Encouragement

[Alive]

Encouragement

 

Rom. 8:28 (NAS20S)   And we know that  God  causes  all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are  called according to His purpose.

Matt. 11:28 (MOUNCE-NT) Come to me, all you who are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will refresh you.

1Cor. 10:13 (MOUNCE-NT) No trial has overtaken you that is not distinctively human; and God is faithful; he will not let you be tested beyond what you can bear, but with the trial will also provide the way through, so that you will be able to endure it.

James 1:2 (NAS20S)    Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter  various  trials,

1Pet. 1:6 (NAS20S)  In this you greatly rejoice, even though now  for a little while,  if necessary, you have been distressed by  various  trials,

1Pet. 4:12 (NAS20S)    Beloved, do not be surprised at the  fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though something strange were happening to you;

2Pet. 2:9 (NAS20S)  then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from  a trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the  day of judgment,

Phil. 4:4 (NAS20S)    Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentle spirit be known to all people.  The Lord is  near. ⁶  Do not  be anxious about anything, but in everything by  prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And  the peace of God, which surpasses all  comprehension, will  guard your hearts and  minds in  Christ Jesus.

Phil. 4:8 (NAS20S)   Finally, brothers and sisters,  whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is  lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen  in me, practice these things, and  the God of peace will be with you.

In the course of our days on earth, we face various challenges. Some are the things that are common to all men and some are because we are sons of God and face spiritual battles not common to all men.

There are seasons when it seems we have reached the end of what we can endure and we may become discouraged or weary to the bone. We all carry a sack over our shoulder and burdens accumulate over time until we take that sack off our shoulder and empty it out upon the Lord’s shoulders for Him to bear.

In such times know that the Lord is present to refresh. Seek His presence and approach the throne for Grace and Help. Know that He is faithful and will let nothing touch you, but what is good for you. Trust in the Lord and rejoice for you are His son or daughter.

Empty that sack today and remember to do the same tomorrow. Do not let the yesterdays and tomorrows crowd out the joys of today.

 

Matt. 6:34 (MOUNCE-NT) Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious about itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

[Starise]

I have been feeling oppressed lately. It was good to be reminded of this. Thanks.

[Alive]

1 minute ago, Starise said:

I have been feeling oppressed lately. It was good to be reminded of this. Thanks.

Amen! There are seasons like this for God's people. These times serve to strenghten us as we learn to look to Him for all.

We are pressed and the result is the fruit of the grape. Pressure brings forth the character of God in us.

Scriptures say these things.

Amen.

[missmuffet]

Hope and encouragement from the Bible gives us the will to carry on. God has a beautiful future for those who are believers. 

[debrakay]

2 hours ago, Starise said:

I have been feeling oppressed lately. It was good to be reminded of this. Thanks.

I am right there with you on this one.  For months now I have had to force myself to focus on the joys of the day.  I have to seek out the joyfulness that I used to carry with me so easily.  So much has changed in my life in the past few years and not just because of covid.  I went through removal of a brain tumor, my husband's health has faltered to the point he can no longer travel to see the kids and grandkids so I go alone, he can no longer help with much of the home chores, I retired from my work career to be home with him, we had to quit attending church services in person because of his health, and then you can add two years of covid.  In Oregon we are not free.  There are mandates from the state government. 

So each and every day I have to remind myself that the Lord is in control. He does know what is going on in my life.  He does know that I am saddened by the events of life.  He knows my heart and He loves me.  And there is the joy for my day.....He loves me!

[debrakay]

2 hours ago, Alive said:

Amen! There are seasons like this for God's people. These times serve to strenghten us as we learn to look to Him for all.

We are pressed and the result is the fruit of the grape. Pressure brings forth the character of God in us.

Scriptures say these things.

Amen.

I totally understand being pressed and that our Father allows this for our own good.  Even after walking close with Him for close to 50 years there are times when my courage fails and encouragement is hard to find.  My kids can verify that I have continually said for decades, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger!" 

The Lord has told us it is a daily walk.  We are to daily seek Him.  We are to daily take up the cross of Christ and speak out.  It's not  a once a week, once a month, once a year, once in a while relationship we have with Him.  Daily. Hourly.  Moment by moment is the walk with Jesus.  Over and over we are reminded through scripture that from the least to the most, people have endured the trials of life to only come out stronger on the other side of the trial.  Our testimony shows other's that we can endure as long as we keep our faith that the Lord is working all things out for our good and the good of others. 

One of my local pastors many years ago taught us on the process of refining gold.  Over and over and over and over it is heated to melting hot temperature's so the dirt, ore, and foreign bits of material come to the top to be removed.  This is done over and over until the gold is pure.  Refiner's Fire!  Each one of His children are His pride and joy and He wants us to be as pure as gold one day.  Therefore we have to go into the fire in order to get rid of all of the impurities.  We should be joyful that He is still allowing fire's to refine us so that we can become the pure gold He intends us to be when the journey is complete.  Today, again, I will seek the joy of the day and endure the trials set before me.  

Job 23:10 (NLT)
“But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.

[Alive]

19 minutes ago, debrakay said:

I totally understand being pressed and that our Father allows this for our own good.  Even after walking close with Him for close to 50 years there are times when my courage fails and encouragement is hard to find.  My kids can verify that I have continually said for decades, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger!" 

