Video Bible Lesson - The Trap of Discouragement by Dr. Charles Stanley

1/2 Hour of God’s Power with Scott Ralls

7/25/2020

The Trap of Discouragement

by Dr. Charles Stanley

Habakkuk 1:2
Do you feel stuck in discouragement? If so, you are not alone.
At some point everyone experiences dashed hopes. Disappointment—an emotional response to a failed expectation—is the normal initial reaction. But allowed to linger, it can turn into discouragement, which hovers like a dense cloud. When that’s the case, there is no sense of joy or contentment, no matter what you do.
The circumstances that trigger these emotions may be unavoidable, but the way we respond is a choice. We can either let sadness overwhelm our souls or face the situation with courage and bring it before the One who can help us.
Living in discouragement will divide the mind, making it hard to focus on anything besides our pain. Then as anger becomes habitual, we’ll look for someone to blame—whether God, people around us, or ourself.
Frustration that isn’t handled well may develop into depression, which in turn can estrange us from others—people do not enjoy the company of someone who’s bitter and defeated. This isolation leads to a low self-esteem. Finally, in a fog of discouragement, we can make poor decisions based on crushed emotions instead of truth. Obviously, choosing this self-destructive path is not God’s best for our lives.
Though we’ll all face disappointment from time to time, believers are not to wallow in it. Instead, God wants us to trust Him with everything—even our unmet expectations and deepest sadnesses. Remember, there is divine purpose for everything He allows to touch His children’s lives (Rom. 8:28).

#Jesus, #Christian, #Bible, #Salvation, #Heaven, #God, #HolySpirit

Streams in the Desert

Streams in the Desert

What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter (John 13:7).

We have only a partial view here of God's dealings, His half-completed, half-developed plan; but all will stand out in fair and graceful proportions in the great finished Temple of Eternity!

Go, in the reign of Israel's greatest king, to the heights of Lebanon. See that noble cedar, the pride of its compeers, an old wrestler with northern blasts! Summer loves to smile upon it, night spangles its feathery foliage with dewdrops, the birds nestle on its branches, the weary pilgrim or wandering shepherd reposes under its shadows from the midday heat or from the furious storm; but all at once it is marked out to fall; The aged denizen of the forest is doomed to succumb to the woodman's stroke!

As we see the axe making its first gash on its gnarled trunk, then the noble limbs stripped of their branches, and at last the "Tree of God," as was its distinctive epithet, coming with a crash to the ground, we exclaim against the wanton destruction, the demolition of this proud pillar in the temple of nature. We are tempted to cry with the prophet, as if inviting the sympathy of every lowlier stem--invoking inanimate things to resent the affront--"Howl, fir tree; for the cedar has fallen!"

But wait a little. Follow that gigantic trunk as the workmen of Hiram launch it down the mountain side; thence conveyed in rafts along the blue waters of the Mediterranean; and last of all, behold it set a glorious polished beam in the Temple of God. As you see its destination, placed in the very Holy of Holies, in the diadem of the Great King--say, can you grudge that "the crown of Lebanon" was despoiled, in order that this jewel might have so noble a setting? That cedar stood as a stately prop in Nature's sanctuary, but "the glory of the latter house was greater than the glory of the former!"

How many of our souls are like these cedars of old! God's axes of trial have stripped and bared them. We see no reason for dealings so dark and mysterious, but He has a noble end and object in view; to set them as everlasting pillars and rafters in His Heavenly Zion; to make them a "crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of our God."
--Macduff

I do not ask my cross to understand,
My way to see--
Better in darkness just to feel Thy hand,
And follow Thee.

God Uses the Wicked.....Dr. Charles Stanley

God Uses the Wicked

Dr. Charles Stanley

Genesis 37

When we don't understand what God is doing or why, His ways can seem perplexing. The times when ungodly people seem to triumph over the righteous make us scratch our heads and wonder why the Lord doesn't intervene. But the truth is, He often uses the wicked to accomplish His purpose.

