We were born to live with victorious courage. If that’s true, why are so many believers living beneath their design? The nemesis of discouragement looms over many like a rain cloud of acid, eroding at their will to move forward with confidence. The solution to this chasm is not far away, but near.
Here is a story that will encourage you:
The moving truck was packed and we were off to a fresh adventure—stepping into a dream to be the youth pastor for a hero of mine, Bill Johnson at Bethel Church. Upon our arrival, Pastor Bill brought me on stage, laid hands on me and lead the church to declare their reception of me and my family. It was a dream! Could life get any better?!
We inherited a wonderful team of youth leaders and began building the Youth Ministry. Soon, the honeymoon was over, and it was time to get to work. Over the next few years, we had incredible times of refreshing, and some of the most discouraging times of my ministry.
We were living in a revival movement with no limitations, yet kids would talk so loud in our youth service during worship that our team could hear them speaking over their in-ear monitors. Not all of my leaders were on board, and I realized quickly I had a lot to learn and was getting discouraged at a lot of the new dynamics I was facing; church, families, team, very busy schedule, learning the culture, new relationships, etc.
It didn’t take long to discover that if I depended on external circumstances for encouragement, my life would be a Yo-Yo in the hands of whoever was holding the strings that day.
Here is what I’ve learned:
1. Living encouraged is an inside job.
God is not afraid to stick us in situations that cause our hearts to faint in discouragement. He is a faithful Father waiting for us to take his invitation to see Him
in every situation and discover that He alone is the source
of encouragement in both lack and plenty.
- If you are standing in front of a Goliath, he knows there is a David living on the inside of you.
- If you are facing betrayal, he knows there is a Joseph living on the inside of you.
1 John 4:4 says, “Greater is He
who is in you
than he who is in the world.”
In ancient times, people would dig wells to tap into a water source that would give life to everyone. The wells of life we dig become the source we live from.
Living encouraged depends on the source of your encouragement.
When we look to man as our source, we will never be satisfied with their answers.
When God is our source, our hearts will pull from the living water in the face of challenges, and we will not cease to see breakthrough no matter what we are facing.
Trusting God doesn’t mean we don’t need encouragement from people, It means encouragement from man doesn’t replace trusting God.
Activations:
- Ask the Holy Spirit what areas of your life are you looking to man for encouragement where you need to look to God.
- Recognize your need for encouragement and ask the Lord what he wants to be for you right now.
- Pray, turn your thoughts away from needing man’s fickle encouragement, and receive encouragement from the Lord.
Declarations:
- “The
Lord
is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The
Lord
is the
strength
of
my
life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1
- God the Father, is at work in me showing me how to partner with His thoughts of encouragement for my life.
- God is at work on my behalf, even if I can’t see it. I trust the Lord!
2. Face what is discouraging you from the Father’s perspective.
When my kids were little, if they were afraid or panicked they would come sit in my lap where I could hold them tight, till my strength and comfort brought them back to a sound mind. My love drove out fear and filled them with encouragement again.
If you have lost heart, come sit in the Father’s arms. He is safe, cares for you, and will encourage you again.
In 1 Samuel 30, David was facing one of the most difficult changes of his life. His family, along with the families of his men had all been captured by the enemy and they all wanted to kill him for it. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. And God spoke to him saying, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”
David and his men were filled with courage and succeeded in getting their family back.
Click here
to hear Bill Johnson talk about strengthening yourself in the Lord.
Activations:
- Visualize yourself bringing your challenge before the Lord—ask if He is big enough to help you with what’s discouraging you.
- Sit in the Father’s lap. See and feel yourself fully go there until the sting of discouragement fades away in the light of His face.
- What solution is the Holy Spirit showing you for your situation?
Declarations:
- God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
- I am safe in the Father’s arms.
- God is my greatest encourager!
3. Renew your Mind
If you want to feel
encouraged, this is the place that needs transformed. Feelings follow thinking. This is why the first thing Jesus preached in Matthew 4:17 is so powerful, “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is near.” Repent means to change the way you think.
This is extremely empowering!
Because of his grace to change, I never have to get stuck, stay down, or live discouraged. I can always do something with what’s going on inside of me—especially in the face of challenges.
Romans 12:2 says: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Here is how you can renew your mind:
- Develop a lifestyle of thanksgiving
and gratitude. Click here
for a powerful verse.
- Get a hope
filter. Click here
to read my blog It’s Time to Get Your Hopes Up.
- Develop a lifestyle of Praise
and Worship.
- Go on the journey
with friends. Be vulnerable about what is causing discouragement and invite the Holy Spirit to reveal his thoughts.
Click here
to read Kris Vallotton’s blog called 7 ways to tell if you have a renewed mind.
Activations:
- Put on worship music, set aside distractions, and exalt the Lord until you are encouraged.
- Let go of negative thought patterns and meditate on the Word of God. Click here
to read Joshua 1:1-9.
- Click
here to listen to Graham Cooke declare the word of the Lord over you.
Declarations:
Say these out loud!
- “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1
- “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28
- "I have the mind of Christ!" 1 Cor. 1:16