*Disappointment in the choices we’ve made, or things that have happened in our life by chance, can cause these feelings to take root in our heart. However, we can renew our hope if we trust in God & cast our cares upon him.(1 Pet. 5:7)
*All that Job had was destroyed, and he was afflicted in his body with sore boils.>
My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope. Job 7:6
*The disciples were troubled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; (2 Cor. 4:8,9)
*How did they endure all this? >
Rom. 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
1 Thess. 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
16 Rejoice evermore. (at all times to come)
17 Pray without ceasing.(keep praying no matter what)
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Ps. 71:14 But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.
Jude 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Eph. 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Phil. 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. *This is very important; our thoughts have control over our well-being. If we start our day with negative thoughts, we are already defeated & we can’t expect to feel peace.
Ps. 16:11…in thy presence is fulness of joy. *If we will pray in the spirit, draw nigh to Him, get in His presence, He will comfort us.>
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Matt. 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
*The four D’s are emotions that every Christian is tempted with at some time in their walk with Christ. Sometimes we might question, "Why am I feeling this way if I am a child of God and he is pleased with me?" However, we must realize that when we are pleasing to God, that makes Satan very angry, and he will try to hit us with whatever he can to take our victory. He doesn’t care whether we sin or not, he just wants to destroy our faith in whatever way he can! So, if he can make us feel down and depressed, then our faith wavers, we are busy dealing with our feelings, and that causes distance between us and God, because God doesn’t dwell in places of defeat. When we are feeling any of the four D’s, we are driven by those feelings; we don’t feel victorious, we don’t feel like praying or praising God, we mostly just feel confused and sorry for ourselves. How do we overcome the four D’s? The scriptures above teach us that God is the ‘God of hope’ and we can be filled with all joy and peace, abounding in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. We must have the Spirit of God dwelling in us, and it can’t be dormant; we must use the Holy Ghost, by allowing it to work in us. We can encourage ourselves in the Word, encourage others, pray, sing, praise and worship. It’s important to continue in all these spiritual things, even when we don’t feel it! In being persistent in victorious behavior, we will eventually prevail, because God will honor our faith, and by our perseverance we show God our trust is in him.
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