Category Archives: Encouragement

God’s Good Word, God’s Promises

Quote

Posted on by
Reply

God’s Word is eternal. It is for all times and extends beyond our lifetime.

~ Lisa Blair

This is a guest post from a YouVersion devotional study – Good News: Encouragement for a World In Crisis. Created by YouVersion. Bible.com

God Has Good Plans, Day 1 of 7.

We’re living in an unprecedented time as we navigate the life-threatening and economy-shaking struggles we’re facing because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the past, we’ve seen catastrophic diseases, disasters, and wars impact various countries, but this is different. At this time, the whole world has something in common: we’re trying to survive a deadly virus.

So, as followers of Jesus, how do we make sense of this? What do we do with our questions to God and our questions of God? How do we find good news in a continual stream of bad news? And how do we grasp how this fits into the all-familiar passage of Jeremiah 29:11? 

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (NLT)

This verse gives hope and is our spiritual security blanket in hard times. It’s printed on t-shirts, etched on coffee mugs, and stamped on greeting cards. While God is a hope giver, we have to understand the context of this cherished verse. 

Jeremiah prophesied to the Israelites in the southern kingdom of Judah before they were taken captive in 586 BC by King Nebuchadnezzer of Babylon. In Jeremiah 27, he prophesied that they would serve this king, his son, and his grandson, and that everything would be under their control (Jeremiah 27:6-7 NLT). 

In the next chapter, a false prophet named Hananiah told the people that God would free them and restore everything to them in two years. Jeremiah challenged Hananiah because of his lies. He also said Hananiah would die and in two months, he was dead.

In chapter 29, Jeremiah encourages the people to live their lives while they’re in exile—to work, marry, plant, eat, and multiply! He tells them they’ll be in Babylon for 70 years and then, they’ll be brought home again. 

God’s plans of a hope and a future for His chosen people probably didn’t match what their idea was. They wanted to go home, yet God said it would be 70 years. They wanted their own king, yet God said they would serve the Babylonian king. They wanted to flourish in their homeland, but God said to do that under a government that was holding them captive. Possibly the hardest part was that the older generation would never go back home. They would die in a foreign land serving a foreign king. 

We can’t insist on our idea of a bright and hopeful future. We tend to be short-sighted and earthly-minded. But God’s ways are so much higher than what our minds can grasp. His plan is better! And it will include forever with Him in heaven, not just a short portion of our lives on earth. 

If our hope is laced with doubt, fear and anxiety, we can change that today. We need to eliminate our“hope-so” attitude and replace it with a “know-so” mindset. Our hope should never be tethered to the conveniences and pleasures the world offers or the ease of a situation. Instead, we fasten our minds to the promises and truths in the Word of God and fix our sights on the day when our bright, glorious, and eternal future is made a reality. Instead of wishing away our days in the predicament we’re in, let’s have confidence that God will deposit hope into us no matter what we’re facing. 

Scriptures: Jeremiah 27, Jeremiah 28, Jeremiah 29:1-14

Rejoice, 1-29-18 post

Quote

Posted on by
Reply

Rejoice-1

I open with my favorite Bible Scripture.

This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

What does that mean to you? To me, it means that no matter the circumstances in my life, I am God’s child and I am rejoicing in the Lord. My conditions, good or bad, do not define my relationship with my Father. He’s ‘Got me’, ‘He’s Got the thing, whatever the thing is’, I turn all things over to Him. He will lead me to still waters. He will make a way of escape from impending danger. He will heal me. He will meet my daily needs. He will speak to me when I feel lonely. He guides me. He cares for me and keeps me in all of His ways.

I rejoice in our Lord and am glad in it. The world does not shackle me. The Lord frees me. The Lord frees us!

What a great way to begin the day!

Not In Control Of Our Lives

Quote

Posted on by
Reply

Circumstances outside of our control often undo expectations and plans. Life is outside of our control. The pandemic is changing our lives. Life, as we planned, no longer exists.

Posted on 

Dreams have been dashed. Jobs and career positions have been lost, and the unknown remains bleak. That is the world nonbelievers live in; they created their own destiny and have nothing to rely on but themselves. However, believers rest on God’s Word. We did not create our own destiny; God gave us life and a path. Scripture declares, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” Proverbs 16:3. If we trust in the Lord with all of our heart and lean not in our own understanding and submit to Him, He will make our paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

I am not saying that we will not experience hardship and loss; we will. The difference between nonbelievers and believers is that we find comfort in knowing that God provides. Loss is temporary. Paths can be forged, and we do not fear death because we possess eternal life.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous hand. Isaiah 41:10.

Our God sees us through the darkest moments, He directs our way, and carries us when we can no longer withstand the pressure. He told us He would never give us more than we can bear, though what we think we can carry and what He believes we can bear are two different things. It is during these moments He challenges us to be courageous, to have courage.

In times of great distress, we are challenged to grow. We are challenged to put His Word into practice. He tells us to depend on Him and not what we see. He tells us, all things work for the good for those who love Him and have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28.

All believers are called according to His purpose. Knowing this assures us that the darkest days are numbered, and we will once again see the light of day. This assurance proves our faith is stronger than our circumstances. It is stronger than our losses. Faith determines our new path, and can sure up the old. We are victorious. We have victory through our faith in Jesus Christ.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about the things we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

We are overcomers. As long as we trust God, we can live in peace amid the storms of life. Internal peace is spiritual peace. You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3 We can face the loss and setbacks through the struggle. We can see God operating in our lives as minute details become visible of the signs He presents. When we put the pieces together, we can begin to see the bigger picture, much like viewing a crossword puzzle. Will all of the pieces arrive numbered like a do-it-yourself piece of furniture, no. Will we experience setbacks, yes. Will we give up and give in to the circumstances that many would say are crippling and can not be overcome, no. Philippians 4:13 affirms we can do all things through Him who strengthens us.

