Discouragement

Discouragement

Discouragement at times arrives when I’m feeling good and changes my outcome of the day, and other times it makes an already arduous day worse. Not always expected, but sometimes self-fulfilled because of my lack of faith.

It seems that no one is more excited about my work than I. My need for admiration from others motivates me to achieve excellence, of which leads to more valleys of discouragement than mountain tops of triumph. There are too many for me, only because what fuels my yearning is always fleeting in the hearts and minds of others.

(Mat 23:12 KJV)  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

I cannot live with discouragement; I shall not go on with it. I cannot please myself or others to my satisfaction. So what shall I do?

My greatest desire shall be, to be pleasing to the LORD (Col. 1:10). I shall seek out His words of what pleases Him and perform those words so that I will know that he is delighted in me. In seeking this ONE thing, my attainment shall only be judged by His word and because of that same word I also know and have experienced the marvelous grace and blessings that my God bestows upon them who are obedient and pleasing to Him. (2 Sam 22:20 KJV)  He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me. (2 Sam 22:21 KJV)  The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

Lord, my prayer is to enlarge my hunger for you, for your word, to be pleasing only in your sight. It is only then that discouragement will be no more. And it is only then that you will be made manifest in me to all that are around me. Be made manifest in me Lord, only for YOUR glory, and to the salvation of the lost.

(Phil 4:12 KJV)  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (Phil 4:13 KJV)  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Daniel L. Criss

November 20, 2009