jesus showed us the need to always go after the lost or those who might be getting weak in their faith.  Luke 15:4 KJV “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?” Apostle Paul persecuted the Christians, and the church was greatly afraid of him when they heard him preach about Jesus, nobody was prepared to stand with him and for him. He started preaching in Damascus and confounded the Jews there. They decided to kill him (Acts 9:23). The brethren got hint of it and let him down over the wall in a basket. When he got to Jerusalem, none of the brethren in Jerusalem were prepared to stand with him, except Joses who was nicknamed Barnabas, who took him to the apostles and introduced him to them.

In Jerusalem he spoke the word so boldly as the scripture put it in the following verse. Act 9:29 KJV” And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him”. As a result of this, the brethren took Paul and sent him to Tarsus (Acts 9:30) . Nothing was heard of him from that time. Could it be that the initial hostilities were weakening his ability to come back? He was not doing any ministry work. I believe he went back into his tent making business. It was at this time that Barnabas did not forget about him, or got discouraged in him, but traveled to Tarsus to look out for him.

What would have happened to Paul’s future ministry, if Barnabas had not gone looking for him?  Go after that brother who no longer comes to church. Don’t give up on following them up

Many brethren have fallen out of the faith, and have lost their ministries because, they might have been discouraged about certain challenges, yet they could have been set on fire, if brethren had not given up on them. Some years ago, I went on outreach at University of Ghana, precisely at the Commonwealth hall. I met a young man who was a converted Muslim to Christianity. He was receiving lots of threats from his parent back at home, from the north. He was at the verge of giving up his faith in Christ. After my encounter with him, he became strong in the Lord again, and even went up north during vacation time, and led some of his siblings to Christ. Don’t be discouraged about going to assist a brother or sister, who is fallen or backsliding. You may be restoring another Paul.

CONFESSION

Every soul is precious and everyone who has once known Christ and is getting weak can be helped back onto his feet again.  I do not get discouraged in any of them. I diligently seek out for them, and help them to get back on their feet in the Lord.

FURTHER STUDIES

Acts 14:21 KJV “And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch”,

Acts 15:3 KJV “And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Ruth 1:16 KJV” And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God”

The story of Ruth and Naomi is a classic example about the need never to be discouraged in doing good: Naomi left her hometown Bethlehem with her husband and two sons. The sons got married to one lady each from Moab, namely Orpah and Ruth. The husband of Naomi died first and her two sons followed suit. What was the most logical thing for her in laws to do? They should have just bid her farewell and gone away to make new families. One of Naomi’s in laws, Orpah bid her farewell and left to continue with her life. Naomi asked Ruth to do same and go on with her life. She declined and said she would never leave her alone. She would go with her to wherever she goes and become one with her people, and even die where she died.

Ruth’s decision to go with Naomi reveals a great act of love and selflessness. Naomi had no riches to give Ruth. She had no extra son for Ruth to marry. She was old and there was no possibility of she marrying to raise another son for Ruth to marry. Ruth decision was an act of pure selfless love. She was determined never to give up under any condition. She was ready to die with her. There was nothing tangible that Ruth could hope to get by serving Naomi. Her decision was basically to use her life to comfort Naomi who had lost husband, sons and was a pretty old woman. She needed somebody to assist her and be a source of solace to her. This is what Ruth considered and chose to become that person for Naomi.

God saw her sacrifice and decided to reward her efforts. She was married by Boaz a wealthy relation of Elimelech, Naomi’s deceased husband. Their son was Obed who became David’s grandfather. Ruth became one of the ancestors of Jesus Christ. God our Father rewards every act of sincere love and sacrifice. Do not be discouraged doing good. If no one sees you to reward you, God would surely reward you here on this earth, and in the world to come.

CONFESSION

The love of the Holy Spirit is shared abroad in my heart. I love all persons under all situations, without expecting any reward in return. The Lord is my reward and he always come through to express his approval by blessing my life in amazing ways.

FURTHER STUDIES

1Peter 1:22 KJV ” Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently”:

Galatians 6:10 KJV” As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Numbers 13:31 KJV” But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we”.

In our introduction to this study we said discouragement is to yield to the feeling and thoughts to give up, because of a negative condition, perceived failure or negative remark from an individual or a group of people. Discouragement is the most cherished weapon or tool of Satan. In our definition of discouragement, we said it is yielding to the feeling or thought to give up. Satan and his demons are masters of negative and wrong thoughts. Such thoughts become strong holds or compelling thoughts that would easily control you. The Lord says resist and cast them down (2 Corinth 10:5). A situation may give you the thought to be discouraged and give up. Resist that thought, it is Satan’s suggesting to stop you.

“A story is told about a man who visited Satan’s workshop. At the place he saw various tools that Satan uses on men. He saw fornication, diseases, accidents and many more. He saw that discouragement was kept in a special glass and was well polished. The man asked him Satan, ‘why is discouragement kept in a special glass. The devil answered, it is my most cherished tool or weapon. He added, if every other tool I employ failed, discouragement has always succeeded. It does not fail. Beware of discouragement.

 Please note that, the thoughts and feelings of defeat are not discouragement. It is the decision to surrender to that thought, that makes a failure out of you. At the garden of Gethsemane, the Lord Jesus had thoughts to give up. He felt the pain and shame. He even said, If it be thy will, let this cup pass me by (Matthew 26:39). He quickly added, not my will but thine be done. Your positive voice is always powerful to release you from the negative feelings or thoughts. Whenever Satan comes tempting you to be discouraged, open your mouth and say, no I will stay on my ground and keep moving forward. Remember our bodies are bridled or controlled by what we say. (James 3:2)

PRAYER

Father, I thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit who strengthens us in times of challenges. I pray that every child of God be quick to overcome the lies of the devil to be discouraged. Father, we stand no matter the opposition or challenge that the enemy may through at us.

FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 26:39 KJV “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt”.

Romans 6:13 KJV” Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God”.

KEY SCRIPTURES: Luke 18:1 KJV” And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”

Throughout the scriptures, we are enjoined to pray and not to faint or cease. 1Thess 5:17 KJV” Pray without ceasing”. Prayer is man’s avenue to obtain a superior assistance.  Prayer unites us to the ultimate power and authority in the universe. It is extremely dangerous to be discouraged in praying. Many people have unfortunately become discouraged in prayer. They see prayer as a traditional religious activity or ritual. They do not expect to receive any answers in their prayers.

 Some stories in the Bible show how people got discouraged in prayer, by turning to idol worshiping. An idol is something that takes God’s place and the individual reverence and places his faith in that thing. When one is discouraged in prayer, he or she put his trust and confidence in the arm of the flesh. He looks up to science, money, men, governments, his strength and what have you? Let’s consider an example in scripture. Isaiah 30:2 KJV “That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! These people forsook the Lord and called on the Egyptians to come to their rescue. Please look at the counsel of the scriptures: Isaiah 31:3 KJV” Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses’ flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.

In the parable the Lord gave in Luke 18, the widow who decided never to give up on her request for justice, could not be denied by the inconsiderate judge. Listen to what he said, in Luke 18:5 ” Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me”. Please note that prayers are not just, requests unto God, but they are also, a means of wearying satanic oppositions to give up their activities. Giving up on prayer means allowing demons to freely do all that they plan to do in your life. Never get discouraged, but keep praying

CONFESSION

GOD my father is faithful. His ears are always opened to my prayer. My persistence in prayer ultimately breaks every resistance of the enemy. I live a very victorious life because I do not give up praying.

FURTHER STUDIES

Romans 12:12 KJV “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer”;

Luke 22:40 KJV “And when he was at the place, he said unto them, pray that ye enter not into temptation”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 5:5 KJV “And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years”.

(Read John 5:1-11)

The story of the impotent man who laid at the pool of Bethesda for thirty-eight years has so much to teach us about not giving up to despair or getting discouraged over failure. The Bible said at this pool an angel came ones in the year to stir the water. Any of the sick folks who first entered the troubled water was made whole. This man laid there all these years without being able to get into the water any time it was troubled. He did not give up for any of these many years and asked some people to send him home.

Let’s consider the following analysis. He said to the Lord when he encountered him, that, I have no man to get me into the water when it was stirred. This meant no body carried him home. If there were some people to carry him home, then those people should easily be available to dip him into the water when the water was troubled. This man had no one to be carrying him about. He laid there for thirty years without going home. What was the hope of him ever getting into the water? This man decided that there was no use in giving up, he would stay there till some good Samaritan would carry him and dip him in the water. It is always better to be optimistic about the turn of events that to be negative and give up. it is the man who has given up, who has truly failed

In all these years of his resilience Jesus had seen it. His resilience attracted the Lord Jesus to him. Dear brother or sister who seem not to make a headway in whatever you may be doing? Do not get discouraged. Your commitment and diligence are a prayer or a memorial before God (Acts 10:4). Do not give up and throw in the towel. When the Lord got to him, He asked, would you be made whole. The impotent man did not call him.  His decision to remain till his helper comes was a prayer, which Jesus came to answer. When you give up then you have withdrawn your request from the Lord. Stay on and keep doing your best and trusting sincerely, knowing that God always rewards diligent seekers. (Heb 11:6)

CONFESSION

I am doggedly hooked up to the Lord Jesus. I am a winner always. Nothing can cause me to turn from Him. My decision to hold on diligently to Him is my prayer that attracts His presence for an answer.

FURTHER STUDIES

Hebrews 11:6 KJV. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

John 5:6 KJV “When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 10:35 KJV” Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward”.

 To be discouraged is to yield to the feeling and thoughts to give up doing or holding on to something as a result of a negative condition, perceived failure or a negative response from some individual or a group of people. There are a million and one situations or conditions that can result in one getting discouraged. In our study for today, we would consider responding to discouragement as a result of a loss. To lose something is part of the human experience. Matthew 6:19 KJV “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal”: According to the Lord, on this earth we would have moth and rust corrupting what we have and use. We may also have thieves breaking in and stealing. On this earth there may be losses of basically anything visible that we can see and touch. (this will normally be in relation to how we respond to the Spirit and prayer) There is one person that we must not lose, and that is God.

In the story of Job, he lost his wealth, his family, his prestige and his health. Losing is very painful and can be very disheartening. He virtually lost everything. Discouragement in God should have been his natural response, yet, he did not get discouraged in the Lord God. His wife came to Him and said in Job 2:9 KJV “Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die” .Job quickly answered his wife and said, ‘you speak like one of those foolish women…’ Job would not allow the loss, the disgrace and the pain to rob him of one thing he should never lose, that is God.

Dear child of God no matter what happens, never give up on God. Never get discouraged in Him. Your confidence in Him has a great reward here on this earth and the life to come. Job had a very glorious end, because he did not give up on God. God is good and has no hands in the evil that seems to go around. In Job’s case Satan used her wife’s mouth and voice to speak his intentions to Job. Satan may use people to suggest that you get discouraged in God. He may use your thoughts to suggest those things to you. It could even be a man of God. Refuse anything that opposes the scriptures. God is love and would never change. He is perfect in his nature of love.

CONFESSION

Nothing shall separate me from the love of God. No loss of any kind can make me discouraged in my God. He is my Lord and king and nothing would ever dethrone him from that position in my life.

FURTHER STUDIES

Romans 8:38 & 39KJV” For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:28 KJV “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” .

Job 42:12 KJV” So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses”.