Posts tagged Encouragement

Worrying About Your Circumstances Helps No One But Praying About Them Will Bring You Great Peace

Apr30
2012 Written by Warner Smith

Do you worry? What will I have for lunch? What will I wear? What did that lady mean when she said, “Yeah, right”? Do everyone’s children misbehave? Will my children ever get a good job? Do you think we will get an income tax refund or will we have to pay? Can everyone predict whether it will rain by the pain in their shoulder, hip, knee, ankle? Is my 401k really a 101k?

Some people I know are world class worrier’s! Worry is really negative mediation. Our attitude about our circumstances more than or circumstance determine the joy we experience in life.

Writing from a prison cell, while chained to a member of Caesar’s Praetorian Guard, the apostle Paul wrote:

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:4–7 (ESV)

Paul had truly overcome the power of worry. Think about how you would have handled the circumstance of being in jail under the penalty of death. Would you be able to rejoice? Would you be letting everyone know your reasonableness or you concern. I believe that sitting on death row would make most of us anxious, but not Paul, “Why”?

Paul had learned to pray and let everything be made known to God. When we pray, we should let God have all of our worries, all of our cares and concerns as well as our gratitude and praise. It is when we learn to live in faith and to not worry but trust God that we are then able to rejoice, even when awaiting our own execution, and have peace in our heart, which no one else who sees our reaction to our own circumstances could understand.

Worry is a symptom which reveals that our faith needs to be increased. If you find yourself worrying, then pray. Take your concerns to God and trust Him to hear you and care about you. Prayers of faith bring the pray-er peace and protect their hearts and minds from spiritual attacks from our enemy. Someone has said “Pray when you feel like it, pray when you don’t feel like it, pray until you do feel like it.” Not only is this good advice, it is also an important first step in finding the peace which we all crave.

Posted in Daily Devotions - Tagged , , ,

Being a Christian Does Not Mean You Will Never Have Any Problems

Apr29
2012 Written by Warner Smith

When I was in high school I entered the Public Speaking Contest each year.  My classmates had the unfortunate duty of having to listen to me practice my speeches as the contest dates approached.  Many of them may remember the introductory line of one of those speeches.

“Problems, problems, problems! You got problems, I’ve got problems, everybody’s got problems.”

It was true then and it is true now, and will remain true into the future.

For some reason many people mistakenly believe that when they receive Christ as their personal savior they will never ever experience anymore problems in their lives.  This is not reality.  There are up and downs in our relationship with God, and this is normal.

The Psalmist’s reveal how normal individual ups and downs in ones relationship with God can be.  The various writers of the Psalms reveal an open, honest relationship with God warts and all.

The Psalmist expressed anger to God due to his feelings of abandonment.

9 I say to God my Rock, ‘‘Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” 10 My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, ‘‘Where is your God?” Psalm 42:9-10

Because God’s timing is not our own we often feel as though he has abandoned us. Hindsight will reveal how wrong our feelings of abandonment truly are, but this does not change how we feel in those moments of pain.When you feel as though God has abandoned you tell Him!  He can handle our anger, our questions, and even our rage.  Crying out to Him in our desperation is how children respond to their father when they are in distress.  These expressions are a biblical form of prayer known as prayer’s of complaint. The key is to complain to Him and not everyone else.

The footprints poem helps us understand how Christ really helps us get through our own times of trouble and pain.

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only. This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord, “You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?” The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.” – Mary Stevenson, 1936

Remember if you are His, not only does He have you in His hand when your problems seem unbearable He is carrying you.  If your problems seem more than you can bear ignore conventional wisdom.  Don’t tie a knot and hang on. Bend your knees and bow your heart and if God is you Father (i.e. you have established a relationship with him by placing your faith in His son) then cry out to Him.  Express yourself to Him openly, honestly and candidly! You will feel better, and more than any earthly father God can and will respond when He hears His children cry.

Posted in Daily Devotions - Tagged

Help May Be Closer Than You Think

Apr23
2012 Written by Warner Smith

Some days are better than others. Fridays are good, so good, in fact, that a restaurant chain has taken the initials of a common phrase spoken by most of us on Fridays as their name, “TGIF” (Thank God It’s Friday).  At the other end of the spectrum is Monday. The day we return to work is not often our favorite. The girl group The Bangles summarized how many feel in their song Manic Monday. If you don’t remember, let me remind you, the opening lines were:

Six o’clock already
I was just in the middle of a dream
I was kissin’ Valentino
By a crystal blue Italian stream
But I can’t be late
‘Cause then I guess I just won’t get paid
These are the days
When you wish your bed was already made

Another group, The Mamas And The Papas, of an earlier generation, verbalized some of our feelings in a line of their song Monday, Monday. The lines of this song is:

Monday Monday, can’t trust that day,
Monday Monday, sometimes it just turns out that way
Oh Monday morning, you gave me no warning of what was to be

There is truth in the statement “can’t trust that day.” We can’t trust any day, whether it be Monday, Friday, or any day. I have often been guilty of allowing the circumstances of life to prevent me from enjoying life. Too often I have been guilty of believing that “When x, y, or z occurs, then I will be able to relax, or enjoy myself.”

