Jentezen Franklin Ministry Daily Devotional 23 OCTOBER 2024 | Topic:  How Do You See It?

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How Do You See It?

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

In Numbers 21, “They (the Israelites) traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea…but the people became discouraged. They spoke against God and Moses and said, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread, and there is no water.’” And because of their complaining, God sent venomous snakes among them that bit the people, and many died.

Discouragement takes on many faces and manifests itself in our lives in many different ways. But no matter what your circumstances are, you do not have to be discouraged. Discouragement says, “Things are never going to get better,” or “You’re never going to reach that goal you have been longing to see.” Discouragement says, “I have a distaste for my present, disgust for my past, and distrust for my future.” 

One way Satan can bring you down is by making you ungrateful. The Israelites didn’t thank God for bringing them out of Egypt with many signs and wonders. They only dwelled on their current situation. How do you know that you are discouraged? When you look around, you never seem to be able to say anything positive or good. You are likely discouraged when all you do is criticize and condemn others. Discouragement, like a serpent, can bite you and poison your outlook and attitude. Satan’s number one weapon against a believer is discouragement.

Another way the enemy can discourage you is by exaggerating how bad things are. Notice the Israelites were saying they had no food or water when, in fact, God was raining manna down from heaven and water out of a rock daily! They were acting like they were starving to death. Oftentimes your problem isn’t as bad as the enemy is making it. He wants you to blow things out of proportion, and he is a masterful deceiver. 

So how can you conquer discouragement? The people cried out in repentance, and God told Moses to build a pole and put a bronze snake on it. When the people looked at it, they were healed. Maybe your faith and joy is dying. Maybe your purpose and hope are fading. If the serpent of discouragement has bitten you, look to the cross. Jesus is the answer. He has come that you may have life and life more abundantly. The only thing that can cure your heart is Jesus. The snake on the pole represented their sin and Jesus, “who knew no sin became sin so that we could be forgiven.” He hung on a pole (the cross) so that we could live.

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