Get Encouraged

Category: Encouragement

  • Giving Thanks

    Many reasons to give thanks.

    A husband had a habit of grumbling about the food his wife prepared for meals. He would grumble, then offer a prayer of thanksgiving. His pattern of grumbling then thanking was the same every day.

    One day his young daughter asked, “Dad, does God hear our prayers?”

    “Why yes,” the father replied.

    The daughter continued, “Does God hear everything else we say?”

    “Of course,” the dad said. He was bubbling with pride because he had inspired his child to ask spiritual questions.

    His pride quickly turned to embarrassment and humility when the daughter asked, “Well, which one does he believe: your grumbling or thanksgiving?”

    Blessings can come in all shapes and sizes, and Psalm 136 encourages us to give thanks to the Lord for all that he has done for us.

    Verses 1-3 say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His faithful love endures forever.”

    The Psalmist gives us some reasons to give thanks.

    • Give thanks for the mighty miracles God performs.
    • Give thanks for the beautiful creation surrounding us.
    • Give thanks to him for the freedom he brings.
    • Give thanks to him for the provisions he provides.
    • Give thanks to him for his past actions.
    • Give thanks to him for his present grace.
    • Give thanks to him for his grace and love. We are reminded 26 times the Lord’s faithful love endures forever.

    With current events, it is easy to forget how many times we have been blessed, yet there is much for which we can be thankful.

    Helen Keller said, “So much has been given to me that I have no time to ponder that which I don’t have.” There are many reasons we have to be grateful. Take time today to thank God for 10 of your blessings.

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  • Never Failing Promise

    This promise never fails amid failure.

    Henry Ford once said failure was the opportunity to begin again more intelligently, and Thomas Edison was no stranger to failure. As Edison worked on his various inventions, he failed many times.

    In 1914, a fire destroyed Edison’s factory, equipment, and much of the record of his work. Edison surveyed the damage the next day and concluded, “We can start over anew. All of our mistakes are burned up.” His failures did not stop Edison from moving on.

    As a part of life, you and I will experience failures. We will be overlooked by the Hiring Manager. Our plans may unravel rather than work. Those whom we think to be loyal friends may walk away. Failures come, and amid these moments, it may seem everything is crumbling around us; however, there is one promise which will never fail us.

    Whether we are succeeding or failing, the Lord is with us.

    • Deuteronomy 31 promises the Lord will personally go ahead of us.
    • Solomon writes in Proverbs 12 the Godly are deeply rooted.
    • Jesus says in Matthew 28:20, “and be sure of this, I am with you always, even to the very end of the age.”
    • The writer of Hebrews quotes the Lord as saying, “I will never leave you. I will never abandon you.”

    Failure may cause everything else to crumble, but the Lord will stick around.

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  • Failure Creates a Mosaic

    Success takes time.

    It took years to construct. The structure was made of only the finest gold, silver, and cedar. The construction had to be solid, and the furnishings had to be beautiful and perfect. Solomon used only the most skilled craftsmen to perform the work. The temple Solomon built for the Lord was a masterpiece. He commented in 2 Chronicles 2:5, “This must be a magnificent temple because our God is greater than all other gods….”

    We are God’s temple.

    The Bible teaches in 1 Corinthians 6 that we are the Lord’s temple. In the same way it took time to build the temple Solomon constructed, it may take time to build our lives into the magnificent mosaic the Lord desires. When you feel like a failure, keep in mind…

    The temple of our lives is a masterpiece.

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  • 3 Steps to Turn Failures to Successes

    An F can serve as the foundation for an A+.

    Babe Ruth, Robert Frost, Oprah, Winston Churchill, and many others, including you and me, have something in common. Failure has been a part of the life experience. Perhaps some on the list have reached great success, but it has not occurred overnight. It has taken much work and times of failing to reach the level of success now enjoyed.

    Everyone experiences failures in life, and how these moments are handled is up to the individual. Here are 3 action-steps we can take to turn our failures into the starting point for the path to success.

    Be honest about the situation.

    Be honest, especially with yourself, when failure occurs. This will give you the proper perspective to move forward.

    Take advantage of the failure.

    Exploit the moment; pick it apart to learn everything you can. Ask the Lord to give you wisdom and understanding to help learn from the failure. The most valuable lessons we can learn come from the mistakes we make.

    Never use failure as an excuse not to try again.

    Keep trying may be the best approach. At one point in his career, Babe Ruth had struck out 1,316 times, but he did not stay in the dugout. It may take several job applications before you are noticed or it may take multiple attempts to run the marathon before you cross the finish line, but success can only come if you keep trying.

    Charles Kettering suggested we must learn to fail with intelligence. He commented, “Once you have failed, analyze the problem and find out why because each failure is one more step leading up to the cathedral of success. The only time you do not want to fail is the last time you try.”

    What steps are you taking to turn moments of failure into the launch pad for success?

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  • Feel Like a Failure?

    Failure comes and goes.

    It has happened to us all. No one likes it, and it is not one of life’s enjoyable experiences. It hurts, it is painful, and it is a part of everyone’s life. It is failure.

    One stumble does not break or define a person. Some of history’s most successful people have experienced the agony of failure.

    • Babe Ruth held the record for the most strike outs, and struck out multiple times in a World Series game. Yet, look at his overall record.
    • Robert Frost was rejected by a magazine stating there was no place for his poetry.
    • An English teacher wrote on Winston Churchill’s report card that he did not have much potential for success.
    • Oprah was fired from a Chicago TV station. She went on.
    • You and I can insert our failures here.

    Max Lucado says, “Though you’ve failed, God does not. Face your failures with faith and God’s goodness.”

