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At times it seems so easy to become discouraged - just discouraged with living in general in our world around us. It's a feeling down deep. It can't be explained, even described in a way that someone else could understand what is meant.

Then we realize that this is not God's world. But we must live in it. And by the grace of God, and Christ in us, we will survive. As a Christian leader once said, "I have read the book...AND WE WIN!".

But as the world is now, the devil will discourage us any way he can.

Down deep we know something just isn't right. If we are Christians, In response, we pray and talk to our Father and Jesus Christ about it. But the deep down feeling continues. Our prayrs seem to bounce off the walls. But deep down, we know He is there - and that He cares. The swiftness of change is all around us, and perhaps in our personal relations with others also. I learned long ago that things - and people - change.

The rich, the poor, the pretty, the unattractive, the young. Everything, and everyone, changes. Only one thing counts and never changes for eternity. Christians today - especially new Christians - can be discouraged when living their new life in Christ. When a new Christian attends church, or hears an evangelist speak, they can leave wondering that really counts in their new life. Its easy to become discouraged with life - just life in general.

But above it all, and through it all, one thing will keep our hearts and mind still, and at peace if we will remember - and believe - these words:

"Let your [a]character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] [b]Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor [c]give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [d][I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor [e]let [you] down ([f]relax My hold on you)! [[g]Assuredly not!] So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?" - Hebrews 13:5-6 (AMP)

In this translation of these two verses, three negatives precede the negatives "will not", "will not", and "will not" forsake us or relax His hold on us. We can never fall or fail, because Jesus NEVER relaxes His hold on our lives! He will never let us fall, no matter how discouraged we may become, or we feel that we are falling away. It can never be so. He died a horrible death with you and me on His mind. Now that He has been resurrected and sits next to the Father, we are still first in His mind, concern, and care.

Regardless of our feelings about our condition or circimstances, He is with us. And even more than that - by the Holy Spirit, he is in us, and will never leave us regardless of our feelings and fears.

"But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]" - John 14:26-27 (AMP)

So do not let discouragement get you down...Jesus is with you. If He is with you, nothing in your world, in life or death, can win against you.

"Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors [a]and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things [b]impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers,
Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:37-39 (AMP)

"Word from Scotland" from Sandy Shaw

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