FASTING — A Bible Course Lesson
These are some simple things you can do for yourself — that is what makes them so effective — they are simple! Try these actions and principals the next time you are starting to get tempted, depressed, discouraged, frustrated or besieged with evil thoughts. I am sure you will find them to be of great help. I wanted to share them with you.]
Now, on to the rest of the main article!
Mountains we Face
Another major cause for discouragement of some people is when goals and tasks seem too big, awesome and overwhelming, even virtually impossible to reach.
These people become frightened with the complexities of life and wonder if they can make the grade. It seems there is so much to do, so many problems to overcome, so many bad habits to break, so much knowledge to learn that there's not enough time to do it all. The Kingdom itself seems so ethereal and far away, that its future reality is hard to grasp in everyday life.
It's like trying to scale a rugged mountain which towers into the sky. The climber sees himself, weak and small, at its base. His goal is to reach the top — but the summit is high and far away. The footing is unsure — not to mention unseen obstacles along the way. The journey is threatening — foreboding.
On the spiritual plane, people look at their shortcomings with misgivings and doubts. They see in their mind's eye the giant goal God has placed before them — that of becoming sons of God in His Kingdom. One of Satan's devices is to negatively use this great goal to cause doubt and apprehension in our minds — the "climb" is too steep, or the "path" is too rough. The tendency is to give up and quit before one even starts.
But such individuals, who decide to "stay on level ground," hoping that that will solve their problems, have failed already by exerting no effort and standing still.
The key lies in the meaning of faith and courage. When one steps forward and faces all obstacles, he learns a great lesson: Not only does he advance, but accomplishment is easier than he thought.
Failure to Grow
While some people become fearful at the enormity of their goals and responsibilities, there are countless scores of others who get depressed because they have planned no goals at all. They are lazily drifting along, whiling away their lives. They are like a ship at sea, jostled by the waves with no ports in sight.
Deep inside such people is a lingering, nagging frustration. They're downcast and miserable because they are accomplishing nothing worthwhile.
The reason for this type of discouragement: God created in man a desire to grow, a desire to achieve, a desire to succeed. Growth is the principle that governs life. It's a principle that you see manifested in all of creation. From the sprouting of a seed, to the birth of a child, all life starts small but grows through many stages of development until it reaches maturity. Life is an active, ongoing process — forever reaching higher levels of growth and usefulness. Just to observe the world around us will prove that God who created and sustains all things is a creating, progressing, and dynamic God.
And the Creator placed within man the same creative desires to grow and achieve!
Whenever anyone fails to grow in character and develop his life, he experiences a deep sense of emptiness, futility, and failure.
How vital it is then to embark on a program of setting positive goals in order to grow and be happy, and to lead a rich and productive life.
Goal Attainment Each Day
We need to think on a daily basis of reaching our goals. This will prevent us from being overwhelmed with the "bigness" of our tasks and reduce them to steps we can easily manage. By approaching our goals one step at a time, we will grow in courage and confidence.
Success breeds success. One step leads to another until finally our goals are reached. The joy and pleasure that comes from succeeding will serve as a stimulus to push us forward.
The most rational way to move a mountain size task is simply to shovel it away one scoopful at a time. It may be a huge mountain that will require a lot of scoopfuls and many hours of diligent effort, but each shovelful will bring us that much closer to success.
The key is to begin. You have to start before you can finish — and be determined to follow through to the end.
Remember, it's standing still — failing to grow — that causes discouragement.
Once you start moving toward your goals, you will lay down a track record of success. As you continue to progress even if only a step or two at a time, you will gain confidence and self-respect. Thus with a success pattern firmly established, you will eventually achieve a full and satisfying life.
You will no doubt meet hardships and obstacles on your journey. But those who are positively determined will look on obstacles as challenges or opportunities — not as roadblocks that stop them cold. They become bolder, wiser and stronger with each new "challenge" or "opportunity."
Take a step forward with renewed determination, and before you know it, you will have reached your glorious quest.
Success Comes through Persistent Effort
Once we have firmly established our goals (and only we can determine which are important to us) we must set sail in their direction. This calls for one hundred percent commitment, hard work, raw determination and persistent effort. Only those who start the journey and keep sailing onward will ever reach their destination!
Most people have good intentions and resolve to go all out. But when they meet with unexpected problems, they get discouraged and quit.
