Tag Archives: Encouragement for living

Nov9

Above All Else

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Above all else,

guard your heart

for it is the wellspring of life.

Proverbs 4:23

Your heart…is it’s protection your top priority?    Why should this be such an extremely important task?  Take a moment to let the meaning of these words penetrate your mind:

Above all else… Make this the most important priority in your life.  Use this instruction as a guide to filter your thoughts, actions, affections, desires, dreams and feelings.  If your heart’s desires are set on the best that God has in mind for you ~the very purpose for which He created you ~  then you will stay on His desired path for your life, and you won’t veer off course.

…Guard Your Heart…  You guard things that are valuable to you, things that you treasure, things that you want to keep safe from harm, and things that you want to protect.   Your heart is what drives you to action, and it is the essence of who you are.  It’s the core of your being, and with it you connect to God and others.  Watch over your heart with vigilance, and set up protective boundaries around it so that the desires which flow from within are pure and in line with God’s will.  Consistently examine the information you take in visually (through television, movies, internet, social media, print, video games, email, texting, etc…) and audibly (through radio, cd’s, or other audio sources.) Diligently monitor the relationships in your life, and make sure that those with whom you surround yourself also want God’s best for your life.  Do not give your heart to anyone who could cause you to stumble or lead you astray.  Put up virtual signs within your heart which read, “NO DUMPING ALLOWED,” and don’t allow any trash to enter.  You make time for the things that you love and enjoy, so make sure that the things cherished inside your heart are from God and in line with His will.  

…for it is the wellspring of life…. Imagine a pure spring deep within the earth.  Visualize its crystal clear waters bubbling up and flowing out to form the headwaters of a major river.  Similarly, your heart is the internal fountainhead, or wellspring, from which everything else in life flows.   If you fill your heart with pure, excellent and honorable things, those same types of  things will cascade out of it.  Don’t pollute the wellspring with dishonorable contaminants, because everything downstream will be toxic.

Your heart determines the course of life, and from your heart originates your destiny.  Above all else, watch over your heart; diligently guard and protect it because from a sincere and pure heart come the good and noble things of life ~ God’s best.

For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.  Proverbs 23:7a

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Psalm 37:4

Nov7

Prisoner of Hope

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fortressReturn to your fortress,

O prisoners of hope;

even now I announce

that I will restore twice as much to you.

Zechariah 9:12

Usually the thought of being a prisoner of anything is extremely undesirable.  It conjures up negative images of a place of confinement, such as a jail cell, where freedoms are completely relinquished.  Aside from being held in a prison, there are many other prison-like strongholds in life ~ without locks and bars ~ that can hold us captive.  Some are prisoners of fear, overwhelming debt, difficult life circumstances, a troubled past, controlling relationships, or shameful addictions.  The encouraging message here is that you can break free of anything in life that holds you captive by completely surrendering your life to Jesus Christ.  The key to your freedom lies in His nail-pierced hands.

If you are a Child of God who is completely surrendered to Him, you are essentially a prisoner of Hope.  You are eternally tethered to His divine Hope and captivated by His grace and mercy.  In Colossians 1:27, Christ is referred to as the “Hope of Glory,” and Hebrews 6:19 calls this glorious Hope an “anchor for our soul” that is firm and secure. So you are a prisoner of hope, if you are totally committed to the Hope of Glory, Jesus Christ.  All control of your life has been freely relinquished to your Heavenly Father, and your soul is securely anchored in His limitless love forever.  It’s not just a “life sentence”…it’s eternal!

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin…So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”  John 8: 34, 35

God is your fortress, your strength, and your refuge in times of trouble and distress.  He is a high tower for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of desperation, and a shelter from the storms of life.   So as a prisoner of hope, there’s no better place to be than in the safety of your fortress, the Almighty God.  You will always be under His loving and watchful care.  “Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope”…

 But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.  You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.

Psalm 59: 16 – 17

The Lord also will be a refuge and a high tower for the oppressed, a refuge and a stronghold in times of trouble (high cost, destitution, and desperation). 

Psalm 9:9 (AMP)

Nov5

Your Guiding Light

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Light at the end of the tunnelBecause of your great compassion

You did not abandon them in the wilderness.

By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path,

nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take.

Nehemiah 9:19 (NIV)

 Wouldn’t it be nice to have a guiding light shining on the path of your life?  You would never have to question which direction you should head, nor would there be any doubt about whether you were making the right decisions.

