There is nothing better than an encouraging word from a friend. But Imagine if that encouragement came from God, the one that made you and gave you life. I remember hearing at a time when I was struggling from a preacher that “God loves me” and I remember thinking “yeah well why doesn't he ever tell me.” I remember thinking of some of my happier Christian friends that they must be getting some direct revelation from God that God had been appearing to them every night in their dreams telling them how awesome they were.
I was in seminary at the time and I remember at my lowest skipped class and drove to the Church I had been attending and I met with the pastor. She gave me encouragement and it was great. She told me to follow my heart, which was in a dark place at the time, and that God would work it all out for good. We talked and because of the direction of my heart at the moment we decided that it would be best for me to reconsider my call as a pastor and just get my M. of A.R rather than my M. Div. Meaning I would be able to be a youth pastor, etc, but not a pastor (though now I realise it doesn't really make any difference. This encouragement came from her. I immediately went to my advisor and gave him my letter or intention to drop from the M. Div. Program. He didn't give me encouragement. He gave me the Bible and some prayer. He said 'read this' and wait for God to answer your prayer. He did and in that I found the best encouragement I have ever received, encouragement straight from the source of life himself and it had been written as plain as day for thousands of years. I finished my M.Div.
See far too often we think that the encouragement from man is all we need and it’s great but God has also given us encouragement. We have accepted the mindset that somehow reading the Bible is not encouraging but rather it is too academic. I've heard people say I don't need people to read me the Bible I just need encouragement. There are numerous books, DVDs, music, etc all about people sharing God's encouragement. But what if we could get that encouragement straight from the source.
Sitting down in prayer with the word of God reading Isaiah 41:10, Proverbs 3:5, John 14:27, Psalm 16:8, etc can be one of the most encouraging things you can do when you have a right understanding of your relationship with God and His Word. You see, when you know that the word is true and that the word is for you, not just for Christian leaders and pastors, and you know that you can speak to and hear from God directly you realise how much God really does love you.
It used to be that God set intermediaries in Prophets and Priests but now Jesus is the high priest (Hebrews 4). Jesus paid the price, took the punishment for our sins so we could approach God with confidence. We can find God for ourselves. We can discover His plans for us at any time, no matter how much education we have, no matter our position in the Church, no matter what Church we go to, just by opening His Word and being in prayer.
So whenever you feel like you need encouragement and there’s no one around remember the one who made you and gave you life and who is the source of all encouragement. He is ready with a word to lead you and guide you.
I was in seminary at the time and I remember at my lowest skipped class and drove to the Church I had been attending and I met with the pastor. She gave me encouragement and it was great. She told me to follow my heart, which was in a dark place at the time, and that God would work it all out for good. We talked and because of the direction of my heart at the moment we decided that it would be best for me to reconsider my call as a pastor and just get my M. of A.R rather than my M. Div. Meaning I would be able to be a youth pastor, etc, but not a pastor (though now I realise it doesn't really make any difference. This encouragement came from her. I immediately went to my advisor and gave him my letter or intention to drop from the M. Div. Program. He didn't give me encouragement. He gave me the Bible and some prayer. He said 'read this' and wait for God to answer your prayer. He did and in that I found the best encouragement I have ever received, encouragement straight from the source of life himself and it had been written as plain as day for thousands of years. I finished my M.Div.
See far too often we think that the encouragement from man is all we need and it’s great but God has also given us encouragement. We have accepted the mindset that somehow reading the Bible is not encouraging but rather it is too academic. I've heard people say I don't need people to read me the Bible I just need encouragement. There are numerous books, DVDs, music, etc all about people sharing God's encouragement. But what if we could get that encouragement straight from the source.
Sitting down in prayer with the word of God reading Isaiah 41:10, Proverbs 3:5, John 14:27, Psalm 16:8, etc can be one of the most encouraging things you can do when you have a right understanding of your relationship with God and His Word. You see, when you know that the word is true and that the word is for you, not just for Christian leaders and pastors, and you know that you can speak to and hear from God directly you realise how much God really does love you.
It used to be that God set intermediaries in Prophets and Priests but now Jesus is the high priest (Hebrews 4). Jesus paid the price, took the punishment for our sins so we could approach God with confidence. We can find God for ourselves. We can discover His plans for us at any time, no matter how much education we have, no matter our position in the Church, no matter what Church we go to, just by opening His Word and being in prayer.
So whenever you feel like you need encouragement and there’s no one around remember the one who made you and gave you life and who is the source of all encouragement. He is ready with a word to lead you and guide you.