Tag: Simply Said

Be Encouraged

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

I have had a couple of weeks. We all do from time to time. The pressures of life start to pile up and you start to feel overwhelmed, depressed, or anxious. You may find yourself in deep thought, disconnecting from others because you are frozen in fear or indecision.  Or you may submerge yourself into every project you can find just to avoid thinking about what is really going on. But then, God….

God sees you. God knows what is going on in your mind and in your life. He cares about what you are dealing with and wants to help you. How? Through His word (the Bible) and through His people. In Jeremiah 29:12-13 it says “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Isn’t that encouraging to know? That God listens to you and when you seek Him, you will find Him.

The Bible also says in 1Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” God uses His people to intervene in other people’s lives. God puts people in your path that either need encouraging or can encourage you. This encouragement from God will build you up. I received a card on Friday from a dear lady with a compassionate heart and a loving soul. She noticed that I was troubled a few weeks ago and sent words of encouragement to me. The card arrived at just the right time. God’s timing. When I read what she wrote it took my breath away. She wrote just what I needed to hear. Spoke to exactly what I was struggling with. There is no doubt in my mind that God was behind it.  God sees me and encourages me.

Thank you, God, for your perfecting timing and for your words of encouragement. Thank you for your promise to listen when I pray. Fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I may be guided to be an encouragement to others. Amen

Think About Such Things

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.

Paul was writing this letter to the church in Philippi from prison. A man in prison was encouraging others to think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. The easiest thing for Paul to do would be to complain about his circumstances. To dwell on the fact that he was in prison, far from home, and without his friends. But Paul had trained himself to put those thoughts out of his mind and to only think about helping others become closer to Christ.

What are you feeding your mind? What books, t.v. shows, and movies are you putting into your mind each day? What conversations are you having? What websites are you searching? What are you looking at on social media? What music is playing in your car? Is it true, noble, right, and pure? Perhaps it is time to replace it with something that will help you to think about that which is excellent and praiseworthy. Ask God to help you focus your mind on what is good and pure. Paul did it and so can you. It just takes practice to “think about such things”.

Dear God, please help me to focus my mind on what is good and pure. When I have a choice, lead me towards that which is pleasing to you. Amen.

The End Times

Are we in the “End Times”? This is an exceedingly difficult subject for some people to discuss. There are some who believe in the rapture and tribulation and some that do not. I am one of those people who never really cared either way because I know that I am saved by grace. I know that Jesus died on the cross and rose again to conquer Satan and death so that I may have eternal life. I don’t really care when Jesus comes again because I am ready any time. But what about my friends and family? Are they all saved? When Jesus comes again, will they be with me in paradise? Honestly, I really don’t know…and that scares me.

I like the way they have translated Jesus’s word in The Message from John 12:47-48.  It says:

“If anyone hears what I am saying and doesn’t take it seriously, I don’t reject him. I didn’t come to reject the world; I came to save the world. But you need to know that whoever puts me off, refusing to take in what I’m saying, is willfully choosing rejection.”

The Bible is full of prophetic words about the End Times. There are many passages that can be linked to current day events that are happening in our generation. But whether you believe in the End Times or not, it is time to take Jesus’s words seriously. Do not put Him off. Believe in Jesus. It is time to give your life to Him. It is time to make him the king of your heart. Romans 10:9 says:

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

So, if you are ready to start a new life and begin a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, say these words out loud:

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Your Name. Amen.  

Light My Path

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Navigating through life is not easy to do. Everyday you make hundreds of little decisions about where to go and what to do. Decisions about how to react to things that happen to you, decisions about how to treat others, decisions between doing what is right and doing what is wrong.

The world we live in today tells us to do whatever makes us happy. If you can make more money or it feels good, you should do it! If someone else gets hurt in the process, well that is unfortunate for them. It seems like the world’s moral compass is broken.

So, do not look to the world for guidance. Turn to God. Psalm 119:105 says that God’s word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. When the world says, “Do it”, what does God’s word say? Check for yourself. Study the Bible. When you spend time with God’s word, you will be able to see clearly and stay on the right path.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your precious word and for lighting the path that you want me to follow. Amen.