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Responding to Criticism, Defeat, Discouragement and Disappointment

How do you respond to criticism, defeat, discouragement and disappointment? We are bound to face all of these at some point in our lives and for many of us we will face them often. So how do YOU respond in these difficulties?

I have to admit that immediately when any one of these things come into my life I am often affected by them…for a moment! In the past I would let criticism, defeat, discouragement and disappointment take me out for hours, days and even weeks at times but that is not the case anymore. I’ve learned to identify them and quickly rise above the negative state they attempt to leave me in. Did you know that we can take authority over our negative emotions and stay in a place of peace?

God’s taught me several keys that help me identify negative feelings and quickly rise above them bringing me back to a place of peace and joy. Here’s what I’ve come to learn:

  • The quicker I get my eyes off of my situation and back onto God’s goodness and his love for me the quicker I feel like myself and have peace and joy
  • The moment I recognize the negative feelings I’m feeling from criticism, defeat, discouragement and disappointment I take them captive and start thanking God for my growth and ability to do so
  • Stop thinking inwardly and start thinking outwardly (instead of poor me I move to a positive place with the thought of how can I encourage others from this negative experience)
  • Pray: I acknowledge my feelings and then bring them to God in prayer and in exchange he gives me peace
  • I rejoice in faith because I know if I’m feeling any one of these things its from the enemy, who is obviously trying to stop me and keep me from moving forward (this encourages me because I know I’m on the right track and about to experience breakthrough in my life (that can potentially lead to breakthrough in many other lives as well)

I hope these few things bring you both encouragement and power to respond well to criticism, defeat, discouragement and disappointment.

Blessings,

John

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Grateful

I am so grateful for ALL that God has done for me! He is SO good, so much better than I deserve. And yet because of what Jesus has done for us, he says we do deserve it, now that is GRACE! And I am so grateful for grace!

He who knew no sin became sin so that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21), wow! I find it amazing that when you give your heart to Jesus he returns the favor! So, when God looks your way he sees his son Jesus and he is pleased! Did you know that God doesn’t want to punish you? That’s what Jesus died for! Jesus satisfied the wrath of God and took our place, he took the punishment that should have been on us because of our sin. Because of what Jesus has done God is pleased in us and the only work that God has required of us is to believe!

Will you believe that it’s true today? That God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Oh how he loves us! He took our punishment upon him, he dealt with sin, judgment and condemnation all so we don’t have to and so we can enjoy a personal, vibrant relationship with God. This is grace, are you grateful? I am!

Blessings,

John

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Don’t Stop Praying!

I know it may get hard at times and extremely difficult at others, but don’t give up and don’t stop praying! One of the greatest assets the Father has given us is our faith, yes we can shrink back in fear OR we can rise up in faith and trust God! You may question how you got where you are or why things are the way they are, you may feel worn and ready to throw in the towel…don’t!

See God is incredibly faithful and he is not far away, he is right there with you even now. He loves you and delights in you in ways you and I can hardly fathom. Take your eyes off of your discouraging situation and set them on things above! Give it to God today and believe that he is at work (because he is)!

Philippians 4:6 says, “Let you request be made known to God with thanksgiving.” Thanksgiving is the key because it represents trust and it immediately affects your heart, mind AND situation! As you pray thank God that he loves you and he’s working everything for your good, thank God that he’s working in your marriage, in your family, in your finances, in this nation and the world around us. Trust God and believe that he loves you, he is good and he hears your prayers!

Be encouraged today and don’t stop praying!

Believing with you!

~John

“Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” Philippians 4:7 (The Message)

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Grace is a Beautiful Thing!

What is your definition of grace? What is the best illustration you’ve heard depicting grace? Here is some of what I’ve come to learn about grace:

Grace is a beautiful thing! I’ve seen God’s grace at work in my own life and in the lives of both family and friends. I’ve watched hard hearts become soft and broken lives become whole all through the power of grace.

Grace simply means unmerited favor, receiving something you could never earn. It also means enabling power, God’s empowering presence comes to your aid and assists you so that you could do things you would never be able to do on your own. Scripture says that Jesus was filled with grace (John 1:17) and so he freely gave grace to all who came to him. He healed the sick, loved the broken and freed the captives. The truth is he still generously gives grace to all who come to him.

James 4:6 says, “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” God loves to give grace to those who acknowledge their need for it. He will not turn you away, rather he will accept you with open arms and empower you to live free. His grace is like an ocean in that it is limitless. The ocean waves crash upon the shore over and over and over again, never relenting. And that is a picture of God’s love and grace, it will never run dry! He desires to bless you and give one good gift after another. Make no mistake, you cannot earn his grace, it is a free gift – a never ending flow of blessings coming to wash over you! Receive his grace today through faith, believe in his goodness and experience his great favor!

Grace be with you,

John

Share your thoughts on grace below.

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It’s Amazing!

It’s amazing how much God can use someone who is fully committed to him even in a short amount of time. 

I think about how Jesus’ ministry was only three years and yet how much he accomplished in that short amount of time. Or how the little boy only had a few loaves of bread and a couple fish but he gave it ALL to Jesus and how God did AMAZING things. And we all know the story of the widow’s mite, how a poor widow gave what little she had and Jesus said she gave more than anyone else because she gave it all.

I really am amazed at how great God is and how he desires to use us. And I am even more amazed at how powerfully he uses those of us who are simply willing to give our all. Not independently of him but rather we give our all to him and when we do he promises to do great and awesome things!

“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9

So, be encouraged! God wants to do amazing things through you and he will, as you are willing to give your all to him he will show up and show off in and through you!

Blessings,

John