Devices of the Devil - Discouragement

Another device that the enemy uses is discouragement.

We can see a perfect example of this device being used when the Israelites were rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and one of their enemies, Tobiah the Ammonite, said, “Whatever they build, if even a fox climbs up on it, he will break down their stone wall.” (Nehemiah 4:3)

Therefore if all the feedback that you get is destructive criticism, do not let it discourage you, destroy your morale and stop you from doing what God has called you to do because the Israelites continued rebuilding the wall until they finished building it.

Understand also that this is a device that the enemy likes using because time after time we see God telling His people when they were facing different challenges:

“Do not be discouraged” (Joshua 1:9)

“Do not be discouraged” (Joshua 10:25)

“Do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

“Do not be discouraged” (1 Chronicles 22:13)

“Do not be discouraged” (1 Chronicles 28:20)

Therefore, learn to deal with discouragement by encouraging yourself in the Lord like David did when his wives were kidnapped and his men spoke of stoning him. (1 Samuel 30:6)

Buy the Amazon Ebook We Are Not Ignorant of His Devices

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To encourage yourself in the Lord during difficult times, remind yourself of God’s past faithfulness or all the good things that He has already done for you and tell yourself that He is still able to do other great things for you in your present and future.

Emulate David who reminded himself of God’s faithfulness in his life and encouraged himself to fight Goliath by declaring The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. (1 Samuel 17:37)

In addition, understand that to fight discouragement effectively you have to fight fear because we can see in the above situations where God told his people Do not be discouraged, He always preceded by telling them Do not fear.

Therefore eradicate your fear of the enemy by having faith that God will help you because faith is the antidote for fear.

Finally, fight discouragement by meditating on hope-inspiring Scriptures like I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13)

      

Stress Management Aromatherapy Necklace Recipe

Aromatherapy necklaces are great for reducing workplace stress since they enable you to "secretly" inhale the relaxing essential oils without their aroma being diffused into your entire workplace.

There are numerous terra cotta aromatherapy necklaces that you can purchase online and these can be worn in workplaces with relaxed dress codes.

If you work in a place that has a strict dress code, I suggest buying elegant lockets that can even have matching earrings.

Stress Management Necklace Ingredients

Locket with chain
Tissue or cotton ball
Stress management essential oil like lavender

Click here to find out if you can lavender essential oil safely

Stress Management Necklace Instructions

Add 3 drops of the essential oils to the tissue or cotton ball

Place the scented tissue in your locket

Hang it on a chain and wear it around your neck so that you can inhale the relaxing aroma as you work.

Click here for more Stress Management Recipes

For the best results, lift the locket to your nose and inhale the soothing aroma as you meditate on work stress management Bible verses like the following:
This is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad. (Psalm 118:24)
This is a great Bible verse to help you decide to be joyful regardless of the problems surrounding you in your workplace.

Take counsel together but it will come to nothing. Speak the word but it shall not stand because God is with me. (Adapted Isaiah 8:10)
This is an awesome Bible verse to meditate on when if your workmates are scheming and plotting against you. 

It is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to those who trouble me. (Adapted 2 Thessalonians 1:6)

This is an awesome Bible verse to meditate on if you work in a place where you are harassed and you have no way to stand up for yourself. 

Well done, good and faithful servant since you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. (Matthew 25:21)

This is a good Bible verse to meditate on if you are stress because of being overqualified for your job. It will help you continue doing a good job as you wait for God to open other doors for you.

God opens and no one can shut. (Revelation 3:7)

This is a great Bible verse to meditate on if people in your workplace are trying to intimidate you.

Having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13)

This is a great Bible verse to meditate on if you have done everything possible to keep your job but your position is still very insecure since it lets you now focus on God to do for you what only He can do for you.

  

I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go. I will guide you with my eye. (Psalm 32:8)

This is an awesome Bible verse to meditate on if you work in a place filled with intrigues and backstabbing where you do not know who you can trust.

