Author Topic: Are You Tempted to be Discouraged?  (Read 43603 times)

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JimB

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Re: Are You Tempted to be Discouraged?
« Reply #160 on: April 05, 2024, 01:08:52 PM »
Sometimes the valley is so deep the sun cannot penetrate and there is danger of forgetting that Jesus is with us no matter where we are.

At times like those it can be very tempting to focus on the trial itself. Read the paragraph before and it tells us the reason. I'm not sure which person in the Bible suffered more, Job or Paul. However, Paul penned these words....

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


and Job these words...

15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

Mrs White talks about the importance of actually vocalizing thoughts like these. Our words react upon our own souls. I would encourage you to find a room where people can't here or take a stroll in a park and encourage yourself with promises from the Bible out loud.
By communion with God in nature, the mind is uplifted, and the heart finds rest.  {DA 291.1}

rahab

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Re: Are You Tempted to be Discouraged?
« Reply #161 on: April 05, 2024, 03:40:10 PM »
Good advice Jim

It’s very hard when going through the trial.

Try to bring to mind all the times in the past where God came through for you….

It is a test of faith and afterwards your faith will be stronger.

Cling to Jesus, focus on His great love for you

Listen to the Psalms

JimB

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Re: Are You Tempted to be Discouraged?
« Reply #162 on: April 10, 2024, 05:47:44 AM »
Nothing tends more to promote health of body and of soul than does a spirit of gratitude and praise. It is a positive duty to resist melancholy, discontented thoughts and feelings—as much a duty as it is to pray. If we are heaven-bound, how can we go as a band of mourners, groaning and complaining all along the way to our Father's house?

Those professed Christians who are constantly complaining, and who seem to think cheerfulness and happiness a sin, have not genuine religion. Those who take a mournful pleasure in all that is melancholy in the natural world, who choose to look upon dead leaves rather than to gather the beautiful living flowers, who see no beauty in grand mountain heights and in valleys clothed with living green, who close their senses to the joyful voice which speaks to them in nature, and which is sweet and musical to the listening ear—these are not in Christ. They are gathering to themselves gloom and darkness, when they might have brightness, even the Sun of Righteousness arising in their hearts with healing in His beams. MH251.4
By communion with God in nature, the mind is uplifted, and the heart finds rest.  {DA 291.1}

JimB

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Re: Are You Tempted to be Discouraged?
« Reply #163 on: May 14, 2024, 04:46:10 AM »
Imagine yourself living when Mrs. White was still living. Then maybe imagine struggling with doubts and then have this letter arrive in the mail at your door step. A Word from God Himself through His servant directly to you. What tender and caring God we serve.

Dear Sister Israel:

I have words of encouragement for you. “Then are they glad because they are quiet.” [Psalm 107:30.] Silence in the soul makes more distinct the voice of God. The Lord’s everlasting arms are beneath you, my sister. You have begun to feel after God, and your soul is refusing to believe itself, time-bound and sense-bound. You are now responding to the words of Christ Jesus. The Lord Jesus has taken you into a harbor of gracious experience, and bids you, “Be still, and know that I am God.” [Psalm 46:10.] Rest in His promise. Your life has been for [a] time past of unrest, but the voice of Jesus comes to you saying, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” [Matthew 11:28.]

You are privileged as a daughter of Abraham to have gladness in God Himself. Through the name and merits of Christ Jesus, you become, not only restored to God, but an heir of God, and joint-heir of Jesus Christ. When you as heir of God survey your restored inheritance, your countenance lights up with peace and restfulness in God. This is gladness in your heart. The joy of Christ in the soul is worth everything. It is Christ’s summer in the soul. “Then are they glad,” because they are privileged to be quiet and rest in the arms of everlasting love. [Psalm 107:30.] “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him.” [Psalm 37:7.] Through faith in Jesus Christ we are at one with the Father, “I in thee, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that thou has sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me.” [John 17:23.]

Now, in the place of talking over your questioning doubts, break away from them in the strength of Jesus Christ and glorify the Lord; and let light in your own soul by making your voice and lips express faith and confidence and trust in God. I know that the Lord is very nigh you to give you the victory. All I can say to you is, Be helped, be strengthened, be lifted up out of and away from the dark dungeon of unbelief. No dart can wound and bruise the soul like the sharp doubts of unbelief, and God is dishonored by any soul who shall belittle the power of God by talking unbelief. Doubts will rush into your mind, because Satan has held you so long in captivity to his cruel power. But face him with all the strength Jesus is willing to give you, and conquer the inclination to express unbelief in your precious Saviour.

It is not enough that you believe that He will save others, but that He saves you. There is not, there cannot be peace where there is a lost faith. Let us, you and me, pray for this removal of doubts; but pray in faith, that God does hear your prayer, that the Lord will do it, because He wants you to be saved. Repeat now, as often as you have repeated hitherto that the Lord will not save you, “I believe, help thou mine unbelief.” [Mark 9:24.] Do you believe the merciful Saviour gave no rest to the soul of the doubting Thomas? Bear in mind that Jesus is your Redeemer. Rest in Christ Jesus as you never rested in Him before.

