Hello and Welcome!
It is a new week and a new day and I’m so glad you could join me as we continue our journey toward renewing our minds and improving our self-discipline. If you’re just joining me, you can read my article, A New Self Discipline Journey to learn more about why I am doing this, and how this may benefit you as well.
This week we are going to focus each day on coping with setbacks and discouragement. Each day this week I will provide affirmations, scriptures, and daily challenges regarding this topic. Next week will be a new one!
With that said, let’s start our morning together!
BREATHING EXERCISE
Before we begin let us take some deep breaths to calm our mind and prepare us for this mornings discipline.
MUSIC FOR A NEW DAY
I personally like to have some soft music in the background, so if that’s something you like as well below you will find a song you can play for the duration of our time together.
PRAYER to Fight DISCOURAGEMENT
Now that we’re calm, let us transition to a time of prayer. Over the next few minutes you can pray on your own or feel free to use the following prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We confess we do not always understand Your ways. We are easily discouraged when life takes unexpected turns and our carefully laid plans and dreams come to nothing.
We confess we are quick to give up when things get difficult. Forgive us. Grant us patience to wait for Your perfect timing. Open our eyes to recognize Your leading in our lives, and help us hear Your gentle whisper guiding us in the way You created for each of us.
Then give us courage to step out in faith and obedience, even when we cannot see the outcome.
In the name of our Savior, Jesus, we pray,
Amen
Prayers of Confession on Discouragement | The Pastors Workshop
AFFIRMATIONS to Fight Discouragement
Here are a few affirmations for this morning that you can put in your pocket and carry with you throughout your day.
As you read through them, repeat each one out loud at least three times before moving to the next. Take your time. Close your eyes and say them to yourself as well. Let these words sink into your heart and mind this morning:
- I choose to keep trying, even when I get discouraged.
- I accept that things aren’t always easy, and I will do them anyway.
- I will recover from my mistakes and keep moving forward.
- I am hopeful for what the future holds.
SCRIPTURES to Fight Discouragement
As Christians, our affirmations should be rooted in the strength and power of God who empowers us and strengthens us to face every trial and every day (both good and bad).
Here are some scriptures that further support the affirmations we just spoke to ourselves. Again, repeat each one three times out loud before moving to the next one. Take your time. Maybe try to commit these to memory as well:
- Deuteronomy 31:8, “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
- John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
- Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
- Romans 8:31, “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
TODAYS CHALLENGE
Our challenge today is this: acknowledge the wins despite the losses.
Since this summer, my wife and I have been in the process of trying to sell our house. Anyone who has been through this process knows, this is not for the faint of heart. It has been difficult and time consuming.
We spent 6 weeks getting the house ready to show. Then we spent 30 days showing the house. FINALLY, we got an offer! Immediately we set out to find our next house and we found it in 1 day! We made an offer and it got accepted.
Then the next phase started – getting an inspection on our house (the buyer did that one) and one on the house we want to buy (we did that).
The next logical step is to submit a repair request to the seller. Which we did with the house we wanted to buy. We then sat impatiently for almost 2 days waiting for a repair request from our buyer. Which never came.
Instead of a repair request we got a notice that the buyers were pulling out of the deal. Not only pulling out, but not giving any real indication as to why.
This was a major blow! Now the house we want to buy is in jeopardy, and we just lost our buyer. Everything instantly got put on hold while we regrouped.
I won’t lie, this was extremely frustrating and discouraging. The house we found to buy is everything we’ve wanted in a house. Location and all. And to think that now we may not get that house and will have to start from scratch is devastating.
We are still reeling from this situation. But there has been some positives.
- The seller on the other house agreed to a contingency contract. So we have another week and a half to find a buyer.
- We were able to get our hands on the inspection done on our house so we can address some issues it uncovered.
- We are not in jeopardy of losing our current house, so we still have a place to live.
I’m listing these positives because it is easy to allow the blow of losing the contract on our house to overshadow the good things still happening. Is there still some risk at losing the other house? Yes. And that part is still a bit discouraging to think about. But I’m trying to stay focused on other things.
So that’s my challenge to you. When (not if) you find yourself discouraged, don’t let the bad overshadow the good. Look for the positives, call them out, and celebrate them. Eventually the hardship will pass. God will work things out. Rejoice in the positive things.
Quote of the Day
Today’s quote comes from author Richelle E. Goodrich:
Don’t you dare get discouraged. Don’t you dare believe that failure is permanent or insurmountable.
Richelle E. Goodrich
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