HOME / PROCLAMATION! MAGAZINE / 2008 / MAY/JUNE / LIVING BY THE SPIRIT

MAY / JUNE 2008
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 3

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D E P A R T M E N T S

Living by the SPIRIT

Fighting for Joy in Jesus
A small-group leader's letter of encouragement to his group
Roy Tinker

 

I really enjoyed our time together tonight. Some of us stayed afterwards for an impromptu praise and worship time, and it was really refreshing.

The last two weeks of daily life have been really difficult for me. Sometimes I think discouragement comes as a result of sin; other times, it's because of difficult circumstances or tough situations we're in. I think many times the enemy is behind the discouragement, using sin or situations or people we know or weaknesses in us as a springboard to discouragement. I think that's been the case with me.

Several of you have said you're dealing with discouragement. We need to fight for joy in these times—the "good fight of the faith". How do we do all that?

A great starting point is simply praising Jesus. Praising Him is a great way to fight for joy and totally blast away the enemy's power. When we feel discouraged, it may seem a little crazy to praise God because we don't feel like it. But do it anyway!

How do we praise God when we're feeling down?

As the Psalms say, we need to remind ourselves of God's goodness and faithfulness. The author of Psalm 42 does it like this:

"Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."

One aspect of spiritual maturity is learning to talk to ourselves rather than listening to ourselves. Talking to ourselves goes something like this: "Soul, I know you're discouraged and down and tired. But God is your hope. Jesus is your Saviour! There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!" If we have scripture in our minds, we can actively talk to ourselves and fight the fear and doubt and darkness.

Psalm 103 is one of my favorites. It begins, 

"Praise the Lord, oh my soul. All my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not all his benefits — who forgives all your sins, heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.... who satisfies your desires with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."

Sometimes we need to convince ourselves to praise God.

And then, just praise Him! I discovered recently what a dramatic difference it makes when I make a conscious effort to praise God. I am grateful for the privilege of an office door that closes, so I can turn on praise music and sing while I work (when I'm not immersed in problem-solving on the job).

Sometimes the darkness does not lift, but other things also help. Probably the most helpful resource is the body of Christ. Let's love one another, for love comes from God. God has given us one another. By opening up to other Christians and fellowshipping and praying and loving one another, we build each other up and fulfill Jesus' command to us.

What if nothing seems to work?

God has promised always to reward those who seek Him. Wait for Him. He is sovereign and in charge. If His joy tarries, continue to seek Him and surrender to Him and rest in Him. He sometimes brings us through periods of darkness to strengthen our faith, so praise Him for the dark times, too.

Ask Him to show you what you need to know. That's a prayer He definitely answers. I recently needed to surrender control to him; I sometimes am perfectionistic, and that attitude quenches the Holy Spirit.

May Jesus' mighty love guard your hearts and minds as you cast your anxiety on Him. May God lead your hearts into His love. And may we encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today! †

 

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Roy Tinker is a computer programmer at Environmental Systems Research Institute in Redlands, California. He is a keyboardist with the worship teams at Trinity Church in Redlands, California, and leads a weekly "twenty-somethings" Bible study in his home.