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Discouraged, read this:

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Posted by: thornygrace

I received this in an email from a place that provides support for people who are seperated and standing for thier marriage:

Are you battling discouragement today? If so, then this reprint from the Praise News is just what the Physician ordered... An interesting point to ponder: The victim: (who would that be?) discouragement (d-sk?rj-mnt, -skr-) n. 1. a. The act of discouraging. b. The condition of being discouraged. 2. Something that discourages; a deterrent. The enemy: (what is his name?) discourage (d-sk?rj, -skr-) tr.v. discouraging, discourages 1. To deprive of confidence, hope, or spirit. 2. To hamper by discouraging; deter. 3. To try to prevent by expressing disapproval or raising objections. Let's go to the Word of God to see what the Spirit would reveal to us regarding this often used weapon of the enemy of our souls... Joseph was a young lad of 17 who was the favored son of Jacob. What it must have been like to wear the coat of many colors and be so favored. Little did he know that just having the favor of God upon his life would result in such hardship: 'But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.' Gen 37:4 Do you know what betrayal feels like? To be scorned and rejected by those you love the most? Joseph knew that. How did he react? What can we learn from his example? Then they said to one another, 'Look, this dreamer is coming! Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, 'Some wild beast has devoured him.' We shall see what will become of his dreams!' Gen 37: 19-20 Imagine Joseph's struggles in his heart and his mind. He was born to a wealthy family and had honor and favor. His future was bright and full of promise. He had not only been rejected and betrayed by loved ones but being sold as a slave to a foreign land carried with it the expectation of being aslave FOREVER! There was no logical hope... no possible solutions. His life was hopeless and doomed til his death. Except for one thing.... He served the living God... The Waymaker. The God of ALL HOPE... The One who knew every day of Joseph's life before one of them came to be and wrote each of them in His book. The One who never sleeps or slumbers and who guides His children's lives with His eye upon them. His plans for Joseph were good and not evil. He was well able to do exceedingly and abundantly MORE than Joseph could ask or even imagine!!! Now... Joseph was sold into the house of Potiphar. And do you know that Joseph struggled with feelings of discouragement and despair just like you and I have done many times. Do you realize that Joseph was in Potiphar house for roughly 10 YEARS!? No contact with his loved ones... isolation and loneliness were his companions. Sounds like a recipe for utter discouragement and despair if there ever was one. "The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority." Gen 39:2-4 WOW! Even in the midst of his "hopeless" trial. God prospered Joseph. Do you think that Joseph was murmuring and complaining? Is this why God prospered him? Do you think doubt and unbelief were the attitude of the day in Joseph? No... There is no doubt that Joseph, like us, struggled with his trial. He undoubtably cried out to His God often and wept bitterly because of the affliction of his circumstances. But Joseph knew that His God would not forsake him or leave him. He knew that God's mighty hand was upon his life and he trusted in the Lord, his God. And God DID prosper him and exalt him, even while a slave, alone and a prisoner in a foreign land. Perhaps even more importantly, we see in verse 5: "So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field.' Hmm... maybe we are onto something veryimportant here... Do you know, WHY you were created? Do you truly understand the calling upon your life and your purpose in life? "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10 This blessing which came upon the house of the Egyptian was only the first in a series of blessings of other people through Joseph. Imagine the crushing blow to Joseph... after all this misery and mistreatment in his life, just when things were looking up... the enemy strikes again. Accused of rape, unjustly... Joseph is sent to the dungeons and injury is now added to insult. "They hurt his feet with fetters, He was laid in irons." Psalms 105:18 Do you know what it is like to begin to see the goodness of God through your circumstances, only to have things seem to crumble even though you are doing what is right in God's eyes? Joseph knew that feeling.. but he didn't give up or doubt his God. He perservered. He pressed in and pressed forward. He must have known that God had something planned for him and was worthy of his trust and confidence even in the face of seeming defeat. No doubt... he struggled with the reality. 10 Years of faithful servanthood to his earthly master only to be falsely accused and persecuted. "For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully." 1 Peter 2:19 "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy." 1 Peter 4:12-13 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you." 1 Peter 5:8-10 in the midst of YOUR fiery trial... do you believe that God is stumped? Can you picture the God of all power, Creator of everything, the Mighty God saying to Jesus, your Advocate, the One who "lives always to make intercession for you" seated at the right hand of God; "Whoops.. she sure has a serious problem. I'm not sure if I can do anything about it! Uh... I wasn't really prepared for a challenge like this one. Son, If I hadn't been sleeping, she wouldn't be in this impossible mess with no hope." WAKE UP!!! God IS in control... He DOES have good plans for you. His purpose WILL PREVAIL and you will "see the salvation of the Lord" and the "goodness of God in the land of the living" "oh ye of little faith"... God is able to make a way where there seems to be NO WAY! Joseph was stuck in a dungeon. No way out. No hope. No chance... but God had a plan. "But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing." Gen 39:21-22 Now Joseph got to meet 2 unique gentlemen in the dungeons of Pharoah. Mr. Butler and Mr. Baker, and interpreted dreams for them. Mr. Butler had a wonderful dream in which he would be restored to his position as chief among Pharaoh's court. Joseph asked him to remember Joseph when he was back in the good favor of Pharaoh. Mr. Baker... well... his dream wasn't so good. Something about losing his head and birds eating his flesh kinda thing. Imagine Joseph's disappointment, yet again, after Mr. Butler was returned to favor but apparently forgot the help of Joseph. He remained in those dungeons for another 2 years. Talk about discouragement and despair... If you have read this story you know how it ends.. POWERFULLY!! Pharaoh has a dream and Joseph is remembered by Mr. Butler and Joseph is called to interpret the dream that no-one else can. As a result, he is appointed the #2 man in all the kingdoms of Pharaoh. After much suffering and maturing, after preparation and refinement in the fires of Almighty God, Joseph becomes the 2nd most powerful ruler of the world. "You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you." And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt." Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph's hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, "Bow the knee!" So he set him over all the land of Egypt. Pharaoh also said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt." And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnath-Paaneah. ("treasury of the glorious rest") And he gave him as a wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On. So Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt." Gen 41:39-45 But the best part of the story is the RECONCILIATION part... Halleluyah! Please don't go to bed today without reading the exciting story of reconciliation that God had planned for this family even before Joseph was thrown into the pit. Genesis chapters 42-47. I want to end this writing today with a bit of practical instruction. Perhaps you would be saying... "This is wonderful but how do I APPLY it to my circumstances?" I am so glad that you asked... Consider the beginning of this message. What is discouragement? Who is the cause of discouragement? BE CLEAR ON THIS!!! If you don't know... E mail us and ask.. we'll help you understand from the Word of God. If you understand discouragement and you understand the cause of discouragement, then you WILL KNOW the CURE for discouragement. Whom will you believe? Who ARE you believing? If you want to be free from discouragement and despair then decide today who you will believe and LIVE like it. If you believe the living God and your trust is in Him, you will not be defeated by discouragement and despair. You will be an overcomer! You will STAND upon the sure word of the God who cannot lie and is faithful to perform His Word. Get in His Word... and get His Word into you. The recipe for overcoming faith and a life that is victorious over discouragement and defeat! Bless our God!!