We no longer have a pillar of fire ahead of us like the Israelites did when God guided them through the wilderness, but the great news is that God’s Word is like a lantern that lights each footstep of our journey through life.  Psalm 119:105 tells us that, “Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” As we study the Bible, His Words illuminate our path and keep us from stumbling over obstacles in the way.  It’s our field guide as we navigate each twist and turn throughout our days.

If you feel lost in life right now, and the road ahead seems dark and treacherous, open your Bible and begin to read God’s instruction manual.  It will be your guiding light, and it’s the only road map you need as you travel your life’s journey.  Follow the Light!!

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.  Isaiah 42:16
 
 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
Proverbs 4: 18 – 19
Nov4

Peace Like a River

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“I am the Lord your God.
    I teach you what is best for you.
    I direct you in the way you should go.
I wish you would pay attention to my commands.
    If you did, peace would flow over you like a river.
    Holiness would sweep over you like the waves of the ocean.”

Isaiah 48:17b – 18 (NIRV)

 Click on the video above and take a moment to immerse yourself within the tranquility and serenity of that peaceful scene.  Listen to the gentle, flowing waters and begin to feel a quiet calm come over you.

Your loving Heavenly Father longs for you to have that feeling of inner peace continually ~ regardless of past, present or future events.  He wants to provide peace within your soul.  As a child of God, you are His precious possession, and He teaches you what is best for your life, directing  you in the way you should go.   If you learn from His teachings and follow His instructions, His tender mercies and grace will flow over you like peaceful river waters, and His blessings will wash over you like rhythmic ocean waves.

Perhaps you are experiencing turbulent events in your life, where torrid waters seem to be rushing over your head.  Miraculously, God’s peace can be present in your heart, mind and spirt, even amidst the most chaotic and catastrophic of circumstances.  When everything seems to be turned upside down, follow God’s directives, trust in His promises, and feel His divine peace flowing over you like a river, a peace that transcends all understanding.

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“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.”

Philippians 4:6-7(NIV)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” ~ Jesus Christ

John 14:27 (NIV)

Nov2

The Straight Path for Life

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P1100268Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

lean not to your own understanding. 

In all your ways, acknowledge Him,

and He will make your path straight.

Proverbs 3:5 – 6 (NIV)

Do you desire a “straight path” in life that is free of wasted time heading in the wrong direction, without unexpected U-turns, void of treacherous twists and turns, and detours around devastating dead ends?  God knows what is best for you, and He promises to make your path straight if you follow these clear instructions:

“Trust the Lord with all your heart…”  Trust God from the bottom of your heart.  Place all your confidence and faith in the wisdom, power, love, promises and goodness of God.  Believe with your whole heart (not just a portion of it!) that he is able to do anything and that His plan is best for your life.

 “…lean not to your own understanding.”  When you physically lean on something or someone, you confidently trust that your whole weight will be supported by that object or person. You wholeheartedly believe that this support will not fail.  Learn to lean on God’s understanding…not our own.  Don’t try to figure everything out for yourself based on your finite experience and insight, and don’t assume that you know it all. Totally depend on Him for His guidance in your life.  Discern His will through reading His Word and talking with Him in prayer.  The limitations of human understanding are of no comparison to the flawless and divine understanding of our Heavenly Father.  Lean into Him, and don’t rely on your own judgment.

“In all your ways, acknowledge Him…” It’s easy to turn to God when the going gets tough, but God desires that you acknowledge Him in every ordinary moment of your life.  Trust God completely for every choice you make.  Begin each day by asking Him for His guidance, and listen for His direction in everything you do and everywhere you go throughout your day.

“…and He will make your path straight.”  God will keep you on the right track if you trust Him with all your heart, lean into His understanding, and acknowledge Him in all your ways.  He knows the best route for your life’s journey.  Wholeheartedly believe in His promises and allow Him to make your path straight by placing all your confidence in His divine direction.

In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.  Proverbs 16:9

 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”  Isaiah 30:21

 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.  Proverbs 25:9

I know, O LORD, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.  Jeremiah 10:23

 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Psalm 32:8

 Teach me your way, Lord; Lead me in a straight path… Psalm 27: 11

 The path of the righteous is level; You, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth.  Isaiah 26:7 

 

Oct28

The Only Thing That Counts

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only thing that counts

Out of 66 books, 1188 chapters, and 31,175 verses in the Holy Bible, it all boils down to this:  “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”  Galatians 5:6b

Take a moment and allow these words to sink deep into your mind and your heart.  Meditate on their meaning and grasp the magnitude of their importance.  Essentially, this statement tells us that if we are NOT expressing our faith in God through our love for others, nothing else we are doing really matters. 

