by wendy | Jan 29, 2024 | Encouragement For Your Heart, Encouragement from the Word, Trusting God
“How do I get to the place where asking God first comes naturally?”
This was the question posed to me recently when I reminded someone close to me to pray about a difficult situation in their life. I paused…
”It takes practice – discipline – the more you go to God with your questions and problems intentionally – the more natural it becomes. It is easy to go to a friend or family member first, but they don’t have the answers like God does.”
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9
“When we continually go to a person before God – expecting them to fix our problems and have the answers to our deep spiritual questions, it’s actually idol worship,” I continued. “Yikes, I thought – where did that come from?” It was a thought that had been forming for some time but when I voiced it out loud, I instantly felt convicted. This has long been a struggle for me. And apparently, I needed that lesson to be reinforced myself!
In Sunday School this week, the question was asked, “How often do you go to God first – if at all – with your questions and problems?”
I reiterated what I spoke out loud in the other conversation and our teacher asked me to clarify. I stumbled through an example of how I have often used my mom as my go-to problem solver. While that is not bad in and of itself, it becomes idol worship when I choose to rely on her and her wisdom instead of and before the wisdom of God. My mom is a wise and godly woman, but she still does not have the power and wisdom that God can provide. Anything – or anyone – I put before or above God is an idol. Even my mama!
I was reminded of a verse in 2 Chronicles 16
”For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”
2 Chronicles 16:9
As I looked back on that verse today, I got a little more context by reading the full passage (read 2 Chronicles 16:7-9 or more for the full story).
Asa had known the faithfulness of the LORD in previous encounters, but – as my NIV Study Bible notes – he suffered from faithless forgetfulness. We might call this short-term memory loss. Asa forgot to trust in the LORD – he lost confidence in Him. Why? Certainly not because God had stopped being faithful!
“If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”
2 Timothy 2:13
When Asa forgot to be faithful in trusting God, he chose instead to place his faith in a person. How often have I done this? Too many to recount.
Here is more from the commentary in my Study Bible notes.
”It is not sin to use human means to solve our problems, but it is a sin to trust them more than God, to think their ways are better than God’s ways, or to leave God completely out of the problem-solving process.”
NIV Life Application Study Bible
The prophet, Hanani, explains it like this:
”Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped your hand… Yet when you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand.”
2 Chronicles 16:7b, 8b
It begs the question of me, “Who do I rely upon? To whom am I committed?”
“Trust in the Lord and do good;
Live in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
He will bring out your righteousness as the light,
And your judgment as the noonday.”
Psalm 37:3-6 (NASB)
Am I forgetfully faithless?
OR
Am I cultivating faithfulness?
”But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Matthew 6:33
by wendy | Mar 7, 2023 | Encouragement, Encouragement For Your Heart, Encouragement from the Word, Godly Relationships, Tips for Encouraging Others
Watch the Video! (Link added soon)
There is an account in
1 Samuel 30 where David was said to have been greatly distressed. I think those words are a bit of an understatement since he found himself in the situation where his own men were threatening to stone him to death, but the verse ends with these words,
“but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”What an amazing example for us when we find ourselves discouraged and distressed! Of course we know that it is God that truly does the work of encouragement through His power and His spirit, but what I think this passage means is that David knew how to seek and access and apply the encouragement of the LORD. Do we know how to do this?
Are we – like David – able to encourage ourselves in the LORD?
We must be able to Encourage ourselves before we can encourage others – and I love how Scripture gives us the example of David’s friend Jonathan doing this very thing. Let’s not miss that we know that David knew how to strengthen and encourage himself in the LORD – we saw that example above – but we all need encouragement at times. Even David had times when he needed a friend to remind him how to seek the LORD, how to access God’s strength, and how to apply the encouragement of the LORD to his own discouraged heart.
1
Samuel 23 tells about David hiding from Saul. Though David never lost faith, he was struggling with fear and discouragement as we all do from time to time – especially in the face of difficulty or danger. Jonathan, the son of David’s enemy, risked life and the favor of his father to go to his friend in time of need. The passage says that
Jonathan, “went to David and helped him find strength in God.”If David needed encouragement from a friend – well then friend – so do you and I. And so do our friends!
This example of encouragement should always be our goal in encouraging others. We should not encourage people to find strength in themselves, their circumstances, other people, or in us – true encouragement is to find strength in God alone.
We find many other examples in Scripture of people strengthening and encouraging others in the LORD – lets look at 3 biblical ways we can do just that!
