Overcoming Discouragement
Introduction
Moses returned to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have you brought trouble upon this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.”
Exodus 5:22,23 niv
Here in this passage, we find Moses discouraged, complaining to God.
It is important that we approach God with integrity in an attitude of humility. But because we fear making a negative confession, we sometimes cross the line of honesty into the line of denial and delusion.
Let’s be honest. God already knows what we are feeling.
He can handle our anger, complaints and disappointments. He understands us. He is aware of our human frailties
(Ps. 103:14) and can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities. (Heb. 4:15.)
Whether your “trouble” is a business failure, abandonment, depression, mental disorder, chemical imbalance, oppression, a marriage problem, a child who is in a strange land of drugs and alcohol, financial disaster or anything else, the following prayer is for you.
Sometimes when you are in the midst of discouragement it is difficult to remember that you have ever known any Scripture. I admonish you to read this prayer aloud until you recognize the reality of God’s Word in your spirit, soul and body. Remember, God is watching over His Word to perform it. (Jer. 1:12 amp.) He will perfect that which concerns you. (Ps. 138:8.)
Prayer
Lord, I do not understand why You have allowed this trouble to assail me. It was after I began to follow You in obedience that this trouble was manifested in my life. I have exhausted all my possibilities for changing my situation and circumstances and have found that I am powerless to change. I believe; help me overcome my unbelief. All things are not possible with man, but all things are possible with You. I humble myself before You, and You will lift me up.
I have a great High Priest Who has gone through the heavens: Jesus Your Son. And I hold firmly to the faith I profess. My High Priest is able to sympathize with my weaknesses. He was tempted in every way, just as I am — yet was without sin. I approach Your throne of grace with confidence, so that I may receive mercy and find grace to help me in my time of need.
In the face of discouragement, disappointment and anger, I choose to believe that Your word to Moses is Your word to me. You are mighty to deliver. Because of Your mighty hand, You will drive out the forces that have set themselves up against me. You are the Lord, Yahweh, the Promise-Keeper, the Almighty One. You appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob and established Your covenant with them.
Father, I believe that You have heard my groaning, my cries. I will live to see Your promises of deliverance fulfilled in my life. You have not forgotten one word of Your promise; You are a Covenant-Keeper.
It is You Who will bring me out from under the yoke of bondage and free me from being a slave to __________. You have redeemed me with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. You have taken me as Your own, and You are my God. You are a Father to me. You have delivered me from the past that has held me in bondage and translated me into the Kingdom of love, peace, joy and righteousness. I will no longer settle for the pain of the past. Where sin abounds, grace does much more abound.
Father, what You have promised, I will go and possess, in the name of Jesus. I am willing to take the chance, to take the risk, to get back into the good fight of faith. It is with patient endurance and steady and active persistence that I run the race, the appointed course that is set before me. I rebuke the spirit of fear, for I am established in righteousness. Oppression and destruction shall not come near me. Behold, they may gather together and stir up strife, but it is not from You, Father. Whoever stirs up strife against me shall fall and surrender to me. I am more than a conqueror through Him Who loves me.
In His name I pray, amen.
If you would like to continue to pray on this topic, Germaine suggests that you pray the Overcoming prayers in the Prayers for the Needs and Concerns of the Individual section to be found in the Prayers That Avail Much Commemorative Edition.
Scripture References:
Mark 9:24 niv Deuteronomy 26:8
Luke 18:27 Colossians 1:13
1 Peter 5:6 niv Romans 5:20
Hebrews 4:14-16 niv 1 Timothy 6:12
Exodus 6:3,4 amp Hebrews 12:1 amp
Genesis 49:22-26 amp Isaiah 54:14-16
1 Kings 8:56 Romans 8:37
Exodus 5:22-23 Exodus 6:1-11
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