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When discouragement comes, our first instinct is to retreat! Discouragement "hacks" away at us in ways that seem insignificant until they are measured together-against us. Then, as one author appropriately said, we begin to "sunbathe on the shores of sea and dread". We begin to list reasons we might be unemployed next year, stress out over the economy, and finalize the list with all the reasons why we are completely inadequate and unable to move forward. Obviously, to the weary mind, retreat becomes the only possible remedy to the dilemma of discouragement. However, when you look back on your journey, think about the times that you were discouraged, and you did not retreat. Somehow, you took your focus off of discouragement and put it on the power of God's Spirit inside of you. That truth overran every falsehood you were battling in your mind. Now, think about the results of that victory. Did you not go on? Did you not prevail to see another day? Did you not accomplish what discouragement was sent to cause you to retreat from? Now do you get the picture? That is discouragement's designation - to cause you to not finish the ‘God Assignment’ in your life. If it gives life, if it helps humanity, if it causes the world to be a better place, then it is indeed a ‘God Assignment’. You have come too far to turn back now - you can not retreat! Defeat discouragement’s designation by moving forward, even if only one step at a time. "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Philippians 3:12 |
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