5.11.16

 
 
Devotional for Wednesday, May 11, 2016
“Encouragement vs. Discouragement”
 
 
discouragement
 
by Dona Hake
 
 


It is when we are full of God’s courage that we feel we are able to accomplish anything with His help.   Today we will look at two words  encouragement and discouragement.   We know that the opposite of courage is discouragement, and both of these are powerful forces.   Discouragement has the power to paralyze someone from moving forward. It has the power the keep you unmotivated,  and tempt you to wallow in the past. Today we will look at how we must guard our hearts against discouragement.

Abraham Lincoln wisely said,
 
 
“Let no feeling of discouragement prey upon you, and in the end you are sure to succeed.”
 
 
Courage is that thing that empowers us to do what we may be afraid of. It helps us go forward into things we thought was too big for us to handle. Let us live with determined hearts and never allow discouragement to prey upon our hearts.
 
 
Many times discouragement will be birthed as a result of being preoccupied with cares in our life. We are commanded to cast all our care over to God. As the scripture says below, we need to keep our minds clear and alert because the devil is watching for those opportunities to pull us down.
 
 
 
1 Peter 57-9
Names of God Bible
“Turn all your anxiety over to God because he cares for you. Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour. Be firm in the faith and resist him, knowing that other believers throughout the world are going through the same kind of suffering.”
 
 
 
 

If your heart is in a place of discouragement, I want to encourage you today to look up and know that He is well able to pull you out of that place and bring courage back to your heart. Release your care and hold fast to His loving hands and you will be made courageous!