Joseph faced one hard-hearted individual after another during his years in exile. His brothers shipped him off to Egypt. His boss's wife accused him of an unspeakable crime. And even those he helped, like Pharaoh's cupbearer, forgot about him (Gen. 40:23). The actions (or seeming inactions) of God make little sense at this point.

But once the story of Joseph's life was written in full, it was clear that everyone who harmed or neglected the young man contributed to God's plan. The Lord used numerous people across several years to bring a humbled young Hebrew unexpectedly to power at the right moment to spare his family--who were the Messiah's ancestors--from the effects of famine.

In our circumstances, we can see God's actions only from the limited vantage point of our humanness. We experience the events He has allowed or caused but can't discern what He is thinking. Often the Lord's goals and purposes are hidden from us until His plans come to fruition.

God is sovereign over all the earth. We may wonder at the strange or even terrifying turns our lives take, but we can be certain that He is in control and at work. The wicked may triumph for a season, but the final, eternal victory belongs to Christ and His righteous followers.

Look What I Did!

Look What I Did!
by Laura MacCorkle

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:10, NIV

“So . . . have we talked about me, yet?”

Several years ago, my good friend Jeremy and I would always kid each other with that question during our conversations. It was said after one of us realized we were talking way too much about ourselves, about our accomplishments or about anything that we wanted the other to know so he or she could give up some props and praise.

It was said in jest, but also with an ounce of truth. For we really were so self-focused that the other would periodically enter into the “conversation coma” while listening. You know . . . the whole eyes glazed over, occasional nodding of the head and maybe an “uh huh” every now and then type of thing.

I have gotten that a lot with my friends over the years. But I used to just think, Well, I’m just very verbal and like to over-describe things and tell really good stories . . . so that must be why people can’t stay focused on what I’m talking about. Right.

Several times recently, the Holy Spirit has checked me on that interpretation. In one instance, I was sharing with a small group about my “ministry” of reaching out to back-burner Christians. I think if I had just simply said that I feel like the Lord surrounds me with these people and has allowed me to speak into their lives and that’s all, then that would have been fine.

But ohhhhh no. I had to go on and on and list example after example of how I had “helped” and “ministered” and said exactly the right words to help a brother or sister see his or her bad life decisions, so that they would get back on track with the Lord.

I didn’t realize what kind of a peacock moment this was was until later on. I’ve also noticed that I tend to be less than humble when it comes to sharing about my acts of service. I won’t fall into my own trap and list them all out right here and now, but I sure would love to. Why? Because I want the praise. I want the recognition. I want to feel like Sally Field at the Oscars and know that “You like me . . . you really like me.”

And that’s where I get it all wrong. The Bible says that the Lord is the one who is supposed to lift us up. Not us.

“This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word” (Isa. 66:2b, NIV).

Even if no one ever found out what my “good deeds” were or how I prayed for this person or how I gave financially here and there, I should still be satisfied in knowing that God knows. Because everything I do should be for his glory and not my own. It’s a tough pill to swallow for someone who enjoys running her own fan club. But Jesus tells us to live counter to our culture and to our fleshly desires.

Let us encourage ourselves—and one another—to seek humility and look to what HE is doing in our lives!

Intersecting Faith & Life: Think about an upcoming good deed that you are planning. Tell no one what you are going to do or afterward what you’ve done. The Lord knows, you will have glorified him, and he will be pleased. That’s all that matters.

Further Reading:

Matt. 6:1-4, NIV
Matt. 23:12, NIV

A Skip-Over Verse in 1 Thessalonians

A Skip-Over Verse in 1 Thessalonians
By Laura MacCorkle

Today's verse is one that I like to skip over in my Bible, even though it's highlighted. And underlined. And on a page that's dog-eared.

You see, whenever I read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, I can't help but think: Really? Be joyful ALWAYS? And how am I supposed to pray CONTINUALLY? And give thanks in ALL circumstances? Who can do all of THAT?

I'm sure you probably have a verse or two that you really don't like to read or mull over either. But,conveniently, God has ordained it so that I've had many opportunities to put my skip-over verse into action just this past week ...

• When I said "hello ... how are you doing?" in passing to an acquaintance and was greeted with a cold "hello" and a sharp "I'm fine" in response. Ouch. Where's the joy here? What did I do to deserve that kind of treatment? Why doesn't this person like me?
• When funny, but certainly unkind, words flew out of my mouth at the expense of someone else and his feelings. Why, oh WHY, did I do that just so I could make fun of them? And feel better about myself? Obviously, I was not praying while saying.
• When a friend's van, in which she had just pumped a couple thousand dollars for repairs a few weeks earlier was pronounced "dead" by mechanics. How could anyone be joyful in this type of circumstance? I want to greet these mechanics with a "holy punch" on her behalf. Argh!
• When people are difficult just to be difficult and disagree with every factoid or opinion you might share. You say black. They say white. You say gray. They say plaid. Ugh! Am I supposed to be thankful for this? Isn't there some other way I can learn humility? 'Cause I'd be ever so grateful if it was a different circumstance, Lord.

This is a hard pill to swallow, folks. At least for me it is. Sure, it's easy to be joyful, praying continually and giving thanks in all things when life is going great, when everyone is your best friend and when the blessings (usually material) are just raining on down.

But what about when you've had a week like I just did? How are you supposed to live like this?

I can do everything through him who gives me strength (Phil. 4:13).

That's the key. God, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, is the one who powers me and helps me to live in this way. And this is the kind of living that God wants for his children. It is his will for us, not our own. And it is that which is pleasing to him.

Please don't skip over 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 like I have a habit of doing. Let it cause you to pause and take some time to assess your current attitude. What is it-or who is it-that's got you not joyful, not praying and not giving thanks? Ask the Lord to soften your heart and change your attitude. He doesn't want to skip over you. And if you are willing, through YOU he can work wonders!

A Prayer for When Plans Change

A Prayer for When Plans Change
By: Alisha Headley

“There are many plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” - Proverbs 19:21

Have you expected your life to go one way and then something happens that throws you off from your plan? Perhaps it was the career path you thought you were heading toward, yet you have found yourself in something completely different than you first set your heart on. Maybe you thought by the time you were 30-years-old, you would be married with a child on the way. You thought things were supposed to happen according to your plan, but the reality you are living in is nothing of the sort.

I’ve had many detours in my life, the most recent being when I lost my job in a career I loved. It was definitely by God’s design in the end, but this was a change of plan I didn’t ask for nor was it on my timing.

I had to walk through the idea that my plans had changed and remind myself that it’s “the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

The thing is, we need detours and plans to change. It is through the detours God always takes us to where we’re supposed to go in the long run. It’s ok if it doesn’t look the way we thought it was going to look, because thankfully, God knows the bigger plan.

God is God. Oftentimes a detour may be His way of getting you to look at Him and fulfill His purpose.

God sees the whole picture.

Your whole story.

Your entire future.

His purpose prevails.

You can trust in Him, even when your plan derails off your track, because He is good, in control, and His plans are always greater than our plans.

Rest in the assurance that you can trust the One who knows what’s ahead.

Dear Lord,

We love you. We thank you that no detour or change of plans is out of your sight. Thank you that you have our life in the palms of your hands, and your purpose is for your glory. Thank you that even though we don’t understand the change of plans we see in front of us, that we can trust in you and your provision over us. We trust that you have plans to prosper us and not to harm us.

Lord, we ask that you help us trust you more. Remind us that you are good even when good isn’t showing up according to our plan. Forgive us for doubting you, for worrying, and for trying so hard to work together our plans on our own. We thank you in advance for positioning us for your purpose, for carving out pathways and detours so we can step into your mighty plan to help advance your Kingdom.

We choose to believe that you are able to accomplish far more, do far greater, than we ever thought possible. You are a good Father who has a good plan and purpose laid out before us. We lean on you for your guidance and direction.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen