Tag: Encourage one another daily

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Everything You Say

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Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Ephesians 4:29

I didn’t grow up in a home where foul or abusive language (or corrupt, as some translations say) was used. However, the second part of this verse is ingrained in my mind, as God has used it frequently through the years, sometimes daily, to correct how I use my words. God has been very patient with me, but even in the hard lessons, He has faithfully forgiven me, stuck by me, and trained me for righteousness. You see, it’s always been easy for me to get caught up in conversations without considering whether my words are “good and helpful.” So, Paul’s lesson to the believers of Ephesus has been God’s lesson to me more times than I can count – and I encourage you with the same: Be purposeful when you speak so that your words are an encouragement to those who are listening – not just to the person you are speaking to but to “all who might hear them.”

Let everything you say [be good and helpful], (so that) your words will be an encouragement (to those who hear them.)

Ephesians 4:29b
The Importance of Encouragement in the Believer’s Life

Encouragement makes it easier to live in a fallen world in a holy way. Encouragement makes it easier to love as Jesus loved (see John 13:34-35). Encouragement gives hope (Romans 15:4). Encouragement helps us through times of discipline and testing (Hebrews 12:5). Encouragement nurtures patience and kindness (see 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and Galatians 5:22-26). Encouragement makes it easier to sacrifice our own desires for the advancement of God’s kingdom. In short, encouragement makes it easier to live the Christian life.

Without encouragement, life would soon feel pointless and burdensome. Without encouragement, we can be overwhelmed by the very real pains of our lives. Without encouragement, we feel unloved. Without encouragement, we begin to think that God is a liar or is unconcerned with our welfare. So, the Bible tells us to encourage one another, to remind each other of the truth that God loves us, that God equips us, that we are treasured, that our struggles are worth it.

Encouragement from the Bible gives us the will to carry on. It is a glimpse of the bigger picture. It can prevent burn-out. It can save us from believing lies (“sin’s deceitfulness”). Encouragement helps us experience abundant life (see John 10:10).

Gotquestions.org

Friends, my prayer for all of us is to not only encourage others faithfully but to listen for/to the encouragement others are speaking to us. – Mefromthensideout 🦋

Reflection: Who can you encourage today? What are some encouraging words someone has spoken to you?

The More We Know

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen and slow to speak …

James 1:19a
Posted in Bible study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Be About the Master’s Business

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Scripture for the Journey: Mark 13:32-37 / SOAP: 37

What I say to you I say to everyone: Stay alert!” Mark 13:37 NET

Observation and Application for the journey

Have you found yourself longing more and more for the return of Christ? Do local or social media about world events escalate anxious thoughts and heighten your desire for His return to be sooner rather than later? I know it has mine. Come, Lord Jesus, Come is certainly on my lips more frequently these days than ever before. Surprisingly, for me, the prayer isn’t provoked by fear of mounting dangers and disasters but by sorrow and weariness of what is the acceptable, if not expected and even demanded, ways of this world. But, to borrow a few words from the prophet Jeremiah: “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope” – this world is not my home, I’m only passing through. I’m a stranger and alien here with a message of hope to share with others who do not know The Way, so they may go where I am going; and so those who know The Way may be equipped and encouraged to keep going in the right direction.

This isn’t a task given only to me; it is the assignment Jesus has given to each of His disciples. Yes, everyone who has trusted Him as their Savior has been commissioned to “go and make disciples,” introducing the Messiah to the lost and dying world around us. However, we must also remember that we are to encourage one another, a.k.a. other believers, daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of us may be hardened by sin and turn away from God.

The New Testament is filled with letters written by Paul and others to the various churches/believers who were struggling with various aspects of the Christian faith, some of whom were starting to walk contrary to the faith. Their messages were meant to help the believers understand the faith and to walk faithfully with God. Friends, I can testify to the importance of both the one who shares the WAY of hope and the one who encourages a wayward or struggling believer with the TRUTH, which is able to guide us back to God. Without the first, I would still be lost and dying in my sins; and without the second, I would still be out of fellowship with God, struggling in the pit of sin and despair – naming His Name but living like the world.

You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God

Hebrews 3:13 NLT

We do not know the day or hour, but we do know the WAY and the TRUTH – so let’s let our lights shine out in this dark world as we wait, staying alert and eagerly anticipating the day of His return.

“Get busy with the work God has given us by reaching the world and our neighbors with the gospel. At the same time, we do not store up our treasures here on earth because we know that this world will not last. Our days are precious and time is short, so we keep our eyes heavenward as our hands stay busy. We share Christ and the reason for our hope with those in our lives. We stand firm in God’s Word even in the midst of persecutions. We remember that no matter how dark our world gets, Jesus promised that He will be with us to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). – the LGG Journal entry for Come, Lord Jesus, Come p148

Prayer of Response to the Journey

Father, how good You have been to save us by Your grace1 and free us from the law of sin and death2; and to promise us an eternity with You in Heaven3. We are most blessed. So, help us to be about our Master’s business as we wait on His return, help us to stay alert – alert to those4 around us who have not placed their faith in You and will be condemned,5 and may we be ready with an answer for the hope that is within us. Help us also have eyes to see those believers who are struggling and lift them up both in prayer and through words of encouragement that lead them back to You. Remind them, Father, that they do not have to settle for just a place in Your heaven, but they have been given the gift of a relationship with You now. Mold us, make us, use us, Lord – as we wait. In Jesus’ name – Amen!

The More We Know

If you would like to know more about Heaven and how you can share in the hope of eternity please read Know These Truths.

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Be sure and check out today’s LGG Blog Post at https://lovegodgreatly.com/lgg-blog/