Get Encouraged

Tag: Christianity

  • Even Now…

    God’s people were going through a rocky time. There was calamity. There was war, difficulty, and divisiveness. Amid all that was happening, the Lord sent great encouragement through Joel.

    Joel 2:12-13 encourages, “Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”

    Notice the Lord’s declaration…

    Even now…

    • Even now, though you have caused calamity.
    • Even now, though the decisions that have been made left you in a whirlwind.
    • Even now, though you feel you’ve messed up horribly.

    …Return to me.

    We can return because of the Lord’s character. In verse 13, Joel is referring to the Lord’s own words in Exodus 34:6.

    “And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”

    Remember the Lord’s encouragement today. Even now, though life is rocky and messed up, we can return to him.

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  • Peace With You

    “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18).

    Everyone means me too! Having peace with myself is just as important as having peace with others. I was reminded of this by the Worried for Nothing Devotional.

    Our days are so much sweeter and our nights are so much brighter when we have peace. Our way to finding true peace begins with our relationship with the Lord. In Matthew 11, Jesus encourages us to exchange our unrest for his peace.

    “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

    Allow the Lord to help you find peace with yourself today. Finding peace with yourself is the first step in finding peace with others.

  • Today’s Enough

    How full is your calendar today? If you are like me, it is pretty full. Between work, getting the kids to school, and running errands, there is just not a lot of time for anything else. Especially worry about tomorrow. That’s why it is encouraging to find this nugget of wisdom tucked away in Matthew 6.

    Jesus says, “Don’t worry about tomorrow for today has enough worries of its own” (Matthew 6:34)

    As we think of all that is coming and all that may happen tomorrow, it is easy to let worry creep into our lives. However, Jesus encourages us not to worry about those events and days in the future. We are reminded the Lord has our back. He is going to take care of tomorrow. After all, today’s agenda is full; there’s no room for worry about tomorrow.

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  • The Great Time Taker

    It sneaks up on us and steals our time. It can take a minute hear and a minute there, or it can rob us of a whole day without our realizing it. It is the plague of worry, and it steals much of our time.

    According to a study conducted by a team of researchers at the University of Cincinnati, the average person spends about 1 hour and 50 minutes per day worrying. This adds up to a total of about 12 hours and 50 minutes per week or 672 hours (or 28 days) per year. That is a when our peace is robbed from us.

    This is why it is important to fight the plague of worry. As worry creeps into your day, try challenging yourself to remember the words of Matthew 6:33. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

    Matthew 6 reminds us birds don’t worry, and flowers don’t fret. Jesus promises the Lord will take care of birds and flowers, and will take care of us as well.

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  • 4 Tips for Fighting Worry

    The mail brings an unexpected invoice. Where are we going to find the money to pay it?

    My wife is delayed in responding to my text. Did something happen to her?

    My boss is acting differently today. Did I do something to upset her?

    Worry seems to find its way into our lives, and left uncontrolled, worry can cause significant harm. It can affect our physical health. The APA and Mayo Clinic list digestive issues, trouble sleeping, and migraines as some of worry’s implications. The Association also mentions worry negatively impacts our relationships by creating a number of unnecessary conflicts. This is why it is so important for you and I to handle worry in an appropriate way.

    Thankfully, Scripture gives guidance on controlling and combatting worry. The Bible offers several suggestions for handling worry. Here are a few examples:

    1. Pray and seek God’s guidance: Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This verse encourages us to pray to God with a grateful heart, presenting our requests to Him and trusting Him to provide peace in our hearts.
    2. Trust in God’s provision: Matthew 6:25-34 encourages us to trust in God’s provision for our needs. Verse 33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” This verse reminds us to prioritize our relationship with God and trust Him to take care of our needs.
    3. Cast our anxieties on God: 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” This verse reminds us that we can trust God to care for us and to take our worries from us.
    4. Focus on positive and uplifting thoughts: Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” This verse encourages us to focus on positive and uplifting thoughts, which can help to alleviate worry.

    If you are struggling with worry, there are steps you can take to find relief and peace. The Bible offers powerful guidance and reassurance for those who are feeling anxious or overwhelmed. Remember to pray and seek God’s guidance, trust in His provision, cast your anxieties on Him, and focus on positive and uplifting thoughts. By implementing these strategies, you can begin to reduce worry and find comfort in the knowledge that God cares for you. Don’t let worry hold you back – take action today to find the peace and serenity that you deserve.

  • Don’t Worry, Be Peaceful

    The old saying goes, “We can be our own worst enemy,” and there are times it is completely true. Have you ever allowed thoughts about yourself to rob you of peace?

    • A project didn’t turn out the way you desired, so you criticize every mistake.
    • You were late for work because you were stuck in traffic, so you blame yourself for not having enough time.
    • You compare yourself to the appearance of others, and beat yourself up because you do not have the life you believe they do.

    It can be a struggle to not strip ourselves of peace when we’re having a bad day. Scripture gives some advice for these days.

    “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, present your requests to God. And, the peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Philippians 4:6-7).

    “Cast your anxieties upon the Lord because he cares for you deeply” (1 Peter 5:7).

