Fighting Discouragement
Matthew 20:29-30 (NLT) As Jesus and the disciples left the town of Jericho, a large crowd followed behind. Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, “ Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” The two blind men heard Jesus was coming! Their response? They shout! They yell! They scream! They are LOUD! Then it happens—crowd opinion: Matthew 20:31 (NLT) Be quiet! ” the crowd yelled at them. But they only shouted louder, “ Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” The crowd yells back to them, ‘Calm down guys!’ But they refused to be discouraged. They shout all the louder! ‘Discouragement is an evil foe that will bind your present using your past and your future. To be discouraged you need to willfully open your heart to that spirit. In so doing you reject the cross that God wills for you in your present moment. Discouragement is kindred to self-pity which carries the heart into the past or the future.