Key scripture – “Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord.” (Lamentations 2:19).

We all have felt discouraged when we have been dealing with financial, health, work related or family problems for awhile and we do not feel like we are any closer to a resolution than the day our journey started. At times, we are discouraged to the point of despair and feel abandoned by God, who we know loves us. And yet in the midst of all of our hurt and pain we can find comfort in Jeremiah’s words in Lamentations 3. “He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness rather than light; indeed He has turned His hand against me again and again, all day long. He has made my skin and my flesh grow old… Even when I call out or cry for help He shuts out my prayer… I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is. So I say, “my splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the Lord.” I remember my affliction and my wandering… I well remember them and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope. Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions NEVER fail. They are new every morning; GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.'” (emphasis mine) (Lamentations 3:1-24).

Jeremiah was at the point of despair and if you are there, do what Jeremiah did and pour out your heart to God. Then call to your mind the fact that GREAT is God’s faithfulness. He loves you and He has not abandoned you. Don’t allow Satan to deceive you to think anything else. God will be faithful in your life.

Before Satan begins his attack against you, you can be on the offensive by doing these two things to renew your mind.

1. Protect your mind with the Word of God. You have to wash your mind. If you get to know The Word of God it will wash you. If you have regrets about your past because: you said something that was wrong; you may have seen some things that you shouldn’t have been looking at; you may have done something you should not have done, go to The Word and wash your mind with The Word.

You can take the Word of God and saturate your mind with it and it will remove the wrong thinking from your mind. In order to do that you need continuous exposure to The Word. Read it, study it, memorize it, meditate upon it, and share it with others on a daily basis.

We will not be able to get on top of the sin and strongholds in our lives as long as we neglect The Word of God. God’s Word is alive to us. We cannot live without it. The Word to us as Children of God is what milk is to a newborn baby.

2. Set your mind on things above. When you get up in the morning before you jump into the busyness of the day, get into God’s Word before anything else and set your mind on what He said.

In His Word: you can discover what the strongholds are in your life; He will teach you how to turn from your sin; and what to do when you fail. This needs to be done every day for you to be strengthened and to stay on the right path.

So what are you waiting for, open the Bible and get started today so that you will know, HOW GREAT AND FAITHFUL OUR GOD IS!

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, I have been at the place where I am tired and discouraged and I feel far away from You. But instead of believing my feelings, I will get into Your Word and wash my mind and strengthen my soul with Your Word. I need to focus on Your promises and Your love for me, and always, yes always, remember that I am a child of the Most High God and I am loved redeemed and renewed. I proclaim what the Psalmist said, “Those who trust in The Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.” (Psalm 125:1). Father, I will meditate on Your Word. I want Your Word to be unleashed in me and be the basis of all my decision-making so that I can see all of the power of The Word of God in my life. I know if I do this, I will see Heaven rule and overrule all; people, problems, sin, strongholds, circumstances and temptation in my life. Father, I will not allow any unauthorized thoughts in my mind. Give me the grace to face all my problems with an attitude of gratitude. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.