You're not good enough.
Your kids aren't well behaved.
Your words are worthless, you're blog will never be read.
You don't amount to much.
Nobody needs you.
Nobody has time for you.
You're not very smart.
Have you ever heard these words, whether verbally or internally? These are words from the enemy. They are dream stealers, life deflaters, hope hijackers. There is so much discouragement in this world, so much that runs through our minds, and much that the enemy is ready to throw into our face. It's not just these kinds of dialogues that can throw us off our faith-walk, but even every day circumstances. A parent is hospitalized, a child is going through social issues at school, a spouse needs to have surgery, the car needs to be repaired. It can be overwhelming. This is what God promises for those days of discouragement:
"When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him." Isaiah 59:19b (KJV)
The word standard in this verse is translated from the original Hebrew as "put to flight, to drive hastily, to cause to disappear, hide". The standard that God will raise against our enemy is to drive him out, and cause him to disappear or hide. I don't know about you, but that gives me hope. The discouragement that tries to wage war with our hope, our faith in Him, has no ground to stand on.
Don't let your hope get hijacked by a passing thought that you are not good enough, or that you aren't worth much, or any other lie. Instead, feast on what God's word says about you. You are a child of the Most High God! (1John 3:1) His word says He thinks about you. (Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 139:17, Psalm 40:5). He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7) He loves you with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3) He will finish what He's started in you. (Philippians 1:6, 1Thessalonians 5:24). Find your promises in Him, find your worth in Him. Your life will change, I promise. As those doubts and thoughts try to creep in, you can draw on your reservoir of hope through the faith that you have built up in Him.
Father, I lift up every person going through discouragement and disappointment today. We will bless you, Lord, with every thought and purpose our hearts to know you more. We lay down our burdens at your feet, Lord Jesus, and choose to release all the wrongs done toward us, all the frustrations we've brought upon ourselves and give it all over to you. We choose today to think on things that are true, worthy, honorable, just, pure, lovely and kind. Whatever has virtue and excellence, Father, we will think on these things because they do not go against what you think of us. I praise you and thank you for your goodness and mercy that continually follow us! In Jesus' Name, Amen!