The first way we can strengthen and encourage others in the LORD is to:
1. Point Them to Jesus
And I love the way we see this in the most unlikely person – the woman at the well
In
John 4 Jesus has a divine encounter with a Samarian women. She is surprised that Jesus opens a conversation with her and he uses the opportunity to reveal Himself to her. We see the transformation that happens immediately in her life when she rushes back to town and can’t help but to tell everyone about her experience!
Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him.
John 4:28-30
Can you see what is happening here? This woman has found new life – and strength and hopen- from an encounter with Jesus! Her focus is no longer on her circumstances but on Jesus Himself! And now – she is pointing others to him! Come see!
God is so good to show us the result of her enthusiasm:
Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers. They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”
John 4:39-42
This unlikely evangelist – just a woman who experienced the power of God in her life through meeting Jesus herself – shared that news with others – and they went to meet him and came to know Him themselves!
When we point to Jesus – when we share with others the hope and strength and encouragement we have received from Him – they are invited to come and experience the same for themselves!
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Is there someone in your life today who might need to hear about how God has comforted you?
Is your story pointing to Jesus?
The people the Samaritan Women pointed to Jesus were able to go to Him themselves – but there are times when a person can’t seem to get there on their own. Many things can prevent a person from going to Jesus to seek His comfort – depression, anger, bitterness, to name a few – but if they are willing, we can
2. Carry them to Jesus
When I hear the story of the man on the mat in
Luke 5, it reminds me of a time that I was “paralyzed” with depression. It was a very difficult time in my life – I wasn’t without faith, but I was struggling to seek, access, and apply the encouragement of the LORD for myself. I had godly friends at that time that carried me – through their comfort and encouragement – to the feet of Jesus. In their company, I found the encouragement I needed to heal.
I am struck by the phrase that Jesus offers when this group goes to extreme lengths to get their friend to Him.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
Luke 5:20
Did you hear that? Jesus saw “their” faith! Friend – your faith cannot save someone else – but your faith might be just what someone else needs to get them to the feet of Jesus – and once they are there – their own faith – and the compassion of their LORD will do the rest of the work.
Can you think of someone who knows the LORD but is struggling to see Him past their circumstances? How can you carry a corner of their mat – how can you get them to the feet of Jesus?
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2
We can only carry each other’s burdens as far as to the feet of Jesus.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
We can point to Jesus with our own changed lives, we can carry to Jesus those who believe but cannot get themselves to Him, but there are also times when we are called to:
3. Walk With Them to Jesus
Acts 8 gives us the story of Phillip and the Ethiopian eunuch.
Philip was in the midst of doing the work God had given him to do. This is an important detail.
When we are obedient to the calling God has given us – He puts us where we need to be to walk alongside those who need His encouragement.
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
1 Peter 3:15
There are 2 important points here:
1. Revere Christ as Lord – in your heart – encourage and strengthen yourself in the LORD – know Him, follow Him – Look to Him.
2. Be prepared – know how you seek, access, and apply the encouragement of the LORD and be ready to help others do so
Philip was ready.
As Philip was doing the work God had given him to do – Scripture tells us that the Spirit led him to the chariot of this Eunuch. And as he obeyed he heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. So he struck up a conversation about what the eunuch was reading. He met the man where he was and was able to participate in the work God was already doing! The man invited Philip to travel with him and explain what he was reading. That very day the Eunuch accepted Jesus and was baptized!
How exciting to be used in that way! We too can be used like that – we can walk alongside those that are seeking the LORD and help to guide them to Him.
Friends, these 3 ways of strengthening and encouraging others in the LORD – Point to Jesus, Carry them to Jesus, Walk with them to Jesus – each of them are nothing without Him.
We cannot do the work of encouragement in our own strength!
In 1 Corinthians Paul explained some of the ways we can be used –
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
1 Corinthians 3:6-9
I might be the one planting the seed – pointing someone to Jesus,
or perhaps I will get to water the seed – carrying them to Jesus or walking alongside them to Jesus,
But only God makes it grow – true encouragement and strength comes from the LORD!
If we are focused on Him and willing to be used – oh friend! Prepare to be amazed at what He will do!
by wendy | Jan 16, 2023 | Encouragement For Your Heart
Do you choose a word for the year?
I love this practice – it makes more sense to me that a list of resolutions that are loosely related. Choosing a word to focus on is – well – more focused. I will share the word that I have chosen for this year shortly, but first, here are a few of my past words:
Intentional
Pray
Focus
When I choose a word, it helps me to build my goals around that theme and I find I remember and realize the goals more fully
Here are some suggestions I would offer if you would like to choose a word for 2023:
-
Pray about your word!
It’s important to ask God where He wants us to focus! if we believe that God is omniscient – knowing all things – then we also believe that He knows what is to come. He can see the path ahead of us and knows which way we should go.