The author of 1 John 5:4 wrote For everyone born of God overcomes the world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.

Pandemics are outside of our control, but its outcomes are not outside of our Lord’s authority. This is the time we are called to stand, and as Ephesians 6:13 declares, having done all stand. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 tells us, God’s grace is sufficient for us, His power is made perfect in our weakness, and we should boast about our weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on us. Paul tells us when we are weak; we are strong.

Scriptures – Biblegateway.com; Images – Google Images

Giving Thanks

Quote

Posted on by
Reply

We are a blessed people. We should begin each day giving thanks for another day’s journey.

~ Lisa Blair

A Prayer for Today

Good morning Lord, thank you for waking me up this morning and giving me the privilege of placing my feet on solid ground. Thank you for the buoyancy of your love that keeps me afloat. Thank you for keeping disease and pestilence at bay. Thank you for allowing me to be a steward of the Word, which is my inheritance. Thank you for shielding me from the storms of life. Thank you for allowing no weapons to form against me. Thank you for my salvation on this day that you have made. I will rejoice and be glad in it as I go through my day. In Jesus Name, Amen!

The Bible is replete with God’s promises. The best way to hold them near to our heart is to recite them in daily prayer, personalizing them and making them our own. Ownership seals the relationship in a real way and empowers our walk with Christ. When we own something we cherish it, are proud of it, share it, and make it part of our lives in a demonstrable way. As stewards, we are responsible for sharing the Word, which is difficult if we are not living it. Expression is the visible display of who we are in Christ.

Jesus commanded the Disciples to go out and build the Church. He taught the Disciples, as well as us, by example. He urged them to live a Christ-like life, and the only way we can accomplish that is to believe and express our treasure chest of spiritual knowledge outwardly. It begins with knowing what we are ’thankful’ for, and acknowledging it through prayer and thanksgiving each morning and throughout the day.

Pulled From The Slimy Pit

Quote

Posted on by
Reply

God’s promises never fail, but all too often we fail to see them. Always survey the fullness of your life and you will begin to recognize the minute, small, and large things in your life.

~Lisa Blair

Posted on 

God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

The Lord will never leave us or forsake us. This verse is one of God’s promises to us. The promise means you will never be left in the slimy pit of the muck and mire of life. There is escape lodged within His promise to never leave us.

In my post, Living Through the Muck and Mire, February 21, 2018, I shared “we have been talking about our dependence upon the Lord and how He works wonders in our lives, not because of anything we do, but because of His unconditional love or us.”

God lifted us out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set our feet on a rock and gave us a firm place to stand. I believe that accepting this truth relaxes the anxiety, fear, and stress that is aligned with struggling in the slimy pit. Being saved does not mean we will not suffer during our lives, it means that we will be supported through God’s promises, Jesus’s death, the Holy Spirit’s direction, and ultimately eternal life and entrance into heaven.

Like so many, I have experienced the trials that felt like mud and mire, or a slimy pit. During those times I did not step back from the situation and pray, the mud and mire felt more like quicksand. In those instances when I rebuked the evil one’s hold and prayed for deliverance and help, God was able to give me peace within the storm. That peace is more than calming, it places you on solid ground.

Once you realize you are on solid ground, resolve becomes more than a possibility, the Holy Spirit provides direction for escape, providing actions to take while in many instances removing stumbling blocks and walls that surrounded us.

Some may say, ‘I live in the slimy pit’, I prayed to no avail. I say, do not give up, do not relax your guard. God is always working on our behalf. His thoughts are not our thoughts. Therefore, since He knows what we must experience to mature as Christians, and His time is not our time, the lesson may extend over a greater length of time than we think it should.

Pray, pray and pray until you see the manifestation of your prayers. Look at all of the things happening around you and to you. Seek to identify the small things God has done. For example, if it was a debt, was the total due reduced, was the payment time renegotiated, did you receive unexpected incoming funds? All of these things are God’s blessings associated with your prayers.

God’s promises never fail, but all too often we fail to see them. Always survey the fullness of your life and you will begin to recognize the minute, small, and large things in your life. Once you do that, you will recognize He always pulls you out of the slimy pit, out of the mud/muck and mire of life’s obstacles and places you on solid ground.

LIFE WITH CHRIST—A MODEL OF LOVE

Quote

Posted on by
1

God’s love is unconditional, He pours in so we can pour out.

~ Lisa Blair

We are to love one another unconditionally, as our Father loves us in our sinful state, without conditions, caveats, or exclusion. We are to have Jesus’s mindset.

Love breaks down walls and gives the giver peace despite the circumstances. We don’t have to like everyone or keep them in our circle if toxic in anyway, but as a child of God we are required to love them as He loves us.

God pours His love into us so we can pour it out into a dark world, casting light and changing the atmosphere. When we reflect chaos and hate, we are contributing to the darkness. When we, like Paul, love everyone as God loves us, our love attracts others who are seeking God and want a relationship with Him. We are the model of Christ. Are we modeling Him or living in the natural world modeling the evil one? Do we love unconditionally, are we kind, do we sacrifice for the good of others, are we patient, trustworthy, faithful, gentle and maintain self-control?

“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:13-14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Do we love our neighbors, those around us wherever we go? Are we the model God sets before man? The world sees Him through our actions. Are we modeling unconditional love through our actions or reinforcing worldly values and sel-righteousness? Paul wrote a letter to the Philippians stressing that we are to emulate Christ in all we do.

“Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility],”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:5‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Daily reminder, recite each morning  – Today I go forth (intentionally) modeling Christ.

Images and Scriptures—YouVersion.Bible.com

Resource— Nelson’s Quick Reference. Warren Wiersbe