For bitterness to set in a Christian needs to stop recognizing his or her position in grace before God. This allows Satan to plant a seed of bitterness that will poison the mind with resentfulness and result in a sharp, bitter, and unpleasant demeanor and lead a person to act out of doubt, which is sin.
Discouragement is a desire that comes from Satan with the intent of getting Christians to lack confidence in God, thinking that God has forgotten them and has no concern about them.
We are not to grow weary in doing good. Sometimes it takes a while for our fruit to grow. Satan does not want us to produce good fruit, so he is going to bring people or situations into our lives to try and discourage us.
Again we learn this method by one of the attacks Satan did against Job.
In Job 19:1-19 we have a concise statement on discouragement. Job struggles with understanding why he is continually being tormented and reproached, why his cries for help are ignored. Even those closest to him despise him for no reason.
Remember, Satan roams around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He wants to shake us up and cause fear so he can overcome us. When we feel discouragement coming on, we need to put on the armor of God, because we should be understanding that this is a direct attack from Satan. And once having it on, stand firm.
And while doing the proper let us not grow weary, for in its own time we will reap, do not give out – Galatians 6:9
The conduct apart from fondness of money, contentment to the present, for He has said, “I will never leave you, nor ever forsake you” – Hebrews 13:5
Now with our mind focused back on who we are in Christ we can begin to properly look at the situation and discern what is God’s will for us. Keep doing good and doing what is proper, even when it seems that we are all alone or the world […]
For our weapons of warfare are not fleshly, but inherent ability by the God towards the tearing down of strongholds, casting down logics and every high thing lifting itself up against the knowledge of the God and bringing every thought into captivity into the obedience of the Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
Within our mind we can build up strongholds that are very difficult to overcome. These can be false beliefs or temptations like living by law, speaking in tongues, drinking alcohol, pornography, lying, stealing or anything else that holds us. Often these strongholds are built with the help of others who influence what we believe and how we perceive life. However, when they come up against the knowledge of God, we struggle to overcome them.
Dealing with what goes through our minds can be very difficult when we are not using the methods provided for us in Christ. Our battle is not fleshly, it is spiritual, it is a battle for the mind, and this is why it is important for us to frame our minds correctly. Remember, framing the mind is about setting a proper boundary around who you are and what you allow to remain in your mind. As Christians our frame of mind needs to be on the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above where the Christ is seated at the right hand of the God, Frame your mind of the things above, not the things upon the earth – Colossians 3:1, 2
Having this frame of mind, we can then compare the thoughts in our mind with whether or not they fit and if they […]