Thus they fail! They stop trying! A little more push, a higher reach, a stronger and more powerful self command would likely have made the difference between failure and success.
Either they feel incapable of bearing the pain from exerting effort or they lose confidence in their abilities to forge ahead. The result? They slip backward into a lifestyle that seems more comfortable and less demanding.
But such backsliding brings a penalty — a penalty of deep depression and doubt. The innate desire God placed in them for growth and development has been stifled. The curse of failure becomes evident and takes its toll in forms of guilt, despondency, and varying degrees of self contempt.
Clearly the only sure cure to master discouragement is to establish meaningful goals and grow daily toward their fulfillment.
True Success through Christ
However, in the final analysis the secret of success lies in the power and might of Jesus Christ. We have our part to play, and much is required — but we can only go so far. If we are to accomplish goals that bring lasting success, we must be spiritually united to Christ. This is a vital key!
Jesus said, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me... for without me, ye can do nothing" (John 15:4-5). "For in him we live, and move, and have our being " (Acts 17: 28). "But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth" (Deut. 8:1 8). And again, "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us..."(Eph. 3:20).
These scriptures clearly prove that human strength alone is insufficient — the power of God is vitally needed.
What does God's Spirit do? It enlightens our minds, opens our understanding, empowers our wills and imparts the courage and motivation to press forward. God's Spirit is an added force or energy, just like the flow of electricity that infuses new life.
Here lies another great pitfall of discouragement. The influences of the Devil and the trials of life can undermine our efforts and desires. But God helps us to circumvent these influences and trials through imparting to us the power of His mighty Spirit. With this new energy which God's Spirit gives, "all things are possible." God will see us through any problem or circumstance as we continue our journey, if we will only believe Him and act on what He says in His Word!
Sin Produces Failure
Sin is a force that produces discouragement because it breaks our contact with God and the flow of His Spirit.
Remember, God is the source of our strength and He imparts to us the confidence and power to accomplish our goals — that is, the vision, the courage, and inspiration to move ahead in spite of all odds. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13). "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil. 4:13).
Walking with God then in a spirit of willing obedience produces success. But when we sin and break His laws, we cut ourselves off from His power. "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear" (Isa. 59:2).
Thus sin not only blocks the flow of God's Spirit (His life and energy in us) which is vital to our success, but it also creates negative attitudes that bring failure. When we sin, we condemn ourselves and fall prey to depressed moods and syndromes of guilt. Subsequently we lose interest in our goals and direct our energies to other pursuits. Instead of repenting and getting our lives in harmony with God, we run away, hide, and escape to deaden the pain of guilt.
Clearly then sin produces failure, inflicts guilt and destroys our purpose for living. Growth, which is essential to life, has been interrupted.
If we are discouraged we would be wise to see if sin has entered and broken our relationship with God.
Sin makes us Negative
A subsequent problem which sin causes is that it transforms one into a negative and critical person. This condition naturally follows when the growth principle has been violated.
The subconscious realization that one is sinning, and hence is cut off from God, leads to self-criticism and self disrespect. When we are unhappy with ourselves, we tend to react negatively and critically toward others. Instead of correcting mistakes, we tend to blame others for our problems in life.
On the other hand, when we are growing and overcoming we are genuinely happy and reflect a positive outlook. We tend to express an outward concern for others, and attract many friends. We become a real inspiration to be around.
What is your overall bent toward life — negative or positive? Be honest with yourself. For there is no way you can experience total fulfillment unless you are walking with God and are rooting sin out of your life.
Summary
We have looked at the hidden causes of discouragement. To overcome them we must remember that God created in man a desire to achieve, grow, and succeed. To fulfill this desire we must set goals. The Spirit of God will help us determine what they should be. Goal attainment must be brought into each day and is a step-by-step process. Success is attained through "bite size" accomplishments. We will discover that the daily steps of progress — no matter how small — will give us joy and confidence because they bring us closer to success.
Success comes through diligent effort — there is no genuine achievement without it. Just one more push, a higher reach, a second effort may make the difference between success and failure.
The overall achievement of a successful life can be compared to weaving a beautiful tapestry. The final product is made up of many little fibers. Each thread may not seem that important but when all are put together, they form a beautiful masterpiece.
The Spirit of God blends everything together for the right result. As God works in us and unites us with His mind — we cannot help but be successful. It's guaranteed.
This then is the SECRET to overcoming!
