2. DETERMINE We need to DETERMINE that we will not remain discouraged. Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he 2Cor 10:5 tells about bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself. Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.

3. Insist Insist on finding the good in every situation. Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.

4. Set Set realistic Goals that you can achieve. Mark 1:17 Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." Mark 14:3 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. 4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, "Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 5 "For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they criticized her sharply. 6 But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 7 "For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. 8 "She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 9 "Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her."

5. CULTIVATE CULTIVATE a positive outlook on life. Outlook determines outcome. Numbers 13:31 But the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we." 32 And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, "The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. 33 "There we saw the giants; and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight."

6. Observe OBSERVE Gods dealings with his children. Psalm 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. John 10:29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.

7. USE USE difficult times to strengthen your faith. Job 14:1 "Man who is born of woman Is of few days and full of trouble. 2 Timothy 2:3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. James 5:10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord -- that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

8. RESIST RESIST your adversary the devil. James 4:7 Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 1 Peter 5:9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

9. AVOID AVOID self pity at all cost. Hebrews 12:3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

10. GET GET involved in the Lords work. Luke 2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? Acts 26:20 but declared both to them of Damascus first and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judaea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance

11. ENCOURAGE ENCOURAGE others 1 Thessalonians 3:1 Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, 2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, 3 that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.

12. MAKE MAKE prayer a daily habit Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Matthew 26:41 "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.

13. ESCAPE ESCAPE the past Phil 3:13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Matt. 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matt. 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

14. NURTURE NURTURE a patient spirit with yourself 1Thess 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. Ezra 10:13 But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for we are many that have transgressed in this thing.

15. TAKE TAKE life one day at a time. Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.