“Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
Encouragement. I absolutely love to be encouraged, don’t you? I recently went through a season where it felt like encouragement was hard to come by. When I am not being encouraged it makes me feel like I am doing something wrong, I am not valued, or worse… not even noticed.
But when I am encouraged, it spurs me on. It confirms and affirms the truth of who I am in Christ. It helps me to live fully me and fully free.
I have noticed that when I am not being encouraged, I usually am not encouraging others. It is not a very beautiful cycle and it’s hard to break, especially when you think you deserve it and the other person may not.
Recently, a friend of mine texted me and said, “The Lord has been speaking to me. He laid your name and four other men on my heart. I’m to pray for you daily.”
Talk about encouragement! When the Lord is speaking to your friend about you, and your friend is charged to pray for you daily, wow! And not only has he prayed for me, but he has listened to the Spirit of God speak to him and has sent me the most encouraging, spirit-filled texts at the most needed times!
I am reminded of these verses:
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25
I’m not sure what may be discouraging you today, but can I invite you to be a vessel of God’s presence and peace today by being His voice of encouragement?
Reflection:
- Lord, who might you want me to encourage today?
- Lord, I need encouragement. Will encourage me or send a vessel of your encouragement to me?
- Lord, thank you for the reminder of who I am in you. I praise you for that! Help me to stay there and be encouraged in that truth.
Pray through the truth of Romans 15:4-6.
“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
