All of us have had trying times. We have had to deal with all kinds of issues that leave us drained and feeling like we are not really as strong as we had hoped. Many times our decisions can remind us that we really are not doing or being everything we claim. I spoke to a woman recently who was dealing with old thoughts and insecurities that she thought she had overcome. It was difficult listening to her describe how she had failed God, failed herself, lost her testimony and was now in a place that she felt everything she held to was obviously tainted by her recent decision. Have you ever felt that way? I have.
But isn't that what we do to ourselves? One incident in our attempt to live for God, we make a mistake or make a bad decision, and we think our living was in vain? I heard once that DISCOURAGEMENT is the enemy's greatest weapon. When he cannot cause us to walk away from God, he tries to make the battle personal and attack us from within. Discourage is his weapon of choice, but we are not ignorant of his devises.
But we will NOT let him win! Be honest if you have a bad moment, a bad day or a month that didn't go very well... you are just having a moment, a moment that will pass if we let it and we need to get back in our place and OWN IT.
POSITION AND CONDITION
My pastor recently taught a message at church about our POSITION and our CONDITION. We get the two mixed up more than we realize. As born again Christians, Our POSITION is in Christ. He has seated us in heavenly places, given us dominion and power. He gave us this because we accepted Him, not because we deserved it. Since we are carnal beings taking on a spiritual position, He provided for us by loving us, forgiving us and continuing to work in us. In fact, He knows our weaknesses even before we identify them. The CONDITION we were born with, can be seen in the things we struggle with, the fallen state of man and the temptations that seem to win more often than not. But our CONDITION is defeated daily by our POSITION in God. If we really know who we are, and what God has provided for us, we should pull on Him and the place He has for us in His kingdom, even when we fall short (especially when we fall short). Meaning, yes.. you will make mistakes, but God is not shocked by them. Remember Who you belong to and get back in place!
In our minds that makes no sense. We expect people to pay for their wrong doings and often we do pay for bad decisions, but it does not move you from your POSITION in God. You have to choose to stay there, ask for forgiveness and continue to march.
SIMPLE ENCOURAGEMENT
Realize you are stronger than you may think, God has given His spirit to help you, His word to instruct you and His grace to cover you. Surround yourself with people who mean you well and will instruct you in the ways fo God. Continue going to church (another trick of the enemy is to isolate you) , continue studying and feeding your spirit man. Regardless to what you find yourself dealing with, do not allow discouragement to take hold. You are going to be okay, you really are stronger than you think! Your POSITION strengthens you, stay in place. To some this may sound like a license to sin and just ask for forgiveness, no... this is the "Since you are not perfect and will make mistakes, don't give up on God because He has not given up on you!"
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