One of the best things I can do when I feel my attitude drifting toward discouragement is to switch from defense to offense.  Instead of sitting around waiting for someone else to encourage me, I try to go on the attack and encourage someone else.

If I’m feeling down because our attendance isn’t where I want it to be, I might call a pastor who is struggling big time in this area, and try to speak increase over his life and ministry.

If I’m hurting because someone I trusted let me down, I may write a short letter of encouragement to someone who I let down in the past.  It helps me keep my own imperfection in perspective when I’m upset by the imperfections of others.

If I’m feeling sorry for myself for a vague, unnamed reason, I like to leave encouraging comments on a few random blogs-especially guys’ whose ministries may not receive a lot of attention-and say a short prayer for those guys.

I’ll bet Satan hates this strategy, because in effect, it turns his heaviest artillery against him.  And when I venture away from my dilemma for a few minutes to bless someone else, I often find that the discouragement has greatly subsided by the time I return.