    • “The Lord directs the steps of the Godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they never fall for the Lord holds them by the hand,” remarks the Psalmist in 37:23-24.
    • Proverbs 24:16 says, “The Godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.”

    Failures will come, but the Lord will help us overcome those failures and move on with life. Remember amid failure, the Lord is with you.

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  • 5 Tips for Building a Firm Foundation

    Firm foundations survive storms.

    There seems to be no shortage of storms in the world right now. Glance at the headlines, and you will soon discover storms coming at us from all directions. COVID19, personal safety being at risk, and the like are causing storms. While it may be a particularly stormy time, storms are nothing new to life.

    Proverbs suggests we build our lives on a firm foundation to survive these storms. Solomon writes in 10:25, “When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the Godly have a lasting foundation.”

    How do we build this foundation?

    • Develop a relationship with the Lord by spending time in the Bible.
    • Seek wisdom through prayer.
    • Search the Scriptures for answers to life’s questions.
    • Always strive to do what is right.

    Building on this foundation is not easy, but it is worth the effort involved. Jesus tells a parable of two builders. The first builder did not take the time to dig through the sand to place his home on a rock foundation, while the second builder dug through the sand to rest his home on a rock foundation. A storm came, and flood waters rose. The first house was swept away, but the second house stood, unmoved by the tumultuous waters.

    As we are weathering a stormy time, how firm is your foundation? Do you need to allow the Lord to add stability?

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  • Love Endures

    Love conquers all.

    Dear Hate by Maren Morris is a powerful reminder of hate’s grip and love’s conquering power.

    The battle between hate and love has existed since Adam and Eve were in the garden. The disgusting work of hate ensnares us, but love has the power to conquer everything. Love conquers the divides between people, love heals the wounds inflicted by hate, and love mends the broken heart. Love has the power to overcome anything hate throws our way.

    1 Corinthians 13:6-8 says, “Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

    The Bible gives us a glimpse into the end of the battle between hate and love. Love conquers all. God is love and nothing has the power to stand in his way. His grace and mercy will win.

    Meanwhile, as the battle rages, you and I have the challenge to be messengers of love.

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  • One Promise

    Many People, Same Promise

    They came from a variety of backgrounds and places. Some were of Jewish descent while others shared a different heritage. Some were poor and could barely make ends meet while others had plenty of wealth. They lived in different locations and celebrated different cultures. They were a diverse people, but they received the same promise.

    They received the promise presented by Christ. That is, forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God through grace. This was the same promise for everyone.

    Paul writes to the Galatians in chapter 3, “So in Christ Jesus, you are all children of God through faith. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ than you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs, according to the promise.”

    The promise was offered to everyone and the only deciding factor was acceptance. The Lord only looked at the heart and nothing else.

    The Lord has not changed. He still only looks at the heart and nothing else. You and I may be part of a diverse group of people, but the promise made to us is the same. We come from a wide variety of backgrounds and places, but we can share in the Lord’s grace.

    The Bible challenges us to look at one another’s heart rather than outward appearance. How well do you and I meet this challenge?

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  • Unity

    The labor of unity.

    Intending to raise cattle, a New York family purchased a ranch in Kansas. They could not agree on the name of the ranch, and when a family friend visited, the would-be rancher explained the disagreement.

    “I wanted to name the ranch the Barr J, my wife favored the Susie Q, one of our sons wanted the Flying W, and the other son preferred the Lazy Y,” explained the rancher, “so we named it the Barr J Susie Q Flying W Lazy Y Ranch.”

    The friend asked, “Where are all your cattle?”

    “They did not survive the branding,” stated the rancher.

    Disagreement usually brings about disaster, while unity brings peace. In Ephesians 4, Paul implores us to labor for unity in love.

    “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.”

    As Christians, our attitude should be one of humility, patience, and gentleness. When we see others hurting, we should have a desire to act. Our actions should bring with them meaningful results.

    Max Lucado asks, “Is your attitude toward other believers marked by love, humility, patience, and gentleness? Paul encouraged us to display unity in the body of Christ and accept one another in love. If you are not doing that, check your attitudes. Your spiritual gifts and talents should help bring the body of Christ together.”

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  • Coming Together

    Harmony brings joy, refreshment, and well-being.

    The worshipers of the Lord in David’s day had some differences. They came from different parts of the country, they descended from different tribes or were immigrants to Israel, and they did not all look exactly the same. With all these differences, they did have common ground.

    They traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate feasts. No matter their heritage, socioeconomic status, or looks, every follower of the Lord traveled to Jerusalem. As they traveled up the mountain road to the city, they would recite Psalms. One such Psalm is Psalm 133.

    “How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony. For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard, and onto the border of his robe. Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon, that falls on the mountains of Zion, and there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting,” writes David in Psalm 133.

    This Psalm reminds you and me harmony is beautiful. It brings joy and refreshment. Living harmoniously is what is best for all. David reminds us the Lord blesses harmony.

    Today, we still find differences. Geography, race, ethnicity, economics, and more create differences between us and our neighbors, yet we have common ground. The Lord’s grace is available to us. On the night of Jesus’ birth, the angel told the shepherds, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

    God does not restrict salvation to one people group. It is available to all, and the Bible challenges us to live in harmony with one another.

    Scripture implores us to make every effort to keep the unity of the bond of peace. This is certainly hard work, and involves listening rather than shouting, respecting rather than destroying, and promoting peace over agitation. Psalm 133 reminds us the Lord blesses harmony.

    Can I suggest we step back and ask ourselves how well we are doing at living in harmony with our neighbor?