Recently, a dear sister in Christ posted a comment in "Coffee Talk", an open forum at GracePlace (www.womenofgraceplace.com).  In it, she expressed the fact that she was feeling discouraged about a number of things. Several women of grace immediately responded. I was one of them.  I wanted to comment on the way the evil one uses discouragement as a tactic against us, the power of praise in the face of discouragement, and the use of Scripture as a weapon against the darkness of the enemy.

One of my collegues suggested that my comments would make a good blog. Taking her advice, I am offering it to you here slightly modified and with an invitation to join us at GracePlace where you can "Get Renewed and Connected Everyday!"

Let's begin with the power of praise.

Praise:  In Full of Grace I talk about the need to praise God because He is God and deserves our praise. BUT, being a God who loves us, He commands us to praise Him because He knows the benefits we receive through praising. First, Scripture tells us that God inhabits the praises of His people. Our praise of Him is like a calling card that draws Him to us. He delights in our praises and "sits upon them" as Scripture says. And, when God is for us, who can be against us, asks St. Paul. Second, praise raises our hearts and minds above the situation. It helps to put things back into proper perspective. It takes our eyes off of ourselves and the misery of our condition and places them on the One Who can resolve our condition. This is transforming. Third, praising God elevates the emotions and actually makes us happier -- our biology was meant to praise and our biochemistry responds -- good hormones are released and our mood is elevated (laughter does the same thing). Fourth, our praising is not a guarantee that the situation will change. But it is a guarantee that we will change through the praising. We will discover that nothing is impossible with God even joy in the midst of travail and tribulation. And this gives us encouragement when we are confronted in the future with an unpleasant moment or serious situation.

Use of Scripture Against the Enemy: This was Jesus' method of dealing with the temptations of the devil when He was praying and fasting in the desert. And it is the best one to use. The enemy desires to thwart our efforts, to lead us into despair, to cause us to be down-trodden and depleted, to distract us and cause us dismay. Memorize some good one-liners that you can use in these moments. They remind you of the power that is yours through Christ Jesus and it releases us from the hold of the evil one. Here are a few passages you can memorize easily: "Get thee behind me Satan." Matthew 16:23 "It is no longer I who lives but Christ Jesus Who lives in me." "Stronger is He who is in me than he who is in the world." 1John 4:4 "Nothing is impossible with God." Galatians 2:20 Behold, I make all things new." Revalation 21:5 "We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus." Romans 8:37 "If God is for us who can be against us?" Romans 8:31

Discouragement and Excessive Anxiety: St. Faustina tells us that discouragement and excessive anxiety are two favorite ploys of the evil one. He uses these to gain control of our emotions and paralyze our forward movement spirtually and in the natural. Discouragement left unchecked will lead to despair -- a profound desolation of heart predicated upon the notion that God has abandoned us or forsaken us and that our circumstance will never change. It can also cause us to erroneously believe that our travail or suffering is greater than the power of God. Discouragement roots itself deeply within us and begins to poison our spiritual life attacking the virtue of hope. Excessive anxiety causes fear to seep into our heart and soul. The fear I am referring to here is not the kind of fear that warns us of impending danger, but rather the kind of fear that is "false evidence appearing real." It is a trap and is meant to put us into bondage, place chains around our capacities, and stop us dead in our tracks. When discouragement and excessive anxiety prevail upon you, see it for what it is -- a tactic of the evil one -- and know from whom it comes -- the evil one himself. The Holy Spirit never brings discouragement. Once you identify that the enemy is working against you through this tactic -- praise the Lord because obviously something great is on its way or the evil one would not be attempting to discourage you. His very activity is a sign that great things are about to break loose!

May we all take courage today with the knowledge that God gives us every spiritual blessing in the heavens. He desires to help us in the midst of our deepest travail and to reveal to us the power of His unfailing love and presence. May all of us continue to move forward in the ways God is calling us, and may we seek His abundant life in all things.