Category Archives: Encouragement

Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Finding Refreshment and Renewal: How Jesus Quenches Our Thirst as the Rivers of Living Water

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It was October, and time to remember Moses striking the rock in the wilderness. The people celebrated for a week. They slept in tents and each morning they would draw water from the pool and take it to the altar. This was done to commemorate the Lord providing Israel water while they were in the desert.

Exodus 17 records the Israelites in a waterless place and grumbling against the Lord. The Lord instructed Moses to strike a rock, and verse 6 records water gushing out of the rock as the Elders looked on. The Lord provided for Israel’s need in a big way, so a festival was started to remember the Lord’s provision.

This week-long festival ended in a dramatic way. The daily water drawing was performed seven times on the seventh day. It was here Jesus revealed where one’s desire for God could be met. John 7:37-38 says, “on the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds. ‘Anyone who is thirsty may come to me. Anyone who believes in me may come and drink. For the Scriptures declare rivers of living water will flow from his heart.”

Jesus stands and shouts to grab the people’s attention. He stands and shouts because his news is that pertinent. “Is your soul thirsting for God? Come to me! Are you longing to feel God’s presence? Come to me!” Jesus invites everyone to come to him and satisfy the desire to be with God. He invites everyone to come to him to find the peace and forgiveness for which they are longing. Jesus invites the thirsty, weary traveler to find rest in him. He can grant rivers of living water for our soul.

Do you allow your soul to drink from those waters? Is Jesus a dot on your calendar or the center of your day?

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Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Thomas’ Question

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Taking in all this news was hard. There was a great deal to process as they had an intimate conversation with their leader. He was preparing the group for what was getting ready to happen. He was going to be handed over to enemies, and he was going to prepare a place for them. When the place was ready, he would come back and get them. Much was said, and Thomas was taking it all in, which leads to his question.

John 14:5-6 says, 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Perhaps Thomas was asking a question the other disciples wanted to know, but did not have the courage to ask. They would not be able to find the destination unless they had the address.

Jesus tells the disciples the address is him. The way to get to the place he is describing is him. Jesus is the way. It is in his truth and the life he offers we find our way into Heaven.

Jesus says no one gets to the Father except through him. No one finds the Lord’s gift of grace except through him. No one finds the Lord’s peace except through him. Jesus says he is the way, the truth, and the life. Forgiveness, peace, and life are found in Jesus.

Perhaps Thomas’ question is one you are asking. The address to the destination is Jesus. He is the way.

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Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Jesus is Our Guiding Light

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Night time in an unfamiliar terrain can be a scary place. With darkness all around, a traveler is not sure what lies ahead. The pitfalls of the land are unknown, so anxiety increases and nerves grow razor-thin. Have you ever been in this situation?

Israel was. As they were leaving Egypt, they found themselves in the unfamiliar territory of the desert. They were unsure what lie ahead, but the Lord gave them guidance. Exodus 13 records the Lord leading Israel by a pillar of fire. The light provided by this pillar:

  •  Gave Israel protection.
  • Provided salvation. 
  • Helped the people remember the Lord was with them.

Like Israel, life may place us in some unfamiliar territory, and the Lord will give us guidance in these moments. Jesus says in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Just as Israel followed the pillar of fire, we can follow him.

Jesus is our guiding light.

Through Jesus:

  • We find protection.
  • We find salvation.
  • We find the truth the Lord is with us.

Jesus is our light in unfamiliar places. Jesus is our light guiding us through the darkness of this world. What areas of life do you need the Lord’s light to shine?

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Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Claiming Victory: A promise from Psalm 118

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“My enemies did their best to kill me, but the Lord rescued me. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory” (Psalm 118:13-14).

These words of the Psalmist can bring great encouragement to you and I. They were written at a time of high stress and tension.

During this time, the Jewish people were struggling to rebuild their community and their temple in Jerusalem, and they faced opposition and persecution from their neighboring nations. Despite these challenges, the psalmist expresses confidence and trust in God’s protection and salvation, and celebrates God’s steadfast love and faithfulness.

Perhaps today is a time of high stress and tension for you. Look again at these words of the Psalmist. The Lord is his strength. The Lord has given him victory. Though we are surrounded by stress and tension, we can be assured the Lord is bringing about a victory.

If you’re struggling today, cling to this promise. The Lord is your strength and your song; he will give you victory.

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Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Divine Provision: How the Lord’s Manna for the Israelites Teaches Us About Trusting in God to Meet Our Needs

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The people of Israel found themselves in the desert where there are not a lot of food choices. Walking through the desert day after day is bound to strike up a hunger, so they had to eat something. They did not know what they were going to eat so the people grumbled. They had been pulled out of the fertile lands of Egypt and placed in the dry, parched desert. How on earth were they going to survive? Anxiety levels elevated; the Israelites quickly forgot how the Lord brought them out of Egypt.

But the Lord had a plan. Exodus 16 reveals the Lord sent manna each day for the Israelites. Verses 21-22 record, “Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much, two omers, for each person, and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses.” For the entirety of their trip, the Israelites were provided manna. The Lord met their needs.

The Israelites were taught a valuable lesson. The Lord can provide for our needs. What seemed impossible to them, was easy for the Lord. They saw a dry and parched land, but the Lord saw a bread basket. The Lord had provisions to meet the need. All the Israelites had to do was trust him.

