BE ENCOURAGED

Isaiah 59:1 NLT Listen! The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call.

God wants to encourage us all today no matter where we’re at, or what we’re facing, or what has happened. He knows the end from the beginning and nothing takes Him by surprise. God has told us He has good plans to prosper us and not to harm us, a future and a hope, but it requires us to take up our shield of faith to grab a hold of that promise so the enemy can’t steal it from us.

Scripture is full of what God has promised us and He doesn’t lie, so we can have confidence to stand on His word in the face of whatever the enemy is trying to put on us. We can be so grateful that our God is supernatural and He is not limited in any way, shape or form, by our present reality. 

Jesus told Jairus's daughter who had actually died, to get up, and she did. He told lepers to be made whole and they were. Their present reality had to bow to God’s supernatural reality. How encouraging that is.😊 Jesus never said, “How awful, what are we going to do!” No, He knew He’d been sent to heal the sick, make blind eyes see, etc. so He did, and He is the same yesterday, today and forever!

Jesus faced earthly reality on a daily basis but He brought God’s heavenly reality, which is higher and more powerful than ours, into every situation because He knew His Father’s heart was to heal, restore, provide and turn things around for peoples’ good. I can personally testify to that.😊 

3 John 2 NKJV Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. I love this verse because it reminds me of what God’s will is for His children, so I don’t need to wonder.

Let’s stand together in faith for all that God has promised us and believe what Isaiah said that God will listen to our prayers and He will save us. He will save you. In Jesus name. Amen.

DON’T FORGET!

Colossians 3:15 NLT And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Do you ever find you need reminding of things? You may have good intentions but then you forget to do what you’re supposed to do! It’s not even an ‘age’ thing because I was like it years ago but I have learned to write notes to myself and pin them where I’ll see them to remind me! Maybe you do the same?😊

In the same way I think we might need reminding of some of the things the Holy Spirit said through Paul in Colossians 3 (NLT). If you’ve not read it lately have a little look with me: 

10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

12…you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 

13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 

Maybe it would be good to write them down and pin them up around the house because it’s easy to forget, whether we’re 4 or 94!😊 Earlier in the chapter Paul talks about taking off things like being greedy, sexual immorality, impurity, lust, anger, rage, spiteful behaviour, etc. but he tells us to put on our new nature.

If we’re honest, our new nature is much nicer so why do we want to hang on to any of the other stuff like unforgiveness and offence anyway? It only makes us miserable in the end! It’s time to let some things go, to take them off like an old worn out coat and put on our shining armour of righteousness which we’ve been given as a free gift instead. When we do we’ll find peace will come as a result. As Paul says…15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. And always be thankful. 

Why not have a read of Colossians 3 again and be blessed and maybe get your pen and paper notes out?🤣 Amen.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash