Disappointed and Discouraged

Have you ever been disappointed and discouraged?  Life seems to throw us a curve now and then, so to speak.  Things happen that are completely out of our control.  Sometimes things take place that we didn’t see coming. Life is very unpredictable and it seems like storms are always on the horizon and can devastate our lives in a moment.  Sometimes these things show up as tragedies, sometimes sicknesses or even death, family problems or expectations not being met.  There are so many situations and circumstances that can be used as instruments by the evil one to discourage us and keep us from being effective in our Christian walk.  

Many of these things can cause us to develop a very negative spirit.  Then, if we are not careful, we start seeing everything through negative lenses and our whole demeanor is affected, and instead of being loving, kind, compassionate and caring, we become critical, judgmental cynical and snobbish, finding ourselves out of fellowship unless we find others that are just like us.  Deception is a powerful tool the enemy uses to keep people bound while they do his bidding and not even realize it.  If all people do is nitpick about everything, they will get so preoccupied with trying to find something to complain about that they will miss out on all the good, positive things that go on around them every day.  It is also easy for these people to get caught up in the ‘why me’ syndrome.  

Many things have been changed for the good by people that are positive thinkers, those that always hope for the best and look for the best in people.  These people have accomplished many positive things because they believe that all things are possible.  This Tidbit is speaking to me also as many others have, I try to be a positive person but I have fallen into negativity more times than I like to recall.  I think most believers or unbelievers alike have fallen into this category at times.  There are many people that fall into this trap and never seem to escape it and get set free.  I know that we are not going to like, or even agree with, everything that goes on in our lives, jobs, families or even our churches, but if we are believers we can, and should, have a more positive attitude about things.  Think about this, do you like to be around negative people, having to always listen to their complaints?  I don’t think so.  If you hang around with people like that, you may become just like them, so be careful.  

If you are a believer and this Tidbit is speaking to you, you can be set free and delivered.  Thank the Lord for revealing this problem to you and ask Him to set you free.  Acknowledge your sin, confess it to the Lord and repent for the bad attitude that you have had and the affect that it has had on other people and ask the Lord to give you a whole new perspective on positive thinking.  Then go forth in victory and freedom, rejoicing, knowing that God forgives us when we repent, praise the Lord!  We are all a work in progress and God our Father loves us.  

This morning, I have been thinking about how everyone that came to Jesus for healing or deliverance never walked away disappointed, praise the Lord, and we need not walk away disappointed either.  Think about Paul, he saw, heard and experienced so many things that he could have been negative about, but he kept his eyes and mind on Jesus, the author and finisher of his faith, and trusted Him to right whatever wrongs that were committed against him.  Paul made people aware of their sins and iniquities in and out of the church if he had to, never neglecting his calling, but he didn’t let these things affect him negatively.  Paul had a positive attitude, and also a strong faith, always looking to take advantage of every circumstance he found himself in so he could, in some way, further God’s kingdom on the earth.  Paul’s plan wasn’t to go through life unscathed, but to go through life victoriously.  

We can all benefit from studying Paul’s life and his attitude under very stressful situations.  I guess I don’t have to mention Jesus who was the perfect example when in stressful situations.  I don’t believe he ever had a negative attitude, although He suffered many painful experiences.  Something to think about, have a super day and may the good Lord bless you and yours!!