Discouragement – the fact, state or feeling of being discouraged

Discourage – to deprive of courage, make less confident or hopeful, dishearten; to advise or persuade (a person) to refrain; to prevent or try to prevent by disapproving or raising objections or obstacles.

We all go through discouragement from time to time. We can easily be over taken by the spirit of discouragement; it can seem overwhelming and that there is no way out. However, we serve a God that is mightier than discouragement.

When we are going through discouraging times, there are some things that we can do to help lift the weight.

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” – 1st Timothy 4:1-2

How often do we get caught up in the things, the people, the places, the gossip or maybe our own lives? The bible says there are seducing spirits and that means everywhere we go which is to say that we have to gird our minds, strengthen our hearts and be prepared for anything.  Ask yourself the question:  Are you so distracted that you’ve forgotten God? Step back to examine your life: where are you?  It would be easy to say “God doesn’t expect me to do this…or I shouldn’t have to…”  But does he?

If you’ve been drawn away, or maybe you’re struggling then we need to go before God where we know our needs will be met!  If we don’t go before God then spiritually we will die.

“…I fear, lest by any means as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” – 2nd Corinthians 11:2

The attitude of prayer,

    Humility, respect, love, praise, meekness...these are all just some of the things that make up the attitude we should have when going before God in prayer.  Obviously we can't just go to God and say, "Okay God so here's your to-do list for today so get busy please."  It does not work that way.  First of all, think about whom we're talking to here; we’re talking to the one true GOD, the creator of all things, the all-seeing eye, and the forgiver of sins!  I think anyone who recognizes that, and are in their right mind, would not be handing out a to-do list.  Humility and meekness will not produce such a thing.  In Matthew 6: 9-13 God gives his disciples an example of the attitude we should have in going to prayer. 
Mat 6:9  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Mat 6:10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Mat 6:11  Give us this day our daily bread.
Mat 6:12  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Mat 6:13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Conditions for Successful Prayer

Humility is a necessity in order for our prayers to be heard and answered.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

We need to come to God with our whole heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Faith needs to be the motivating force of our prayer.

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

We need to be clear before God for our prayers to reach him.

Matthew 5:23-24 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

It is essential that we go to God with the proper adoration and respect.

Luke 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

Each of these conditions must be met for God to move in his way, which is always for the best.

We need to keep our connection with God.
One important point in our prayer life is meditation. Prayer isn't always a set time and place - it goes on throughout the day. Prayer is a way of reaching out. Our meditation throughout the day is important. When you come to the end of your day, have you only thought about yourself?

- Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

It's hard to pray when we have a negative focus and you aren't always going to have "time" to pray. So when the opportunity presents itself, pray!

- Matthew 6:5
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Remove yourself from the obstacles around you. Turn off the noise!
We need to be mindful of the needs expressed around us.

Don't get caught up in gossip! It will hinder your prayer life! Have respect for your brothers/sisters in Christ - even if they misuse you. Always assume the best - even if they display something else.

Faithful in our stewardship

God expects us to be faithful in our stewardship.

Steward – a person put in charge of the affairs of a large household or estate, one who acts as a supervisor or administrator

Being a good steward doesn’t imply riches but being faithful with everything God has given you charge of.

Luke 16:10-12  He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

Have you ever wondered what life would be like without discipline?  It would be quite different.  Think about it...there would be no rules, no laws, no common form of doing anything. People would be doing whatever they felt like doing whether it be good or bad, and I think with all the greed and selfishness in the world it would be mostly bad.  I don't know how long humanity would last, Without discipline it would be a disaster.

I think it would be safe to say..that a world without any form of discipline whatsoever..could not survive.  Wouldn't you say that you are thankful for discipline?  I know that I am!

Acts 10:20
Peter teaches us that being steadfast in the things of God include presenting our lives with confidence, and setting priorities when faced with spiritual challenges. Being a modern, resourcful christian in todays society rests heavily on the need to set aside our obstacles , in the quest to remain steadfast and focused on our goals.

What better example than Jesus himself, who has shown us that being steadfast means having an understanding that the christian walk excludes looking back on our path already walked, and embodies the hunger to reach for what is before us. (Philipeans 3:13)
Going through a motion of church or outreach has less impact on a community than a body that practices being steadfast together, and in their personal lives. Lets always have something to work towards and have the confidence to set aside our fears and obstacles to remain faithful to God, as he is to us.

John 13:15-17

Christ has left us a perfect example to follow. His greatest desire was to do His Father's will. We as humans love to set goals for ourselves and make plans for our lives. But sometimes we need to take a step back and ask the question, "Is what I'm doing the Will of the Father?"

If we feel discouraged, we should check ourselves and find whether there is anything that God has asked us to do that we haven't been doing. Discouragement will come if we aren't living up to the example Christ set us.

JOhn 5:30
Jesus was on this earth to do God's will. He knew He had a limited amount of time on earth; thus, He must have dwelt on His Father's will often. We often think that we live in the worst times and circumstances that have ever been - but things were terrible in Jesus' day also. In fact, things could even have been worse than today. People were openly persecuted and killed for their faith. As for doctrines and ideas of man, Jesus had to deal with them all. He lived in a world of people with strong religious ideas who firmly believed that what they had been taught was truth. Jesus wanted to show the world who God was. If we want to do the will of the Father, we must desire to show Him also.