Hello again and welcome to the program. We're here with a little strength for today and particularly strength to overcome discouragement. We have seen that the first time discouraged is mentioned in the Bible is in Numbers 21, four, where we read they journeyed and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. Well, they had their way and they needed to get through it and they got discouraged. Hebrews 12 and one says, let us run with patience, the race that is set before us. That word patience has been translated endurance. Paul the Apostle ran the race, and he said in 2 Timothy 4, 7, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. And then he said in 1 Timothy 6 and 12, Fight the good fight of faith whereunto thou hast been called. We are not here by accident and we are on our journey and God has got some things he wants us to do on our journey in life. In Ephesians 4.1 Paul said, I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. That word vocation has been translated calling 10 times. I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of the calling wherewith ye have been called. Ephesians 1 and 1 tells us very plainly that this portion of Scripture was written to the saints, to all Christians, not just to leaders. Now we need to focus on the soul. Numbers 21, verse 4 says, the soul of the people was much discouraged. When Elijah was hiding in that cave and he was discouraged because Jezebel said she was going to have him dead, When he heard that, it didn't bother his foot. It bothered his soul, which consists of his mind, his will, and his emotions. And that's where we get discouraged. Now, the Bible says in Psalm 19, 7, the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. Now, that word converting has been translated restore 39 times in fact psalm 23 3 says he restoreth my soul that's what we need again numbers 21 4 says they were in the wilderness they were discouraged because of the way but why were they discouraged They refused to go into the promised land, so they turned around and wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. That would be very discouraging, but it was their fault. They chose. We all have no choice to choose. And when it comes to discouragement, we choose whether we're going to let the devil discourage us or not. Nobody can really discourage us but ourselves. We have to allow it to happen. In Numbers 32, the spies came back from spying out the land, and we read in verse 9, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel. In Deuteronomy 1, 28, we read, Whither shall we go up? Our brethren have discouraged our heart. Unfortunately, sometimes, if not more times than not, the discouragement comes from another Christian. Our brethren have discouraged our heart, but we have to let it happen. Numbers 32 and 9 says they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel that they should not go into the land which the Lord had given them in the promised land, you remember, going across the Jordan, is not going to heaven. It's going to the victorious Christian life on earth. The first thing they did there was fight the battle of Jericho and a whole lot of other battles. There's no battles in heaven. And so we see we can be discouraged because of the path of life. They were much discouraged because of the way We can be discouraged because of people. The spies came back and discouraged the heart of the children of Israel. We can even be discouraged by parents. Colossians 3.21 says, Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Now, usually discouragement comes from disapproval. Parents, should they never disapprove, How about the police department? Should they never disapprove if you're speeding through a red light? How about pastors? Should they never disapprove? What about God? Should he never disapprove? We need to understand disapproval is a fact of life. 240 times the Bible says, thou shalt not. Well, we've looked at the source of discouragement. In our next program, we'll look at the severity of discouragement. It can be mild discouragement, which comes from daily pressures which will affect our emotions. It can be strong discouragement, which will affect our emotions and our spirit. And it can even be disabling discouragement, which is major pressures affecting our mental, emotional, spiritual, and even our physical being. Be sure to be with us for our next program.