2. Commit to your word!
Once we have chosen a word, we need to commit to it. Write your word in your planner, post it on the mirror or fridge, make this word visible so you can meditate on it throughout the year.
3. Study your word!
I love word study – you will discover that in much of my content. Words have meaning and that meaning has power! Look up the definition of your word, find quotes using your word, and most importantly find out what God’s word says regarding your word. Make yourself some notecards with verses and passages about your word and read them regularly to firmly plant the truth in your heart.
4. Act on your word!
Put your word into practice! It will take some time for this new word in your life to fit naturally – but you can try it on each day until it does. Is your word kind? Plan how you can be kind today! Is your word generous? Plan how you can give. Is your word peace? Then build peace into your everyday routine. New ideas and new habits don’t happen without action – as you commit and study your word – also put your new word into practice.
5. Return to your word!
Give yourself grace! New habits and paths take time to form. There will be days that look farther from your word than you could imagine. Instead of allowing yourself to be riddled in guilt over the perceived failure, allow these times to be opportunities to return to your word anew. Use prayer, your commitment, and the learning and the previous action to help you as you return to your word over and over.
My special friend Lauren loves to exclaim, “Happy New Year!” frequently when she leaves the house for the day. If only we would all approach each new day with the enthusiasm Lauren has – after all, each day is the beginning of the next year! (See the video at the top of the post for the full story about Lauren entitled, “Marking Your Days.”
My word for the year:
I promised you that I would share my new word for 2023. As we began to get closer to the end of 2022, I noticed that my focus seemed to land on words that begin with the letter P and this reminded me of my preschool days (like Sesame Street would say). The year 2023 is brought to you by the letter “P!”
Some of the words I am hearing are:
Pause
Pray
Preach to myself
Plan
Pursue
and Practice
but the overarching word that I keep hearing my soul whisper is
Peace!
Our pastor is currently preaching through the book of 1 Peter, and as I reviewed the sermon notes the other day, my eyes skipped across the page to 1 Peter 3.
For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.
1 Peter 3:10-11
Seeking peace is not a new journey for me, I believe it is a continuation of what God has been teaching my heart for some time now. Several years ago, Jerry and I felt that we were hearing God say, “Clean up and get ready!” and this was a big command for us since we had made a fine mess. But we took it seriously and we set out on a journey of cleaning up our stuff, our commitments, and our finances in an effort to be more available. Through that journey I have discovered that peace that can be found when I make room for it.
I also tend to be a spontaneous person and I can lack focus. I may be hyper focused in one area but unfocused in every other area and that leaves my life feeling chaotic – not peaceful. But I have begun to think and pray and learn about how to pursue peace in my life. I think you will see this theme – pursuing peace – and all things letter P – in my writing and my videos and even in my art – as it unfolds and takes hold.
I would love to hear from you – please tell me in the comments what word are you choosing for the year? What will be your focus for 2023? If you don’t have a word or a particular focus – then I am inviting you to join me on this journey of pursuing peace.
by wendy | Jan 7, 2023 | Encouragement For Your Heart
Are you looking for peace in your relationships? Do you sometimes struggle to know how to respond in the midst of conflict or chaos? In this short video, I share the 3 P’s for pursuing peace in your relationships. When you practice these 3 things, you open the door for the peace of God through the Holy Spirit to calm your spirit and enable you to respond in a more godly way.
Pause
Take a breath, refrain from a quick response, ponder.
Use words like, “I hear you, I understand, let me think about that.”
Whenever possible move away from the conflict or chaos and delay your response – at least temporarily.
Pray
There is no greater power than consulting God.
Talking to God first allows you to have His perspective.
Prayer give the Spirit permission to work in you and through you.
Preach (to yourself)
Remind yourself of God’s truth and His promises.
Give God’s voice first place in your thought process.
Allow the Word to renew your mind and transform you.
Strengthen yourself in the Lord.
by wendy | Nov 11, 2021 | Encouragement, Encouragement For Your Heart, Encouragement from the Word, Lifestyle Encouragement, Prayer
Several years ago, in the midst of the chaos of life, finding myself surrounded by messes, I cried out to God! “Please,” I pleaded with Him, “Please, fix my house!” I asked with desperation and urgency, but I asked with faith. I had visions of my prayer being answered by a certain reality TV crew sweeping in and leveling the mess we had made. Meanwhile, we would be sent away on vacation to dream about the amazingly dramatic new structure that would be revealed to us when we returned. I still think that would be nice!