Wherever you find yourself in life, God has specifically placed you there for a unique purpose that only you can fulfill. In essence you are on a mission from God each and every day of your life to express your faith through acts of love. This expression of love can take many forms:  kindness, respect, appreciation, involvement, time commitment, sharing, patience, giving, caring, or friendship.  Whether you’re a business executive, clerk, teacher, nurse, care taker, house keeper, bus driver, waitress, stay-at-home-mom, retiree, grandparent, student, etc.., you are an integral part of the body of Christ.  Imagine the difference we could make in an untold number of lives if each of us went about our days expressing our faith through love.

You can be totally filled with spiritual lessons, perhaps you can even quote verse after verse from the Bible, but if you are not expressing your faith in Jesus Christ through your outpouring of love for others, nothing else matters.

Tape this verse to your bathroom mirror, next to your bed, or on the dashboard of your car so that you can start each day with one main focus concerning the only thing that counts.  In fact, this is such a short statement that you could easily memorize those eleven words and use them as a filter for  your thoughts and a framework for  your actions throughout each day.

Essentially the only thing that counts is a summation of Jesus’ response to the question, “Which is the most important of all the commandments?”  Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’  The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”  (Mark 12:28 – 31)  Love God, and express that love to your neighbor…it’s that simple.

 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.  James 1:22

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, Galatians 3:23

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Oct27

A Safe Haven

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Beautiful Harbor North Lake Tahoe with boat

“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
    and he saved them from their distress.

He calmed the storm to a whisper
    and stilled the waves.
What a blessing was that stillness
    as he brought them safely into harbor!
Let them praise the Lord for his great love
    and for the wonderful things he has done for them.

Psalm 107:28 – 31(NLT)

Just imagine the amazing feeling of relief and deliverance when sailing into a peaceful harbor after passing through a dark and tumultuous sea…

The disciples endured a similar experience as they were crossing the Sea of Galilee.  Jesus was on board the boat, but He had fallen asleep, seemingly unaware that they were in the midst of a sudden and fierce tempest.  High waves were breaking onto the boat, and it began to fill with water.  The disciples’ hearts were melting with fear, and they cried out to Jesus for help.  “When He awoke, He rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased and there was great calm.” (Mark 4:39)  The terrified disciples were struck with awe after witnessing this miracle and asked themselves, “Who is this man?” … “Even the wind and waves obey him!” (Mark 4: 41)

Are you sailing through a tempestuous season in your life’s journey? Your heart may be gripped with overwhelming fear as giant waves of affliction seemingly crash over your head.  You are tossed up and down with no ability to control your course.  As a child of God, there are no guarantees of smooth sailing throughout life, and sometimes there will be seasons of extreme turbulence. Like the disciples, you may be right in the middle of God’s will, doing exactly what He has instructed you to do, but still you may experience a sudden life storm.  In the midst of the turmoil, hold tightly to the promise that Jesus is always right beside you…He’s in your “boat” in the midst of the storm.  He stands ready to calm your turbulent circumstances and save you from your extreme distress. Instead of being fearful, trust completely in the One whom the wind and the sea obey.  Watch in awe as He guides you into a safe haven, and praise Him for His great love and the wonderful things He does in your behalf.  Peace!  Be Still!

 “This certain hope of being saved is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls, connecting us with God himself…” Hebrews 6:19(TLB)

Oct26

Soul Fuel

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“You may never know that Jesus is all you need, until Jesus is all you have.”

~Corrie ten Boom

Do you ever feel like your life is running on empty?  It’s as though you don’t have the strength to face the next responsibility, or the next crisis, or even the next moment.  This is especially true in certain seasons of life where the overwhelming trials and difficulties seem to be rolling in as constant as waves in the ocean.  Your strength is zapped, and you feel so weak that you can’t imagine moving forward on your own power.