I have come to realize that this reasoning is poisonous. The reality is that you and I should not trust any day, we should only trust in the Lord everyday. If we are living in accordance to God’s will everyday will be worthwhile and meaningful, although not without challenges. Our Monday morning’s are nothing when compared to the morning “the servant of the man of God” had in 2 Kings 6:8-18. There we read:

Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.” The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.” So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places. This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Will you not tell me which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?” “None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.” “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city. When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked. “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:8-17 (NIV)

We each need to be men and women of God who can pray and show others that the help they seek is closer than they have imagined.

Posted in Daily Devotions - Tagged , ,

We All Need Someone Who Believes In Us Part 2

Apr19
2012 Written by Warner Smith

We all need encouragement. Individuals who come to the aid of someone they see to be in moral distress are encouragers. The great encourager in the New Testament is Barnabas, and the two most notable recipients of his encouragement are Paul and John Mark. Paul (formerly Saul) was an outsider to the church. John Mark was a church kid.

Yesterday I explained how Barnabas had gone out of his way to encourage Paul even though most of the Church of his day were afraid of him. Today we will focus on Barnabas’ showing encouragement to John Mark.

We are first acquainted with John Mark when we learn that the church met to pray in the home of Mary, his mother.

When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. Acts 12:12

When Barnabas returned to the church in Jerusalem and gave them his report on the condition of the church in Antioch, Paul accompanied him. When Barnabas and Paul (formerly Saul) returned to Antioch they brought with them John Mark.

When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark. Acts 12:25

This missionary team began their work and traveled to Antioch, then crossed by ship to the island of Cyprus, crossed the island and then once more by ship went to Perga in Pamphylia (on the coast of modern Turkey). It is at this point that John Mark leaves them and returns to Jerusalem. The exact reason for John Mark’s departure is unknown, but whatever his reason it did not meet with Paul’s approval.

Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. Acts 15:36-41

John Mark’s departure from Barnabas and Paul’s missionary journey and his invitation to rejoin them on a second journey caused such a problem that Paul and Barnabas “had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company.” Barnabas the encourager takes Mark and Paul takes Silas and they depart.

The encourager is always going to help the underdog. Previously, it was the outsider Paul, now it is the insider John Mark. True encouragers do not care who, they help those whom they see in distress. The fact that Barnabas was related to John Mark (they were cousins Col 4:10) may have had something to do with his decision, but I think it is more his nature as encourager.

In the final analysis Paul tells us that he acted to hastily and that Barnabas was right and John Mark’s rehabilitation was worth all of Barnabas’ effort.

Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 2 Timothy 4:11

Who needs your encouragement today? It may be an outsider who will stretch you beyond your own comfort zone or an insider (perhaps even a member of your own family), but someone needs your encouragement and your gift given to them will help you both, and God’s kingdom.

Posted in Daily Devotions - Tagged ,

We All Need Someone Who Believes In Us Part 1

Apr18
2012 Written by Warner Smith

Have you ever been a disappointment to your family and friends? When it has been made clear to everyone that you are not the man or woman which your parents raised you to be, it is easy to feel shame. It is precisely at such moments, and while dealing with these kinds of circumstances, that we need someone to come to our side and offer us encouragement.

Individuals who come to the aid of someone they see to be in moral distress are encouragers. The great encourager in the New Testament is Barnabas, and the two most notable recipients of his encouragement are Paul and John Mark. Paul (formerly Saul) was an outsider to the church. John Mark was a church kid.

We first meet Saul in Acts holding the coats of those who are stoning Stephen, and, lest we think that Saul might have been pressed into this service against his will, Dr. Luke informs us that Saul approved of Stephen’s execution.

Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. Acts 7:58b-8:1

Little wonder that when Paul was converted, few Christians rushed to his side to rejoice. Most Christians were happy to fellowship with their new brother Paul from a safe distance. Barnabas, however, was going to Paul and then taking him and making introductions on his behalf.

When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. Acts 9:26-27

When the church in Jerusalem needed someone to go and investigate what was happening in the church at Antioch, they quite naturally chose to send Barnabas. On his way Barnabas chose to go out of his way to Tarsus and look for Saul first.

Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, Acts 11:25

Notice that being an encourager to Saul required Barnabas to go out of his way. This is why there are so few encouragers. With our hustle and bustle lifestyles too few of us take the time and go to the trouble to encourage others, particularly those who appear as risky to us as Paul appeared to be to the early church. Each of us needs someone who will go out of their way to come and look for us. Barnabas went about 100 miles out of his way to find Paul. The distance you need to travel to encourage someone today may be much less. Perhaps you need only to go down the hall to your child’s room. There may be emotional distance you need to cross to encourage your spouse.

If you would like someone to encourage you, why not start by being an encourager to someone who God places in your path today?

Posted in Daily Devotions - Tagged ,
← Older Entries