Episode 25: How to Encourage Yourself

In this episode: Don't forget to become a Theodio Premier Subscriber. Offer ends when 2020 comes to a close. The relevant audiobook segment My notes from the blog, including an unexpected thing about grocery stores Show notes: Episode blog post: Seven healthy ways to win your struggle against spiritual discouragement Past post: Pastor Paul’s spiritual warfare […]
The post Episode 25: How to Encourage Yourself appeared first on Theodio.

In this episode:

Don't forget to become a Theodio Premier Subscriber. Offer ends when 2020 comes to a close.
The relevant audiobook segment
My notes from the blog, including an unexpected thing about grocery stores

Show notes:

Episode blog post: Seven healthy ways to win your struggle against spiritual discouragement
Past post: Pastor Paul’s spiritual warfare toolbox

Welcome back to the Theodio Podcast. I’m your host, Dan Kassis

We’re walking though the book Precious Remedies against Satan’s Devices by Thomas Brooks, one section at a time. Along with a segment of our original audio production of the book, we provide commentary and fresh insight, bringing this work of classic theology to life for you.

We are now 25 episodes into this journey. For those of you who have followed along the whole time, we’re truly thankful for you. If you’re new, remember you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts or follow on Spotify. We’re also on Google Podcasts and Stitcher.

And make sure you stick around at the end for a reminder about a special offer that’s ending soon.

A look back

Because of this episode’s topic I think it’s time for a review. Way back in episode 2 we discussed the true nature of spiritual warfare. There's a lot of misunderstanding about this subject. Despite what you see in movies and read in some Christian novels, spiritual warfare is not a cosmic death match with flaming swords. It's a battle of the mind against wrong thinking.

In the show notes I’m going to provide a link to the blog post that discusses the true nature of spiritual warfare. I provide a breakdown of the godly armor Paul teaches about in Ephesians 6. You’ll get a solid understanding of this heavenly equipment and see how it helps us fight our enemy.

A look ahead

Our topic this time is discouragement. If God’s love for us is our motivation for duty and service, Satan’s goal is to put our minds on ourselves. But our drive to remain spiritually focused isn’t inside us.

Right living and right believing depend on right thinking. And when you're trying to devote yourself to God, Satan will try to distract you with what Thomas Brooks calls vain thoughts. These are worries, worldly cares, discouragements, and arguments against Christ and his kingdom. They can wear you down and put you off from serving the Lord.

Winning this battle is about engaging this wrong thinking, taking hold of it, and countering it with a healthy dose of truth. In this section of Precious Remedies against, Brooks explains seven ways to do this. Here he is to explain.

Conclusion

The end of this section in the book seems a bit abrupt. Brooks uses the verse in 2 Timothy to demonstrate the importance of pleasing our Master rather than devoting ourselves to worldly cares.

In today’s language we might think of overcommitment. It’s so easy to take on too many responsibilities. When every cause or need seems worthy of our time and attention, we feel guilty for saying “no” to anything.

But healthy devotion and commitment require our “no.” We can trust that if our lives don’t have room for one more thing, God will raise up someone else to fill the need.

We have one more episode coming before we take a break for Christmas week. And this is your reminder that you only have a couple more weeks to become a Theodio Premier Subscriber. Visit Theodio.com and click on “Join Us” at the top of the page. You’ll learn about the benefits of Premier Membership. We will close the door on this opportunity for good at the end of 2020.

That’s all for now. Next time we will end both the year and chapter 3 of Precious Remedies with a discussion of the root vs. the fruit. Understanding this concept was a watershed moment in my spiritual life. I hope it will be the same for you.

Please join us then.

The post Episode 25: How to Encourage Yourself appeared first on Theodio.