God has been answering that prayer that I still repeat on a regular basis, though not as I had envisioned. Of course, God never answers my prayers the way I envision. He always does it so much better! I wanted a quick fix, an instant answer. I wanted all of our mistakes and oversights and messes to be blown up or pushed down and swept away. I wanted a do over – but I wanted to start brand new and instantly. Thank God He knows better than we do! He is a God who is more about the process than the product. He knows that we must take part in the change in order for the change to be real and lasting. While I thought it would have been great to go away and come home to a total transformation, God is the type of renovator that requires the homeowners to be fully present and completely involved.
In my prayer, I was really just asking God for a new house with clean closets and finished rooms, but God knew that more than just my house needed fixing. I really needed Him to fix my home, and that would turn out to be so much more than had entered my mind that day. I am so glad that God does not just hear the cry of my mouth – He also hears the cry of my heart! Though our house fix does sometimes include the actual building that we live in, it often includes many other aspects of our home, including, but not limited to, our finances, our health, our relationships, our faith, etc.
Many years later, we are still working on the fixing of this house and home. My children are nearly grown and it still seems that we are as big of a mess as we have always been – but just the other day I sat overwhelmed by the “fixing” that has been done. I have watched as our oldest son leveled his life with the mess he made. Though he was not sent away on a dream vacation, he was given a break from life in order that he might be rebuilt. I stand amazed as I look at the masterpiece he is becoming. God is teaching him to use the gifts he has been given for amazing things. Our daughter has been quietly undergoing her own transformation as God builds her confidence and boldness. Gradually, she is revealing gifts she has kept tucked neatly away – surprising us all. Before my eyes, she is unfurling like a beautiful – and fierce – flower! Our youngest two, who in the past almost always participated in similar activities, are developing their own interests and boldly pursuing their choices.
My house is still a mess. We are busy and unorganized and exhausted most of the time, but we are also fulfilled and joyous and grateful. Our life is not designed to be lived neatly and without interruption – it is messy and always evolving. I would still like to hone my less than perfect housekeeping skills, but I am thankful that God has been able to use our mess to create a masterpiece!
The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.
Proverbs 14:1
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
Isaiah 58:12
by wendy | Nov 11, 2021 | Encouragement, Encouragement For Your Heart, Encouragement from the Word, Godly Relationships, Hospitality
My friend Kate and I had a coffee date date with Agnes yesterday and it reminded me of the story I had previously written. I hope it brings you inspiration today!
Excerpt from A Cup of Encouragement – A Refill of Inspiration
The See-Through House
I had it in mind to visit with my neighbor, Agnes, after dropping the kids off at school this morning. As I passed her house, I glanced over to see if she was home. If her front door was open it would be a sign that visitors were welcome at this time. Sure enough, I was able to see through the glass of her storm door, right into her living room. As I continued past the house though, the living room was not all I could see! Agnes also had the back door open and I had a view of the beautiful morning sky behind her house. The clear shot through both of her doors was the perfect frame for the spectacular sight that I would have otherwise missed!
I did go back and visit with Agnes later, and I really enjoyed the time I had to chat with her. Her home is warm and welcoming and so full of light. We chatted about memories and present struggles, and through it all was woven our experiences of God’s grace and mercy. Though there is nothing that can take the place of fellowship with another believer, I couldn’t take my mind off of the view I had seen through Agnes’ “see-through” house. The more I thought about that view, the more I realized that I want my life to be “see-through” as well.
Like my neighbor’s home, I would like my life to have an open front door – a sign that people are always welcome. I want to be available and approachable at all times. Often though, I close the door, hiding my mess, seeking privacy, and masking my loneliness with busyness. It is not that I don’t want the company of others, but instead, I am sometimes afraid of what they might think if I let them inside. Unfortunately, what I often neglect to understand is that it is not what my life looks like that is important to others, as much as the encouragement that I have to offer when they come in.
Also like Agnes, I would like to remember to leave the back door open as well. While an open front door symbolizes a welcome sign to all who pass by, it is the light that shines through me that enables them to see me before they come in. Though the light of Christ is open and wide for all to see, many miss it unless it is framed by an ordinary life. When others can see Christ shining through me, illuminating my real and tangible characteristics, His beauty comes into focus. When I invite others in, but keep closed the door that lets in the light, they get but a faded glimpse of who I really am.
A home bathed in light is beautiful no matter what the contents. A home full of warmth is welcoming no matter its splendor. Leave the front door of your life open, throw open the back door to let in the light. When others see through your life and capture the awesomeness of God, you will be amazed at the company that will stop by!
No one lights a lamp, then hides it in a drawer.
It’s put on a lamp stand so those entering the room
have light to see where they’re going.
Keep your life as well-lighted as your best-lighted room.
Luke 11:33,36 (The Message)
