Be Encouraged

"I have always noticed that when God has purposes of blessing for

some should the devil of discouragement, who is one of Satan's

most useful servants, is sure to come and whisper all sorts of sorrowful,

depressing, miserable thoughts.He drops these thoughts about,

sometimes in one heart and sometimes in another. If they take root and grow

into feelings and words and deeds, he knows that a great deal has been

done to hinder what our God intends to do.

Do not forget that discouragement is always from beneath; encouragement

is always from above; God is the God of Encouragement.

~ Amy Carmichael

The Edges of His Ways

How often when you have become discouraged by "sorrowful, depressing, or miserable thoughts" have you discovered that the root of it is Satan? Often times I have grown very discouraged with who I am and what I have done. I get so down that all I can think is "Poor me!" Wait. Poor me? I rewind. Poor me? No, blessed am I! Blessed beyond measure.

Satan tries to pull blinders over our eyes and take our focus from God and turn it onto ourselves. Here is my comeback line:

"Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD you God and Him only you shall serve'" (Matthew 4:10).

Don't believe the lie. You are precious in the eyes of your Heavenly Father for you were bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:20) when Jesus died on the cross for the sins of man, the ultimate sacrifice (Hebrews 9:14).