Prescription for courage!
Verse for Today: Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Nehemiah 6:9 – They
were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for
the work, and it will not be completed.” But I prayed, “Now (Lord), strengthen
my hands.”
Discouragement works to
cut our emotions deep and weaken our composure to keep going. It is like rat
poison which works slowly in our hearts and takes away all our energy required
to keep going. It pulls us back and weakens our hands. It erodes us of our spiritual
energy to continue with our mission. It drains us of our emotional energy to stay
put in the task which we started. Discouragement often comes from threats, intimidation, unfair criticisms, false accusations and gossip. It makes us give
up too quickly and lead us to quit from our involvements in the work that is
entrusted with us. Discouragement inflicts deep emotional wound which slowly
paralyses one’s enthusiasm and sags the spirit. It is also a serious contagious
emotional illness. The enemy of our souls knows exactly how to discourage us
depending on our degree of sensitivity. A word, a facial expression or even a
look is sufficient sometimes to discourage us. The enemy knows that when we are
threatened with dire consequences, we would easily get discouraged and retreat
from our course. So the enemy is often engaged in frightening us with false
evidences against us and false accusations about us. He will also line up a
number of false witnesses who will publicize falsehood against us. When we are
thus confronted with the difficult task of disproving witness-based lies, we
give up and give in too soon and backtrack in great discouragement. The enemy’s
plan is to weaken us in the work that we are engaged in for our God half way.
But if we look at our God for help, He will send us courage from His Word and
through His Spirit. If we ask God to protect us from getting discouraged, He
will strengthen our sagging spirit and revive our weak hands. He will fill us
with enthusiasm and excitement about what He will do in and through us and
drive us forward with His power. He will give us the strength to withstand the
pressures of the enemy and fill us with His Spirit to resist ploys against us.
With encouragement from God, we will march forward to accomplish His will in
our lives.
Dear reader, are you
facing threats, fears and intimidation from the enemy which discourage you in
your task for the Lord? Is the enemy frightening you through developments in
your work situation, family, loss, failures, fruitlessness, lack of companions
in the work, slow growth in the ministry, financial difficulties, health issues,
competition or rejection? Are the threats making you afraid of the consequences?
But your God knows all about your situation and has ways to deliver you from
the intimidation. He will help you solve your problems and handle your
situations with His grace. He will give you patience and maturity to keep going
and be obedient to the vision He has given you. He will show light on your dark
valleys and at the end of the tunnel. He wants you to speak to Him as Nehemiah
did when he badly needed encouragement. David and Paul reached such situations
of discouragement, but God strengthened them to keep going to complete the task
that was assigned to them. God reignited their hearts with renewed vision and
He re-energized them to go forward in His strength and power. As they prayed,
God revived them and led them on their pathways. He healed their discouragement
and filled them with determination, boldness and faith. Today you are
challenged by God to renew your commitment to Him and continue with the task
that you are privileged to handle for Him.
Deuteronomy 1:21 – See,
the Lord your God has given you the land. Do up and take possession of it as
the Lord, the God of your fathers, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be
discouraged.
Thought for today
Faith in the power of God is the antidote to
disillusionment.
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