When the World says “Give Up,”
Hope whispers, “Give it One More Try.”
(Anonymous)
“We have this Hope as an
Anchor for the soul,
Firm and secure… ”
Hebrews 6:19 (New International Version, ©2010)
Jan27
Tag Archives: Encouragement
Jan22
The Gift of Peace
”I leave peace with you;
I give *My* peace to you:
not as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it fear.”
John 14:27 (Darby Translation)
What is True Peace?
The end result of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives is deep, lasting peace. This peace transcends our understanding, meaning it can never be completely understood. It is a peace that is difficult to explain and must be felt in order to fully comprehend its meaning. Worldly peace is usually defined as the absence of trouble or conflict, but the peace of Christ is a peace we have in the midst of the trouble or conflict. This peace is confident assurance in any circumstance. It is a sense of God’s wholeness, of everything coming together for good. Heavenly peace comes from total trust in God. With this kind of peace we don’t need to be afraid of the present or the future. Peace of mind and heart is a precious gift. The world cannot give this kind of peace, because this peace is a result of God watching over and guarding your mind and your heart.
How do we obtain Heavenly Peace?
When you are in the midst of a crisis, worry, fear, doubt, and anxiety are constantly battling for your focus and energy. A mind controlled by the flesh will race night and day, composing many what-if situations, and you will virtually live out the worst-case scenarios. Keeping track of all the possible outcomes is exhausting. So if you are in the middle of a life crisis and feel consumed with worry and fear, begin to shape your worries into prayers. Let Christ know your concerns. Lay your burdens at the foot of His cross. Isaiah 26:3 tells us that “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” So perfect peace is dependent upon total trust in our Heavenly Father. Fill your mind with the promises found in His Word. Trust in His promises to you. In other words, believe His promises: trust that He has a plan for your life; trust that He causes all things to work together for good; trust that He knows how all the pieces of the puzzle in your life fit together; trust that He will use this trial to perfect your faith; trust that He is all we truly need; trust that He will carry you when you are too weak to move forward; trust that He will provide your comfort, your strength, your provision, your shelter from the storm, your protection; trust that He is your Rock and your Salvation; trust that He will be your guide and give you wisdom; trust that He will light your path; trust that He sees your distress and hears your cries for help; trust that He is always with you and will never leave your side; trust that He catches each one of your teardrops; and trust that nothing is too difficult for Him.
What is the end result of Heavenly Peace?
We are instructed to “let the peace of Christ rule your hearts…” (Colossians 3:12) If we choose to let the Prince of Peace rule, then worry, doubt and fear will be banished from the kingdom of our hearts. When we allow Christ to completely fill our hearts, He will completely displace all our distress. When our hearts are overflowing with Christ instead of worry, God will stand guard over your heart and your mind, and He will bless you with a Heavenly Peace that no one can completely understand.
~cb.cooksey
Jan18
God carries His children
“In His love and mercy, He redeemed them;
He lifted them up and carried them
all the days of old.”
Isaiah 63:9b
God is faithful to keep His promises. His love is unfailing. In our weakness, He is our strength.
When you don’t have the energy to put one foot in front of the other,
or when you don’t know the next step you should take,
believe that God will carry you through any “desert” or “valley” in life.
Rest in His loving arms. Feel the peace of His presence in your life and know that He is holding you
…and carrying you through the toughest times.
Jan17
Godly Guidance: A Revelation for the New Year
In your unfailing love you will lead
the people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them…
Exodus 15:13
A Revelation for the New Year
I begin this new year with tremendous uncertainty in my life. A medical crisis has impacted our home which leads to many concerns about my family’s future. Each year, instead of New Years’ Resolutions, I prayerfully choose a Bible passage which I call my “Life Verse” for the year. I call this verse my “New Year’s Revelation.” It serves as a “theme” for my entire year, and God uses it to teach me new and wonderful lessons. For 2011, I have chosen the above verse. It reminds me that God’s love never fails. Through His unfailing love, He will lead me and guide me. He will give me strength when I have none left. He will give me wisdom for the many decisions that I must face. I am redeemed as His child, and His love will sustain me. I’m trusting in His promises and believing that He will provide for all of our needs. He knows every detail of my life, and He has a wonderful plan, even in the midst of this trial. He will use everything for good, and He will never leave my side. His is my Rock, my Fortress, my Shield and my Shelter. His love never fails!
Dec28
Rest for the Weary
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28
Are you carrying a burden that seems to heavy to bear? Do you need “rest” in your life? The above verse offers hope to weary travelers in life. Your burden may be financial, health, relational or work related, but in any case, you can find rest in the arms of Jesus Christ. At this moment you may feel worn out in strength, energy or zest for life because of a battle you are facing alone. You may be exhausted and all your pleasure may be drained. You can find peace in the midst of your troubles by praying to Christ and laying your encumbrances at His feet. He may not remove the trials from your life, but He will give you strength to face each moment, and He can provide a refuge from the storm which is raging all around you.
His peace is the only true rest we will ever know. With Him, you are never alone in this life. Seek Him today…
Sep12
Gifted
"Let Your Light Shine" by cbcooksey
When someone has been given much,
Much will be required
in return;
And when someone has been entrusted with much,
Even more will be required.
