Fighting Feelings of Defeat

I want to make my life count, I don’t want to walk in defeat. When I have moments, or days, of feeling defeated in life, when I am ready to wave the white flag, there are some things that help me get through it.  These moments show me that I am clearly in need of a Savior.  Here are a few ways to fight back those feelings, because thinking thoughts of defeat are not from the Lord.

1.  Keep my eyes on eternity:  Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “God has made everything beautiful for its own time.  He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”  God set eternity in our hearts, so we have this mysterious ability to be comfortable with our lives, even if we are dealing with feelings of defeat.

2.  Read and do.  First, read God’s Word.  It is our love letter from Him.  Without it there is no freedom, no truth, and very little hope.  But there’s more–do what it says.  Reading it is good.  Doing what it says is the way to living life UNdefeated!  Jesus said in Luke 11:28, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put in into practice.”

3.  Get over myself.  Most the time when I’m feeling down or dealing with issues, it’s because I’m paying too much attention to myself and my problems, and forgetting about those around me.  When I become overly self-involved, I forget that others are going through the same things.  Getting out of the pity party mode, and connecting with others does wonders. Philippians 2:4 says, “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”

Do you ever have days where you have no peace, days that you feel defeated?  How do you keep your eyes on eternity?