The Lord has told us it is a daily walk.  We are to daily seek Him.  We are to daily take up the cross of Christ and speak out.  It's not  a once a week, once a month, once a year, once in a while relationship we have with Him.  Daily. Hourly.  Moment by moment is the walk with Jesus.  Over and over we are reminded through scripture that from the least to the most, people have endured the trials of life to only come out stronger on the other side of the trial.  Our testimony shows other's that we can endure as long as we keep our faith that the Lord is working all things out for our good and the good of others. 

One of my local pastors many years ago taught us on the process of refining gold.  Over and over and over and over it is heated to melting hot temperature's so the dirt, ore, and foreign bits of material come to the top to be removed.  This is done over and over until the gold is pure.  Refiner's Fire!  Each one of His children are His pride and joy and He wants us to be as pure as gold one day.  Therefore we have to go into the fire in order to get rid of all of the impurities.  We should be joyful that He is still allowing fire's to refine us so that we can become the pure gold He intends us to be when the journey is complete.  Today, again, I will seek the joy of the day and endure the trials set before me.  

Job 23:10 (NLT)
“But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.

Amen sister---the refining fire is a beautiful analogy. I also learned it years ago.

Thank you, it is a help.

[Starise]

1 hour ago, debrakay said:

I am right there with you on this one.  For months now I have had to force myself to focus on the joys of the day.  I have to seek out the joyfulness that I used to carry with me so easily.  So much has changed in my life in the past few years and not just because of covid.  I went through removal of a brain tumor, my husband's health has faltered to the point he can no longer travel to see the kids and grandkids so I go alone, he can no longer help with much of the home chores, I retired from my work career to be home with him, we had to quit attending church services in person because of his health, and then you can add two years of covid.  In Oregon we are not free.  There are mandates from the state government. 

So each and every day I have to remind myself that the Lord is in control. He does know what is going on in my life.  He does know that I am saddened by the events of life.  He knows my heart and He loves me.  And there is the joy for my day.....He loves me!

I will be praying for you sister. 

We need fellowship. Satan is like a lion looking for those he can devour. In nature they look for the weakest antelope who might have strayed from the herd. Staying with the herd is important.

 

Edited February 7, 2022 by Starise

[Ani Tefillah]

7 hours ago, Alive said:

Encouragement

 

Rom. 8:28 (NAS20S)   And we know that  God  causes  all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are  called according to His purpose.

Matt. 11:28 (MOUNCE-NT) Come to me, all you who are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will refresh you.

1Cor. 10:13 (MOUNCE-NT) No trial has overtaken you that is not distinctively human; and God is faithful; he will not let you be tested beyond what you can bear, but with the trial will also provide the way through, so that you will be able to endure it.

James 1:2 (NAS20S)    Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter  various  trials,

1Pet. 1:6 (NAS20S)  In this you greatly rejoice, even though now  for a little while,  if necessary, you have been distressed by  various  trials,

1Pet. 4:12 (NAS20S)    Beloved, do not be surprised at the  fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though something strange were happening to you;

2Pet. 2:9 (NAS20S)  then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from  a trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the  day of judgment,

Phil. 4:4 (NAS20S)    Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentle spirit be known to all people.  The Lord is  near. ⁶  Do not  be anxious about anything, but in everything by  prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And  the peace of God, which surpasses all  comprehension, will  guard your hearts and  minds in  Christ Jesus.

Phil. 4:8 (NAS20S)   Finally, brothers and sisters,  whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is  lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen  in me, practice these things, and  the God of peace will be with you.

In the course of our days on earth, we face various challenges. Some are the things that are common to all men and some are because we are sons of God and face spiritual battles not common to all men.

There are seasons when it seems we have reached the end of what we can endure and we may become discouraged or weary to the bone. We all carry a sack over our shoulder and burdens accumulate over time until we take that sack off our shoulder and empty it out upon the Lord’s shoulders for Him to bear.

In such times know that the Lord is present to refresh. Seek His presence and approach the throne for Grace and Help. Know that He is faithful and will let nothing touch you, but what is good for you. Trust in the Lord and rejoice for you are His son or daughter.

Empty that sack today and remember to do the same tomorrow. Do not let the yesterdays and tomorrows crowd out the joys of today.

 

Matt. 6:34 (MOUNCE-NT) Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious about itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Thank you so much for sharing this with us! 😊 May the Lord's peace and grace be with you there! 

[Marathoner]

Let us never forget the suffering which our Lord Jesus Christ endured for our sake. A prophecy of the Word made flesh, one of the most beautiful passages in the scriptures given to us by God.

He was oppressed and afflicted,
Yet He did not open His mouth;
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth.
By oppression and judgment He was taken away;
And as for His generation, who considered
That He was cut off from the land of the [f]living
For the wrongdoing of my people, to whom the blow was due?
And His grave was assigned with wicked men,
Yet He was with a rich man in His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.

But the Lord desired
To crush Him, causing Him grief;
If He renders Himself as a guilt offering,
He will see His offspring,
He will prolong His days,
And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand.
As a result of the anguish of His soul,
He will see it and be satisfied;
By His knowledge the Righteous One,
My Servant, will justify the many,
For He will bear their wrongdoings.
Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great,
And He will divide the plunder with the strong,
Because He poured out His life unto death,
And was counted with wrongdoers;
Yet He Himself bore the sin of many,
And interceded for the wrongdoers.
(Isaiah 53:7-12 NASB)

We suffer only for a little while, my friends. When all seemed lost and hope was nowhere to be found, the Lord delivered me from affliction; as the Lord encourages us, let us be swift to encourage each other. Sadness will become joy and sorrow, a song of thanksgiving to the One who delivers us from these bonds. We suffer for only a little while.    

Edited February 8, 2022 by Marathoner