Great gifts mean
Great responsibilities;
Greater Gifts,
Greater Responsibilities!
Luke 12:48
The Bible tells us that we are each uniquely equipped with gifts and talents. These abilities are placed within us in order to fulfill God’s purposes for our lives. Can you think of the capabilities that you possess and see them through the lens of God’s vision? If we listen to God’s prompting, He will direct us in exactly the way He desires us to use our gifts. The more we are blessed by Him, the more He requires of us. The beauty of this is that the more we are obedient, the more His blessings will flow to us. How have you used your gifts and talents for God’s glory lately?
Aug4
Optimism
Lately it seems all you have to do is turn on the TV or read the headlines in the newspapers to feel a tinge of pessimism. However, I”ve always believed that optimism is one of the most valuable qualities you can possess. I’m drawn to those folks who see the glass half full. I’ll admit it’s challenging to always find a rainbow in difficult circumstances, but you can’t have a rainbow unless you have some rain. I love how Winston Churchill put things in perspective for us when he said that a Pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity and the Optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty. If what he said is true, then we are embedded in one of the most opportunistic times of our lifetime, and that’s something to be excited about!
So cancel those negative thoughts. Imagine the possibilities. Look for the silver lining in every “cloud.” Follow your dreams. Don’t focus on the obstacles. Think instead about the potential you possess. Think of all we have to be thankful for! Live optimistically!
Jan17
Getting Your Hands Dirty
“Getting your Hands Dirty”
cbrown.cooksey
40A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”
41Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured. Mark 1:40 – 42 NIV
Leprosy was an incurable, disabling skin disease which terrified people. In keeping with Jewish Law, lepers were considered unclean and were unable to participate in any religious or social activity. They were the ultimate outcasts of Jewish society. They were banned to live in leper colonies outside the main areas of the cities and were not allowed to mingle with the healthy population.
However, when Jesus saw this diseased, leprous man, he had compassion on him. Despite his visual appearance and all the dictates of Jewish law, Jesus reached out and TOUCHED this man with his hand of healing. This reaction went against every belief of all those people who were watching. Jesus looked beyond the disease and saw inside the man. In doing so, Jesus demonstrated a valuable example to his followers. The real value of a person is on the inside. Outward appearances of a person’s body may be deformed or diseased, but the person inside is no less valuable to God. No person is too disgusting or disfigured or diseased for God’s touch.
In a sense we have all been diseased and deformed by the ugliness and disfigurement of sin, and we could, therefore, be considered leprous in the eyes of God. Instead of looking away from us in disgust, God had compassion on all sinners when He sent His son, Jesus, who touched us with love and forgiveness and gave us the opportunity to be healed.
When is the last time you got your “hands dirty” in the name of Jesus? When your feel repulsed by someone, take a moment and think about how God feels about that person…and how he feels about you. Stop and ask yourself, “What would Jesus do in that same situation?”
Jan1
Welcome 2010!
“In Pursuit of True Prosperity”
As we welcome 2010 today, many of us are facing a new year with hopeful anticipation that this new beginning will bring renewed prosperity. The past year continued with an unprecedented economic downturn, but we now see glimpses of recovery. Most all of us have been negatively affected in some way by the global recession, and we all hope for better times in the year to come. As I think about what prosperity means to me, I am reminded about a scripture passage I read recently which brought the term into a spiritual focus for me. “True Prosperity” can be summed up as simply the blessings of God upon my life. He knows every intimate detail about me and knows exactly what I need for a life of heaven-sent prosperity. God’s definition of prosperity is not the same as our human definition, however. His blessings upon us include peace, joy, faith, hope and love. They can also include favor, gifts and talents. No matter how he chooses to prosper us, His blessings are always superior to what we would glean from the world.
His word is very clear about His promise to prosper the lives of His children if we carefully follow all of His commands. It is also very clear about the consequences of our disobedience. Deuteronomy 30:2-3,9 NIV tells me, “..when you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey Him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you…Then the LORD your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands…Then the LORD will again delight in you and make you prosperous..” He even tells us how we can know what He commands of us: “what I am commanding is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach…No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.” Deuteronomy 30: 11,14
God has created each one of us with a unique purpose in mind. He will equip each of us to fulfill that purpose and to live a life of true prosperity, but we have to choose to obey Him in every area of our lives. After reading the above passage, I am prompted to examine my heart and soul and determine if I am fully committed to obedience to the LORD. As the New Year begins, I can’t think of a better time to perform some “house cleaning” and self-examination. I pray that I will start the year with a committed heart and soul, purged of worldly worries and encumbrances which crowd out space for God to fill me with the blessing of His glorious presence in my life. I pray that He will use me in mighty ways in 2010 for the glory of His kingdom. In doing so, I will know “true prosperity!”
Jul13
Cling to God for your Help
Psalm 63:7-8 (New International Version)
7 Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
No matter what you may be going through, remember that God is your Help. Allow your soul to Cling to Him and His word for your guidance, wisdom, counsel, protection, provision, healing, deliverance, shield, refuge, fortress, and peace. He promises to be all these things and more for His Children.
Sing in the Shadow of His Wings!
everyday encouragement 