You have come to the (insert the name of your company) for a time like this one. (Adapted Esther 4:14)

This is a great Bible verse to meditate on if you know that God has placed you in that company for a specific purpose.

The righteous, the wise and their works are in the hand of God. (Ecclesiastes 9:1)

This is a great Bible verse to meditate on if your workplace is filled with problems as it allow you to entrust your job to God so that you can focus on what you need to do instead of worrying about your fate.

You will keep me in perfect peace because my mind is stayed on You and I trust in You. (Adapted Isaiah 26:3)

This is another good Bible verse to meditate on if you want to disengage your mind from the intrigues in your workplace and focus on doing your job.

How to Draw Near to God

An Angel of God told Philip to travel along the road with goes from Jerusalem to Gaza and he went. 

He met an Ethiopian who was in charge of the treasury if Queen Candace who had come to Jerusalem to worship was returning home in his chariot.

Philip ran and heard him reading Isaiah and he asked him, "Do you understand what you are reading?".

The Ethiopian replied by asking, "How can I understand unless someone guides me?" 

He invited Philip to come into his chariot and he was reading the following passage from Isaiah 53:7-8:

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.  

he asked Philip whether the Prophet Isaiah was talking about himself or another man? Philip then preached the Gospel of Jesus to him and as they continued travelling, they came to some water and the Ethiopian asked what would stop him from being baptized. 

Philip told him that if he believed with all his heart he could be baptized. The Ethiopian then confessed with his mouth and said, "I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

The both got out of the chariot and Philip baptized him and he continued on his journey rejoicing. (Acts 8:26-39)

This is a perfect example of Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8) because this Ethiopian had drawn near to God by going to Jerusalem to worship and he was reading the Scriptures even if he did not understand them and God then drew near to him by sending Philip to explain them to him and baptize him.

Therefore commit to drawing near to God.

Step 1

The first step is getting saved. To do this Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

Therefore, say with your mouth that "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that when He died for our sins God raised Him from the dead. 

Click here to Learn How to Work Out Your Salvation

Step 2

The second step is reading your Bible each day so that you can know how God expects you to live.

As you read, commit to doing what it says because we are told Be doers of the Word and do not deceive yourselves by being just hearers. (James 1:22) 

If there are passages that you do not understand, you can Ask Me using this Contact Form. If you are not able to pay the Consultation fee, just let me know and I will answer your question for free. 

Step 3

The third step is praying every day. Commit to talking to God when you wake up in the morning and before you sleep at night.

During the day, talk to God as you ask Him for guidance.

Step 4

The fourth step is praising and worshiping God.

Commit to thanking God and singing praise and worship songs to Him because we are to Enter His gates with thanksgiving and enter His courts with praise. (Psalm 100:4)

Singing Christian praise and worship songs will therefore put you in the presence of God.

How to Deal with Giants part 2

When King Saul saw that David had the potential to fight Goliath, he put a bronze helmet on David's head and covered him with a coat of mail. David also fastened the king's sword to the armor but he took them off because he had not tested them. (1 Kings 17:38-39)  

David thus went to fight Goliath with just his staff, 5 smooth stones, and a sling. (1 Kings 17:40)  

Level 1

David took a stone, slung it, it struck Goliath, sank into his forehead and he fell to the ground. (1 Kings 17:49)

With just a sling and a stone, David was able to bring down a  well armed and protected giant for Goliath had:
a. a bronze helmet
b. a metal coat weighing around 125 lbs or 60 kg
c. bronze armor covering his legs
d. a bronze javelin
e. a spear with an iron head weighing around 15 lbs or 7.5 kg (1 Kings 17:4-7)

Level 2

Once Goliath was on the ground, David had moved to another level but the job was not finished completely. 

