Encourage
Many days you think about when you’ll become ‘somebody.’ You want more money, a larger position at work, and be famous (among our peers). You want it so much that you may forget about the beauty that surrounds you everyday.
You are a father. You are a mother. You are a brother or sister. You are a family member. You are a co-worker. You are a supervisor. You are a friend. You are a children of God.
There is great beauty in who you are right now. Take a moment to consider the beauty of the relationships that surround you. May you see the benefit of your current job. May you love coming home to our family. May you see the grace and mercy given to you by God everyday. May you enjoy where the Lord has you, for there is a purpose in you being there.
Each person around you has value. May you see their value and not overlook them at the expense of other stuff that may never come. May you come to understand the significance of your own value as the Lord has shed His love on you through His Son.
Psalm 118:24 – This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
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Failing is never easy. We want to live a righteous and holy life for God, then we do something that bring us into sin. We feel horrible, unworthy, and far from the love of our Father in Heaven. It seems that we’ll never be able to make it back to where we need to be, let alone where we were before we fell.
Proverbs 24:16 – For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Solomon wrote to his son about the difference of a just man and the wicked. The difference is where they will end up. A just man may fall several times, but in each instance he rises again to his ‘position’ of being just. The wicked may have been standing, but will fall (go into) mischief. The just man will return to his position of being just. The wicked will go into mischief and remain.
The Lord will help you live for Him. Keep walking toward Him…
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Philippians 4:10-13 – But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
1. Throughout our lives, there will be many ‘lemons’ that come our way. The lemons may represent sour relationships, troubling finances, difficult bosses, etc. Maybe we’re impatient with our current situation. We’re in one location and want to be in another. We’re up, when we want to be down…then when we get down, we wished we were up again. We want hot to cold, cold to hot. What we have never seems to be enough.
Hebrews 12:1-4 – Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
After speaking about the many men and women that have received a good report through faith, looking faithfully to the heavenly city (in spite of hardships and persecutions), a word of encouragement is given. The writers tells the Hebrews that as they are surrounded by such patriarchs of faith (witnesses), they should lay aside the weights and sin that seem to so easily come upon them.
There are many times in our lives when we’re on top of things and all is going well. We feel invincible, able to leap mountains in a single bound, and feel so connected to the Lord. Then, as time may go on, we can’t seem to climb even a step on the mountain, we feel weak, and seem unable to hear anything from God. The weights of the world and life are upon us and sin croutches at our door – almost like an angry mob waiting to attack. It is at these times we feel the only option is to give up and give in – to allow whoever or whatever to have their way. It feels like it would be easier right?! Wrong.
Why do we wait to take a leap of faith?
There are many things God places within our hearts (and tells us to do), yet we won’t move out on it. We sit, stand, and hide in silence unwilling to step out on what God has called us to because of fear. Under the banner of fear, we don’t step out because of:
1. Fear of the Unknown. The unknown is that…unknown. The hows, whys, whens, etc. Many times these questions are not answered until your first few steps of faith are taken.
2. Fear of Failure. What if I don’t succeed? I’ll look foolish in front of others, lose money, time, etc. But if God’s Word does not return void (Isaiah 55:9-11), how can you fail?
3. Fear of Being Alone. You don’t want to move until others come along side of you.
Sometimes we need a reset. We’re tired, frustrated, and angry. Nothing is seems to be going right. Discouragement sets in and we get in a cycle of dispair, worry, and drowning sadness.
1. Stop what you are doing. When we’re going through difficult situations, one of the things we don’t do is stop. We continue along the same path until something negative happens to us. We need to stop making bad decisions, stop working, and stop thinking. We need to take time to quiet our minds, hearts, and lives to hear the Lord clearly. Maybe we need to go on long walk or drive, sit quietly, or take a longer lunch break. Maybe we just need to be alone.
1. We like seeing examples of righteousness. Throughout history, there has been many men and women of great faith. Through the trials they faced, they had the assured trust and confidence in the promises of God. They displayed a level of faith we aspire to achieve:
Hebrews 11:35-40 – Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
2. Jesus is our greatest example of righteousness. Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life in spite of evil intentions, jealousy, strife, and even his own emotions. He lived in obedience to His Father and His purpose on earth. He understood who He was and what He was called to accomplish. Nothing swayed Him from His path and purpose for living (Luke 9:51-56).
In the times that I’m my own worse enemy I want to do right and walk a straight path Yet I allow temptation and sin to get the last laugh I cannot believe I’ve fallen again No matter how far I run My conscious reminds me of my sin Dizzy thoughts and troubles increase Lord, when will the and heartache cease How can I remove myself from the trials and pain Maybe I should end my life to keep from worrying again But a permanent solution to a temporary problem is what I see Ending my life will only bring pleasure to the one tormenting me Though the pain in my heart is real today It will surely drift in the coming days O Lord, give me the strength to rise again To be dusted off and cleansed from my sin Forgive me Lord for my acts of disobedience Teach me by Your grace to live like the One You sent He is my example, my Savior, and Friend He is my ever-present help when temptation comes again I will come to You and cause the devil to flee Because living with You is my eternity With Your help I can live beyond temptation’s call Walking in the newest of life healthy and strong Living for You is my strongest desire To please You always in spite of the situations that transpire O Lord, please deliver me from me.
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1. Encouragers are everyday people.
2. Encouragers see past the faults of others.
3. Encouragers find ways to speak into the life of another.
4. Encouragers are sensitive to the needs of others.
5. Encouragers use their lives as a source of encouragement.
6. Encouragers often encourage others in the midst of their own trials and tribulations.
7. Encouragers do not allow opportunities to encourage to pass by.
Photo courtesy of Photo courtesy of Flickr.com/wwworks. Image covered under Creative Commons License.
The days are long and the worries pile on I Must Live For You When my job is full of stress and my life is a mess I Must Live For You Fleshly desires arouse and troubles abound I Must Live For You As the money dwindles and the struggle continues I Must Live For You Give me peace in the storm and the ability to go on I Must Live For You This is the day I can live Your way I Must Live For You When I don’t know what to do show me the path to choose I Must Live For You I can live a godly life in spite of pain and strife I Must Live For You Help me see past my problems and trust You to solve them I Must Live For You Give me the strength to stand and be a loving Christian I Must Live For You
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