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 | Nov 11, 2021 | Direction, Encouragement, Encouragement from the Word, Lifestyle Encouragement, Prayer, The Art of Encouraging
Building a dream is hard work – in fact, it is probably the hardest work I have ever done! It requires planning, waiting, changing plans, waiting some more, actual manual labor, oh – and did I mention waiting?
Every time I discover that I need to wait more, discouragement rears its ugly head. I actually had to talk myself out of the tree of despair today as it began to settle on me that my building might not be finished before cold weather. I reminded myself that it would be okay. There is no time limit on dream-building. I will just have to make an alternate plan – and wait.
It is actually quite interesting to discover that waiting builds character. It gives me time to refine – and redefine- my dream. It causes me to slow down and savor the moments of building my dream instead of rushing ahead and missing the steps along the way. Waiting causes me to spend more time in prayer – seeking guidance, asking for help, expressing gratitude for what I have. It gives me time for creating and exploring new ideas. Waiting strengthens my resolve.
Building a dream is hard work – and I suppose it should be. If it were easy and came quickly, I might be tempted to let it go just as easily. This way, the planning, revising, manual labor – and even the waiting – will all undergird the final spectacular result that I have been dreaming about. And that is worth waiting for!
by wendy | Nov 11, 2021 | Encouragement, Encouragement from the Word, Godly Relationships, Lifestyle Encouragement, Tips for Encouraging Others
I have begun writing again! I am excited to feel the words and ideas bubbling up and spilling onto the page after a long drought of silence. One of the projects I started years ago is a book about encouraging others daily. God has been giving me opportunities to live these examples – whether I am the encourager or the recipient of the encouragement. I have been organizing these ideas into categories such as Hospitality, Gifts, the Encouragement of Words, etc. Here is a post about the Encouragement of Hospitality – with a twist!
Story-telling
This Thanksgiving I had the amazing privilege of listening to the stories of several recovering addicts. The program my son is attending for his own recovery hosted the families for the Holiday. Some families came, but many of the men were without family and they seemed grateful for the fellowship. I moved around the ranch asking each person I met to share how they came to be where they were. It was a unique opportunity to discover the humanity and humility of those who had hit rock bottom. Most stories had a similar element – they longed to be right with their families again. They were in various stages of their recovery – one there less than a week, several at the half-way mark of six months, one just returned after 30 years, and one graduating and leaving that day! A few were still harboring regret and bitterness, some full of peace, most excited and ready to move on. I listened – and promised to pray – but mostly just listened. Every time they tell their stories, they share how God has saved them from a life of destruction. They tell of their freedom and the hope they have for their future. Every story told is speaking life and truth into their own hearts and it is good for them to tell it! They may have hosted us, but I invited them to tell their stories.
Sometimes hospitality is simply inviting someone into your presence, even if it occurs in their space. Go to a soup kitchen, nursing home, women’s shelter, prison, school, or anywhere that there are people who cannot come to you. Enter their presence but invite them into yours. Don’t just visit – interact, ask questions, and listen! Pray with people, share your own story, and care. Telling their story may be the very thing that gives them the courage to go on one more day!
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 from the Word, Godly Relationships, Lifestyle Encouragement, Tips for Encouraging Others
A friend invited me to come to her house to help her with a painting the other day. Her table looked similar to mine – paints, brushes, projects in a variety stages – but it was exciting to me to walk into her “studio”! We painted a little together and enjoyed some fellowship at the same time. I left refreshed and inspired. Do you share a hobby or interest with other women? Invite them to join you in your space to create together. A fresh atmosphere coupled with the company will be an exciting change to their regular routine