There was no sword in David's hand and so he ran and took Goliath's sword and cut off his head with it. (1 Kings 17:51)

Lessons

1. Believe in Yourself

David was not comfortable walking with King Saul's armor and probably wearing the metal coat of mail would have affected his slinging abilities, and so he wisely took them off went to fight with the weapons he believed in.

Therefore have confidence in yourself and in the training God has placed in you because if David did not believe in his abilities, he would not have told a whole king, "I have not tested them" (1 Kings 17:39) and taken off armor that the king had put on him.

Click here to read How to Refuse to be Intimidated 

2. Ignore Losers

If David had listened to King Saul, he would not have been able to fight Goliath successfully. I dare call King Saul a loser because for 40 days Goliath had taunted the Israelite army and none of them had gathered the courage to fight him. 

Therefore, learn to politely ignore the advice of people who have been unable to successfully deal with the challenge you are facing. Do not defer to their opinion just because they are older than you or they have more clout.  

3. Believe God Will Help You

To have this level of self-confidence you have to believe that God is with you like David who boldly declared, "I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel." (1 Kings 17:45)

4. Believe God Will Provide For You

David fought the first level of the battle with the tools and skills and when he got to the second level the tool that he needed was provided. The technique was also provided since Goliath was now on the ground. 

Therefore maximize using the skills and tools you have at your current level and have faith that God will impart the skills and tools you need once you get to the next level. 

5. Subdivide your Problem

Break down your gigantic problems into several smaller problems because when you view a problem this way, it becomes more manageable. 

For example, if you have fight a Goliath divide the problem into:
a. Challenge 1 of getting Goliath to the ground. 
b. Challenge 2 of cutting off Goliath's head

Click here to read How to Deal with Giants part 1

Bible Study Lessons from the Wilderness of Sinai

When the Israelites left Rephidim, they went to the Wilderness of Sinai and camped before the mountain. (Exodus 19:2)

It was here that God gave them the 10 Commandments. (Exodus 20:1-17)

God also gave them other rules and regulations and The Israelites answered in unity saying, “We will do all what the Lord has said.” (Exodus 24:3)

Mistake #1 Disobedience 

However, when God called Moses to go up the mountain and he was there for 40 days  (Exodus 24:18) the Israelites spoke to Aaron and said, “Make us gods who will go before us for we do not know what has become of this man Moses who brought us out of Egypt.” (Exodus 32:1)  

Aaron asked them to bring their gold earrings and he molded them into a calf. The Israelites proclaimed, “This is your god who brought you out of Egypt.” (Exodus 32:4) Aaron also built an altar before it and they offered offerings to it. (Exodus 32:5)   

These actions were blatant disobedience of the 1^st and 2^nd commandments which are:

1. I am the Lord your God Who brought you out of Egypt and you shall not have other gods before me. (Exodus 20:2-3)

2. You shall not make any graven image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or in the earth beneath or in the water underneath. You shall not bow down to them or serve them. (Exodus 20:4-5)

Click here to learn the other 10 Commandments

Their actions made God say to Moses, “I have seen that these are a stiff necked people therefore let My anger destroy them and I will make you into a great nation.” (Exodus 32:9)

Moses pleaded with God on behalf of the Israelites but when he went down from the mountain into the camp and found them unrestrained, he called all those who were on God’s side to come to him. Those who were on God’s side went through the camp and killed around 3,000 men who were not. (Exodus 32:25-28)

God also plagued the Israelites because of what they did with the golden calf made by Aaron. (Exodus 32:35)

Lesson #1

Do not disobey the commandments of God if you do not want to die or spend 40 years wandering in your physical, financial or social wilderness. 

Lesson #2

Be patient even if you do not see or hear God.

The Israelites made the golden calf because God had called Moses to go up the mountain and he was there for 40 days. (Exodus 24:18) They therefore said, “Make us gods who will go before us for we do not know what has become of this man Moses who brought us out of Egypt.” (Exodus 32:1)  

Therefore even if you are in a problematic situation and you do not know what God is doing about your situation because you have not heard from Him in a while, be patient and do not begin looking for other alternatives to solve your problems. Decide to hold on and wait for Him.