In much love, praying the Lord to bless you.
By communion with God in nature, the mind is uplifted, and the heart finds rest.  {DA 291.1}

Marelis

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Re: Are You Tempted to be Discouraged?
« Reply #164 on: October 04, 2024, 02:14:25 AM »
What a wonderful timeless letter of encouragement.
"Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."  Ps 16:11

Richard Myers

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Re: Are You Tempted to be Discouraged?
« Reply #165 on: October 04, 2024, 05:33:57 AM »
Amen dear Sister. Good to see your post! Thankyou for sharing this letter. Somehow I missed it when Brother Jim posted it. Enjoy your Sabbath.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

JimB

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Re: Are You Tempted to be Discouraged?
« Reply #166 on: October 16, 2024, 05:42:56 AM »
Whatever your disposition may be, God is able so to mold it that it will be sweet and Christlike. By the exercise
of living faith you can separate from everything that is not in accordance with the mind of God, and thus bring
heaven into your life here below. Doing this, you will have sunshine at every step. When the enemy seeks to
enshroud the soul with darkness, sing faith and talk faith, and you will find that you have sung and talked
yourself into the light. {CT 233.3}

We open to ourselves the floodgates of woe or joy. If we permit our thoughts to be engrossed with the
troubles and trifles of earth, our hearts will be filled with unbelief, gloom, and foreboding. If we set our
affections on things above, the voice of Jesus will speak to our hearts, murmuring will cease, and vexing
thoughts will be lost in praise to our Redeemer. Those who dwell upon God's great mercies and are not
unmindful of His lesser gifts, will put on the girdle of gladness and make melody in their hearts to the Lord.
Then they will enjoy their work. They will stand firm at their post of duty. They will have a placid temper, a
trustful spirit. {CT 234.1}
By communion with God in nature, the mind is uplifted, and the heart finds rest.  {DA 291.1}

JimB

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Re: Are You Tempted to be Discouraged?
« Reply #167 on: October 22, 2024, 09:39:22 AM »
To love as Christ loved means to manifest unselfishness at all times and in all places, by kind words and pleasant
looks. These cost those who give them nothing, but they leave behind a fragrance that surrounds the soul. The
effect can never be estimated. Not only are they a blessing to the receiver, but to the giver; for they react upon
him. Genuine love is a precious attribute of heavenly origin, which increases in fragrance in proportion as it is
dispensed to others.{LYL 16.4}

Christ's love is deep and earnest, flowing like an irrepressible stream to all who will accept it. There is no
selfishness in His love. In this heaven-born love is an abiding principle in the heart, it will make itself known, not
only to those we hold most dear in sacred relationship, but to all with whom we come in contact. It will lead us
to bestow little acts of attention, to make concessions, to perform deeds of kindness, to speak tender, true,
encouraging words. It will lead us to sympathize with those whose hearts hunger for sympathy. {LYL 17.1}
By communion with God in nature, the mind is uplifted, and the heart finds rest.  {DA 291.1}

Richard Myers

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Re: Are You Tempted to be Discouraged?
« Reply #168 on: October 23, 2024, 07:22:03 AM »
Amen dear brother! 

It is our privilege to speak words that will encourage our associates and fellow laborers; it is not our privilege to speak works that will depress. It is not wise for us to compare ourselves with other workers, speaking of their failings, and raising objections to their methods of labor. It would be no surprise if those who are laboring under grave responsibilities, and who have many trials to meet, should sometimes make mistakes....  Ev 633.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

JimB

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Re: Are You Tempted to be Discouraged?
« Reply #169 on: November 07, 2024, 08:35:37 AM »
 God has made man capable of constant progress in everything that constitutes mental and moral dignity. No other creature of his hand is capable of such advancement. Man can reach an eminence in self-control and dignity that will raise him above the slavery of appetite and passion, where he can stand before God as a man, his name written in the books of heaven. CTBH 146.2

 Let the light of truth shine into the mind of a man, let the love of God be shed abroad in his heart, and we can hardly conceive what he may be or what God can do through him. Though a fallen son of Adam, he may, through the merits of Christ, be an heir of immortality, his thoughts elevated and ennobled, his heart purified, and his conversation in heaven. Think, O, think of the  superiority of an intelligent Christian man over a poor votary of sin! Note the difference between man blinded by sin, the victim of his own evil passions, and sunk in vice, and a man reclaimed by the truth of God's word, ennobled by looking to Jesus and believing in him, and becoming a partaker of the divine nature. CTBH 146.3 EGW Writings: https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p14.688&index=0

Let me say to him who is struggling to overcome, God presents before you a strong hope, that you may lay hold on eternal life. Lose no opportunity of becoming a man. When you look at yourself, and realize the strength of temptation, you feel so weak in moral power that you say, “I cannot resist.” I tell you, you can resist, you must resist temptation. Although you may have been overcome, although moral debasement may have marked your course, it need not always be thus. Jesus is your helper. In his strength you can overcome the beguiling power of appetite. Summon will-power to your aid. CTBH 147.2 EGW Writings: https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p14.693&index=0
By communion with God in nature, the mind is uplifted, and the heart finds rest.  {DA 291.1}