Later, Moses recalled, “He humbled you, causing you to hunger then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known to teach you that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3). The people spent 40 years in the desert, yet they had food, water, clothes that stayed wearable, and feet that were not swollen. The Lord continually met their needs.

The Bible teaches the Lord is still in the need meeting business today. John 6:35 says, “Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Like the Israelites, our anxiety levels may be high. We may not understand how the Lord could possibly meet the needs in a situation or circumstance we are facing, but he put manna on the ground. What needs do you need to trust the Lord to meet today? Like the Israelites, he desires for us to trust him with our needs.

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Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Success Starts With Submitting

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No one likes failure, and everyone strives to achieve success. Tucked away in James 4 is a suggestion to help us find true success.

Submit to God (James 4:7).

True success comes from the Lord, and finding it requires allowing the Lord in our lives. This means…

  • We accept his wisdom and will.
  • We trust his power and love for us.
  • We follow his teachings.

Nothing will detour Satan faster than a close relationship with the Lord, so if you’re looking for true success, start by submitting to the Lord.

Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

The Good Shepherd: How Jesus Fulfills the Role

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Taking care of sheep was a commitment, not just a job. Sheep required around-the-clock care and protection. A good shepherd would care deeply for his sheep, and he would tend to their needs in a compassionate way. The Bible teaches Jesus is our good shepherd.

In John 10:11 and 14, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd.” This means Jesus acts toward us as a good shepherd acted toward his sheep. Here are just a few of the characteristics that make up a good shepherd.

A good shepherd knows his sheep.

A good shepherd knows his sheep. He knows everything about them. To many, sheep all look the same, but to their shepherd, they are unique.

  • In John 10:3, Jesus says, “…the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”
  • “I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and they know me,” Jesus says in John 10:14.

Jesus knows us. He knows our thoughts, hurts, passions, and everything else about us.

A good shepherd goes ahead of his sheep.

Jesus says in John 10:4, “After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them and they follow him because they know his voice.” A good shepherd goes ahead of his sheep to keep them out of danger. He leads them to water and green pastures so their needs are met. As our good shepherd, Jesus guides are lives.

A good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.

Standing between the sheep and their predators is the shepherd, and he is willing to give up his life to save theirs.

Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Standing between us and the penalty of sin is Jesus. He laid down his life to save ours. He is our good shepherd.

David writes in Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not be in want.” And, the Lord is a good shepherd. He knows us and he tenderly and compassionately cares for us. Take a moment today to thank him for being the good shepherd.

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Hope for the Hopeless: Psalm 118 Reveals Who to Trust

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Hope is easy when we do not really need it, but when circumstances around us seem hopeless, we truly discover where our hope can be found.

Friends who say call if you need anything may or may not mean it. Politicians may promise hope, but they are not able to deliver a true hope. Hope in money can eventually run out. The Lord, however, can provide a true, constant hope in the most hopeless of situations.

Psalm 118:8-9 reminds us “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.”

The Lord can give hope to the hopeless. In the darkest of hours, he can be a ray of light that changes everything. Where is your hope placed today?

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Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Finding Deliverance in Psalm 118: Overcoming Fear and Defeat in Difficult Times

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“When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;

he brought me into a spacious place.

The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.

What can mere mortals do to me?

The Lord is with me; he is my helper.

I look in triumph on my enemies” (Psalm 118:5-7).

“Between a rock and a hard place” is how a lot of folks may describe their current circumstances. They may not see a way out, but Psalm 118 reminds us of the Lord’s power.

The Psalmist says he was hard pressed; he was having a difficult time, so he cried out to the Lord and the Lord brought deliverance.

  • The Psalmist felt hard pressed, but the Lord gave him breathing room (verse 5).
  • The Psalmist fear was taken away by knowing the Lord was near (verse 6).
  • The Psalmist knew the Lord would bring victory (verse 7).

As the day begins, you may share those same feelings. You may feel hard pressed, fearful, and defeated, but the Lord offers the same deliverance to us. Follow the Psalmist example of crying out to the Lord.

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Enduring Love: A Promise from Psalm 118

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“Give thanks to the Lord. He is good; his love endures forever” proclaims Psalm 118:1.

This is a promise of unshakable love for us.

When Psalm 118 says that God’s love endures forever, it is expressing the idea that God’s love is constant and unchanging. The Hebrew word for “love” used in this verse is “hesed,” which is often translated as “steadfast love” or “unfailing love.” This word conveys the idea of a loyal, faithful, and committed love that endures through all circumstances and challenges.

In the context of Psalm 118, the psalmist is giving thanks to God for delivering them from their enemies and for being their salvation. The psalmist recognizes that God’s love is the foundation of this deliverance and salvation, and that it is an enduring love that will never fail.

This idea of God’s enduring love is a theme that is echoed throughout the Bible. For example, the prophet Jeremiah wrote, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). Similarly, the apostle Paul wrote, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

Overall, when Psalm 118 says that God’s love endures forever, it is expressing the idea that God’s love is unwavering, unchanging, and always available to those who seek it.

Remember, whatever life throws at you today, the Lord’s love endures forever.

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