this is no time to be discouraged
the main reason so many of us feel discouraged is because of seeking greatness either in ourselves or anythings else other than God
we are not here for ourselves, or kids, or husband, or the earth
we are here for God... it is as simple as that
this is no time to think otherwise
we need to build up our strength in Him... not be discouraged because of a man or men or ourselves
a perfection of hope and fear is found in the poor in spirit
this doesn't mean we trod around with our heads hung low all depressed and saddened and submissive like a kitten against a wolf...
the poor in spirit seek happiness only in God
hope is the reward
the wolf... the enemy of this hope is despair and presumption
losing trust in God's goodness and mercy towards us is despair in it's fullest
presumption is the opposite... thinking that God will give happiness to you when you aren't entitled to it... like when you commit a sin, think God will forgive you without repenting from this sin
despair is more dangerous for us than any unbelief in God... because this means that man has given up hope
what are you living for if you do not have hope? can you have respect for yourself? respect for others? love for God??
every bad thing we do will send us into a tailspin right into despair, and we will try to fill that void of hope with (most likely) material items...
but despair can also be caused by being lustful — it truly blinds a person to only see pleasures of the flesh... aaaahhhh... the flesh... we see it all over creation don't we? it's on tv, the news, the computer, when we are shopping on the advertisements... but when you only see that, and don't see the good, your desire is not for spiritual good... but a desire to please the flesh
this is a lot to think about i know... but there is no better time than the present to begin anew...
it is certainly not difficult to attain!
laziness or being a sloth causes you to think it is just too difficult to be otherwise, and you fall into despair
pride was the fall of one in particular being...
hope destroys violence and peace rules over them
that is what most of us want isn't it? happiness and peace
we will be in the pursuit of happiness all through the season of Advent — that is quickly approaching... but I'm pulling the reigns on the world even more and showing my God I am here for Him and no one else
everything else will fall into place... into the quiet rhythm within each and everyone of ourselves...
xo+ hopeful blessings,