Click here for the Exodus Bible Study which shows you all the things that kept the Israelites wandering in the wilderness for 40 years (14,600 days) instead of taking 11 days to move from Egypt to their Promised Land.

How Good Company Benefits You

When God destroyed the cities of the plain, He remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the destruction when he destroyed the cities where Lot lived. (Genesis 19:29)

This shows us that Abraham was part of the reason Lot's life and that of his family were saved when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. 

It was as if God did not want Abraham to hurt when he Went early in the morning to the place where he stood before God and looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah and saw the land smoking like a furnace. (Genesis 19:27-28) 

Therefore, partner with men and women who are in good standing with God. This can be hard to tell just from their appearance and public actions, therefore pray and ask God to show you which Christian ministry you should partner with.

Click here to learn the other reason that made God save Lot

Click here to read How Bad Company Corrupts Good Morals

The Benefits of Righteousness

Righteousness is doing the right thing in the sight of God.

It is a very important attribute as you can see from the following benefits of doing what God expects you to do when He expects you to do it:

1. Your Prayers Will Achieve a Lot

The effective fervent prayer of a righteous person availeth much. (James 5:16)

Therefore if you want your prayers to do mighty things, ensure that you do the right thing in the sight of God.

To learn how your prayers can achieve a lot read How to Pray Effectively

2. Your Desires Will Be Granted

The desire of the righteous will be granted. (Proverbs 10:24)

Therefore if your want God to give you the desires of your heart, ensure that you do the right thing in His eyes. 

3. Your Children will be Delivered

The children of the righteous will be delivered. (Proverbs 11:21)

Therefore if you want your children to be delivered from addictions and any other situation that holds them in bondage, do the right thing in God's eyes.

4. You Will Withstand Enemy Attacks

Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil because we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the  heavenly places.

Therefore take the whole armor of God so that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done, continue to stand.

Stand therefore having ... put on the breastplate of righteousness. (Ephesians 6:11-14)

So if you want stand and not fall when the devil attacks you, ensure that you always do the right thing in the sight of God.

Click here to learn How to Put on the full Armor of God

5. You Will Be Established, Fruitful and Safe

A person is not established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous cannot be moved. (Proverbs 12:3)

The wicked are overthrown and destroyed but the house of the righteous will stand. (Proverbs 12:7)

The wicked person envies the catch of evil men but the root of the righteous yields fruit. (Proverbs 12:12)

The wicked person is trapped by the transgression of his lips but the righteous person sails through trouble. (Proverbs 12:13)

Grave trouble will not overtake the righteous person but the wicked person shall be filled with evil. (Proverbs 12:21)

In the path of the righteous is life and in its way there is no death. (Proverbs 12:28)

6. God Will Save You

God saved Noah ... a preacher of righteousness and brought the flood on the world of the ungodly. (2 Peter 2:5)

God turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes ... but delivered Lot who was vexed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man living among them tormented his righteous soul every day by seeing and hearing their unlawful acts). (2 Peter 2:6-8)

Therefore do the right thing in God's eyes and He will spare from destruction.

7. God Will Save Your City

When God revealed to Abraham that He was going to destroy Sodom, Abraham asked Him, "Would You destroy the righteous people with the wicked? Suppose there were 50 righteous people in the city, would destroy it?" 

God replied and said, "If I find 50 righteous people in Sodom, I spare it for their sake."

Abraham continued interceding and bargaining for Sodom by asking God if He would destroy it if it had 45, 40, 30, 20 and 10 righteous people and God finished the conversation by saying I will not destroy it for the sake of 10 righteous people.     (Genesis 18:23-32) 

Therefore recognize that doing the right thing in God's eyes can save your city from destruction.