Do you know of someone who used to be on fire for the things of God, but is no longer living that way? There are many different things that the enemy will use, if they let him, to try to discourage believers from fulfilling the God-given plan for their lives. Sometimes it is simply impatience! They don't "see" the results they think they should have as quickly as they think they should see them and they give up and quit. Sometimes it is simply discouragement and frustration with the nature of the flesh that all people, believers and unbelievers, have to deal with! They may think like Paul in Romans 7:24 when he said that he sometimes did things he knew he shouldn't do and sometimes didn't do the things he should do. If so, they should continue to verses 24-25:
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. KJV
We will NEVER be perfect while we are living on this earth! THAT will only happen when we see Jesus face to face! Look at 1 John 3:2:
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. KJV
THEN we will be like Him! Not until! So don't get down on yourself and don't allow other believers to be discouraged! Make use of 1 John 1:9 and pick yourself up again! We are to build ourselves up and encourage each other! One thing that you can encourage other believers with is found in today's Bible Reading Plan! Romans 11:29 says this:
29 For God's gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.]
God will NOT take back the calling and anointing on our lives. In fact, God has had HIS plan for our lives from before we were ever born! Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that these plans are GOOD!
11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. AMP
So be encouraged to never give up or give in to the devil's badgering and lies, and encourage others also! We are IN the last of the last days and this is NO time to quit! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "God Who Saves" because He DOES, continually, when we call on Him!
Shalom in Him!
