Perseverance - Overcoming Discouragement
Scripture: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Galatians 6:9 - And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
James 1:2-4 - My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Ephesians 6:18 - Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
There are times when we get discouraged when things don’t work out the way we think they should. We may wonder if the Lord will answer our prayers. In Ezra chapter four, the workers who were rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem were very discouraged because the work stopped for many years. Can you relate to how they felt? Have you ever gotten discouraged as you waited on the Lord for something for many years? One minute you felt encouraged, and the next minute you doubted what the Lord would do. Isaiah 40:29-31 says “ He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” God sent Hagai and Zechariah to encourage the workers – and the temple was finally rebuilt and used by the Lord Jesus Christ! The ultimate example of perseverance was when Jesus Christ suffered and died on the cross for our sins. We can’t even imagine all that the Lord went through as His life was sacrificed for us. Let us follow His example by presenting our body as a living sacrifice and not being conformed to this world. Romans 12:1-2 says “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Instead of viewing problems as obstacles or getting discouraged, we should use them as opportunities to praise God -- who works all things out for our good. Romans 8:28 says “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.” While discouragement and worrying drains us, perseverance and praising the Lord encourages us!
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father: Thank You for Your ultimate example of perseverance as you died on the cross for our sins. Help us to keep our eyes stayed on You, and never give up no matter what we are facing. Help us to rest in Your promises, and help us to praise and worship you in the midst of whatever we are dealing with. All this I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
(by Marsha Williams)
Galatians 6:9 - And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
James 1:2-4 - My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Ephesians 6:18 - Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
There are times when we get discouraged when things don’t work out the way we think they should. We may wonder if the Lord will answer our prayers. In Ezra chapter four, the workers who were rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem were very discouraged because the work stopped for many years. Can you relate to how they felt? Have you ever gotten discouraged as you waited on the Lord for something for many years? One minute you felt encouraged, and the next minute you doubted what the Lord would do. Isaiah 40:29-31 says “ He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” God sent Hagai and Zechariah to encourage the workers – and the temple was finally rebuilt and used by the Lord Jesus Christ! The ultimate example of perseverance was when Jesus Christ suffered and died on the cross for our sins. We can’t even imagine all that the Lord went through as His life was sacrificed for us. Let us follow His example by presenting our body as a living sacrifice and not being conformed to this world. Romans 12:1-2 says “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Instead of viewing problems as obstacles or getting discouraged, we should use them as opportunities to praise God -- who works all things out for our good. Romans 8:28 says “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.” While discouragement and worrying drains us, perseverance and praising the Lord encourages us!
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father: Thank You for Your ultimate example of perseverance as you died on the cross for our sins. Help us to keep our eyes stayed on You, and never give up no matter what we are facing. Help us to rest in Your promises, and help us to praise and worship you in the midst of whatever we are dealing with. All this I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
(by Marsha Williams)
Archive
2024
January
Gratitude Mixed with Faith Should Equal ObedienceGrace Comes In God’s TimingGOD USES WHOM HE CHOOSESSeeing What God Sees to Get What God HasA Life Verse That Is Good for Every YearSeeing Things as God Sees ThemThree QuestionsDon’t Worry About the FutureForgiveness Is Our Daily CelebrationPeace When We Do RightGod’s True Children Certainly Should KnowRegret In Missed OpportunitiesThe Attitude of Delight Is RightMeditation Deprivation Is EvidentARE YOU A DISCIPLE OR JUST A CONVERT?An Anchored Soul Won’t QuitGod Wants to Be BelievedFinding God in Our PainI Must Be About God’s WordWhat the Wondrous Word of God Can Do in a Willing ServantSeeing Things God’s WayGetting Along for Jesus SakeMeditating Brings Us Success In The Christian LifeThe State of Mind That Pleases GodPraised By the RaisedHaving the Right Knowledge for Real FaithWhose Mind Do You Think With?All My Heart & All My WaysWise with the Lord’s TimeNo Shame About What God Has SaidPrayer Is A Conversation
February
DEEP ARMOR FOR THE STEEP CLIMBDressed in the Whole Armor of God for Spiritual WarfareGRAB THAT ARMORSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIn My Dressing Room (Putting on the Armor of God)Armored for Any WeatherTruth is Foundation for Our FaithA Work in Progress and A Mouth in TrainingREJECTION OF GOSSIP, SLANDER, LIES, AND DISCORD: THE PERFECTING OF 'FEBRUARY'THE DETESTABLESSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIf the Lord Hates It, We Should TooThe Offense Ward of the Sin HospitalSpilling the TeaWe are in ChristLet us Do BetterSpread Love, Not GossipSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLThe GREATEST THRILL: Being SPIRIT - FilledTHE HOLY SPIRIT'S CONTROLA Drunken SpiritLookin’ Like Our DaddyFermented or Fresh; How is Your Fruit?We Have it AllSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLJESUS’ LOVE MANDATEHIS Walk, Our Hopethe greatest gift of allTo Love Like Christ
March
LOVE x LOVELove is CommitmentSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor CockrellTHE HIGHEST DEBT OF LOVEPREVAILING IN LOVE, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE PROMISEReturn Your Love to METhe Loveless ChurchWhat Do You Want First: the Good News or the Bad News?POSITIVE FRICTION THAT MAKES US BETTERSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHis Love Versus My FearsJESUS LOVES YOUBe Surrendered to 'Love'Victory Over Fear: Life’s Small LessonsJesus, Our VictoryTRUST CHRIST, BANISH FEARSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHarmony and Discord Aren’t FriendsHOLY PARAMETERSBlinded by HateACT or REACTRESISTING ANGER AND HATE IN CONFLICTPeculiar PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellONWARD & UPWARDHow To Fall ForwardThe Front Windshield is Much Bigger than the Rearview MirrorONE THING TO DOLooking Back Will Have You SaltyGreat Cloud of WitnessesSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne Cockrell
No Comments