    Take those unpeaceful moments to the Lord. Allow him to carry those burdens and hand you, his peace.

    • You’re probably judging the project more critically than others will.
    • The Lord may have an encouraging message for you during that traffic jam.
    • Social media doesn’t tell the full story, so others may be having the same thoughts when they compare themselves to us.

     Don’t worry. Be peaceful!

  • Navigating Change

    Change. Do you find it stressful or invigorating? I’m somewhere in the middle; change can be good, but for the most part, I don’t like it. No matter how much we dread change, it is unavoidable.

    The world around us is always changing. Society is always evolving. Employers are always “improving systems” and having their teams work differently. As you and I go through life, change may be forced upon us, but there is one constant.

    The Bible reminds us “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

    So when faced with change, choose to stay encouraged and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. With Him by your side, you can navigate any change with confidence and hope because Jesus is unchanging.

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  • Fight Back

    Don’t get pushed around without fighting back.

    James says, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you”  (James 4:7).

    This doesn’t mean he won’t fight our resistance, but with the Lord’s help, we can win the fight. Perhaps the best weapon to use is Scripture!

    Jesus used Scripture to win the fight. Jesus was in the wilderness, and Satan tried tempting him numerous times (Matthew 4). Each time Jesus quoted Scripture and caused Satan to flee. Satan kept trying – just as he will with us. But Scripture kept him fleeing – just as it will with us.

    Keep resisting and the devil will keep fleeing.

  • More Than Romance

    Valentine’s Day is approaching and love is in the air, but there’s more to love than romance.

    Attend a wedding, and along with the decorations and beauty of love on display, you’ll probably hear this passage read, or at least, referenced.

    1 Corinthians 13:4-8 says:

    4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

    8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages[b] and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 

    This passage certainly describes the type of love a husband and wife should have for one another, but it goes farther. It truly describes the type of love Christians should strive to imitate in all of our relationships. This passage does a marvelous job describing it, and the Gospels give us explicit illustrations of how Jesus modeled it.

    Jesus’ Patience

    On one occasion, James and John came to Jesus desiring to be called the greatest. They wanted Jesus to promote them to places of honor. His response demonstrates his patience.

    The NIV Jesus Bible remarks, “Consider the passage in the Gospel of Mark in which James and John asked Jesus to do whatever they asked of him. They boldly asked—maybe even with a hint of demand—to sit on either side of him in glory. However, rather than chiding them for such brashness, Jesus spoke to them patiently (Mk 10:35–40).”

    Jesus’ Kindness

    Jesus’ disciples felt Jesus was busy and would not have time to visit with some families who brought their children for Jesus to bless. Matthew records the disciples rebuking the parents and trying to send the families away, but Jesus showed them kindness. Matthew 19:13-15 says:

    “13 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.

    14 But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” 15 And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.”

    Jesus was not Proud

    As he was approaching the time on the cross, Jesus and his disciples were in the upper room having a meal, but the disciples forgot to wash their feet. This was a dirty job, and it was usually reserved for the lowest servant in the home. Seeing the need, Jesus took it upon himself to wash the disciples’ feet. He was humble enough to perform this task. He did not consider himself to good to do it.

    Jesus was not Easily Angered

    According to the NIV Jesus Bible, “Jesus was not easily angered, either. The careful reader might immediately think of the Lord driving out the moneychangers in the temple. Clearly, these people angered the Lord. However, Jesus’ anger was not an easily triggered rage over something insignificant. Instead, love for his Father’s house consumed him (Jn 2:17).”

    Jesus Delighted in the Truth

    John 18:37 says, “37 Pilate said, “So you are a king?”

    Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”

    Jesus Never Gave Up and was Always Hopeful

    Jesus continued following God’s path even though, for him, it became unimaginably hard. He knew the Father could raise him from the grave, so he laid his own interests aside to take up the interests of the world. He truly demonstrated love.

    Jesus’ Perseverance

    “Scorning the shame, he endured the cross for his people (Heb 12:2). This patient, kind, truth-rejoicing, protecting, trusting and persevering love kept no record of wrongs (1Co 13:5). Because of Jesus’ death, the amassed wrongs committed by the people of God were forgiven. The love demonstrated on the cross will forever remain unmatched (1Jn 4:10),” states the NIV Jesus Bible.

    Is this the type of love you are imitating?

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  • Recipe for Life

    Every good chef knows recipes have to be followed. Cooking a complicated dish involves following the instructions of the recipe. In Jeremiah 33:3, we find a recipe for navigating our complicated lives.

    “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know,” Says the Lord in Jeremiah 33:3.

    The recipe for getting through life is CALL ON THE LORD.

    “Call to me,” The Lord invites when we are tired and weary.

    “Call to me,” the Lord invites when we don’t know how we are going to make it through the day.

    “Call to me,” the Lord invites when we’re needing wisdom.

    Whatever the situation, wherever we find ourselves, the invitation to call the Lord is there. We’re promised an answer; we’re promised help. CALL TO THE LORD is the recipe for finding our way through the complications of life.

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