The great news is that God’s children have a constant and limitless power source.  We can refuel our lives each moment of each day with God’s divine power.  When we are totally empty of our own strength, we can become wholly filled and flooded full with God Himself!!  He wants to fill your life to the brim with His grace and love.  When we are strengthened with His Spirit in our inner being, we can do anything!  (“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”  Philippians 4:13)  So if you feel empty and weak, pull into God’s “refueling station” and ask Him to fill you full of His heavenly “soul fuel.”  There’s never a shortage, and it’s always free!

“But the Lord said, ‘My grace is all you need. Only when you are weak can everything be done completely by my power.'”  2 Corinthians 12:9a (ERV)

“For this reason I kneel before the Father…I pray that out of his glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”  Ephesians 3:14 – 19 (NIV)

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”   John 3:30 (KJV)

Oct25

The God Who Sees Me

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2011 Football banquet and Field Trip 254The Lord talked to Hagar.

She began to use a new name for God. She said to him,

“You are ‘God Who Sees Me.’”

She said this because she thought,

“I see that even in this place God sees me and cares for me!” 

Genesis 16:13 (ERV)

Mistreated, abused and rejected, Hagar was running away from her circumstances.  She found herself alone in the desert feeling frightened, forgotten and weary from her journey.   Yet, at her lowest point, the angel of the Lord appeared to her, calling her by name, and encouraged her…right in the middle of her wilderness.

Maybe you are in the midst of a “wilderness” in life.  The path you are traveling seems rocky and desolate, littered with extreme difficulties.  You feel that no one knows or cares about your dire circumstances.  You are lonely and afraid, and perhaps you feel the only possible solution is to “run away” from your problems.  The God Who Sees also cares about you.  He sees you right where you are, and He knows about every tumultuous detail of your life.  He knows your name…and your needs.  Turn to Him for guidance and direction.

As for Hagar, the Lord instructed her to return to her owner, Sarai, and to submit to her authority.  Notice that He didn’t remove Hagar from her circumstances, but He gave her guidance and encouragement on how to live the life she was destined for.  He also promised to bless her for her obedience and encouraged her concerning the child she was carrying, Abram’s son.  If Hagar had continued running, she and her unborn child would have met with certain disaster.  God knew His plans for her life…and the life of her unborn son…, and He gave her specific instructions about how she should live.

This story is a great example of how God causes all things…even bad things…to work together for good.  (And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28) Hagar’s obedience brought God’s blessings upon her life.  God also sees you in your wilderness, and He has a marvelous plan for your life.  Listen to His instructions.  Remember that “running away” is not the solution, and it often leads to sure disaster.  Instead of running away…run into His arms and listen to His instructions.  Your obedience to His plan will bring divine blessings upon your life. Remind yourself that “even in this place, God sees me and cares for me!”

“…I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her.”  Hosea 2:14b

Oct6

Cure for a Fearful Heart

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Say to those with fearful hearts,

“Be strong, do not fear:

Your God will come,

…He will come to save you.”

Isaiah 35:4 (NIV)

 

What are you afraid of today?  Is it fear of the future, fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of death, fear of enemies, fear of pain, fear of judgment, fear of financial ruin, fear of abandonment, or even fear of the unknown?”  Fear can be debilitating and paralyzing.  When you are fearful, you stand frozen in your tracks, afraid to make a move lest you cause your deepest, darkest fears to materialize before your eyes.  You feel that if ___________________ happens (fill in the blank), then you will certainly _____________________(fill in the blank).

In the face of uncertainty, a yearning for your most basic needs begins to bubble up to the surface:  security, peace, hope, love, and acceptance.  You spend your time and energy worrying about your circumstances ~ longing for peace of mind ~ and you never move forward in your life.  Ultimately, if you are fearful about something, you doubt that God is big enough to handle your unique situation.  God’s word tells us not to fear, but rather to trust in Him, and believe that all things are possible with Him.

 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  Isaiah 41: 9 – 11

The divine neutralizer of fear is trust in God.  When you place all of your uncertainties, inadequacies, and apprehensions before Him, the heavy chains of fear begin to dissolve. Allow God to pierce through and deal with the insecurities of your fearful heart.  Tell Him about your most private fears and place them all in His capable hands.  With the assurances of God’s promises, you can have a heavenly peace of mind that transcends all understanding.  A fearful heart will no longer hold you captive, because God will replace your fear with courage and strength.  With God on your side, you can have courage in the midst of your crisis.

 “Don’t be anxious about anything, but in everything, 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 minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6 (NIV)
 

“Nothing on earth is its equal – a creature without fear.”  Job 41:33