Encouragement for the journey
2 Peter 1:2-11 "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
I need encouragement. I think all of us do. We all become weary of striving against wind and tide in our attempts to follow heartily after Christ. I want to be a good wife, friend, mom, daughter, sister, church member, etc. But I get tired of trying and sometimes I just want to give in and give up. I want to not have expectations and rules and responsibilities. I especially get tired of problems (illness, cranky people, disobedient children, etc.) and want these to go away. I actually would like to go far away! Perhaps you can relate. The point of all this is just to establish that I-that we-become spent. Like a good ditch digger we feel as though we've put in our day's work and we are ready for a break-not the next shift. Where do I go at times like this? Where I do go is often not where I should go. Sometimes I call a dear friend that I know will listen kindly without judgement, There is definitely a place for that. Proverbs 17:17 says, "A friend loves at all times, and a brother [or sister] is born for adversity." I want, however, to develop the habit of going to Christ first. I want to be in the habit of pouring my heart out to Him and seeking comfort and strenth "and grace to help in time of need." (Hebrew 4:16). To habitually pursue other sources of encouragement is to practically deny the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the relevance of the place of God's word and prayer in my life. I love my friends and so appreciate their 'being there' for me but I want to have an intimate relationship with the One who is my ultimate source of joy and hope. When I am weary I also realize that I need to realign my thinking. It has become out of whack due to my tired mind and body, I need to realize afresh that my "job" is to be whatever it is I am to the glory of God. My chief end is, in fact, "to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever." (Westminster Shorter Chatechism question 1) Additionally I need to seek the Lord in confessing sin as the Holy Spirit brings this to mind. In weary times we are given to particular sins-discontentment and complaining; backbiting and gossip; and indulgance of the flesh to satisfy emotional/Spritual barrenness. Praise God He is a God of mercy and of new beginnings. May you be encouraged to lift up your heart to the Lord for He is "full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth." (Psalm 86:15) We can fully trust that "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" because our God always keeps His promises! ♥ ~Laurie
I need encouragement. I think all of us do. We all become weary of striving against wind and tide in our attempts to follow heartily after Christ. I want to be a good wife, friend, mom, daughter, sister, church member, etc. But I get tired of trying and sometimes I just want to give in and give up. I want to not have expectations and rules and responsibilities. I especially get tired of problems (illness, cranky people, disobedient children, etc.) and want these to go away. I actually would like to go far away! Perhaps you can relate. The point of all this is just to establish that I-that we-become spent. Like a good ditch digger we feel as though we've put in our day's work and we are ready for a break-not the next shift. Where do I go at times like this? Where I do go is often not where I should go. Sometimes I call a dear friend that I know will listen kindly without judgement, There is definitely a place for that. Proverbs 17:17 says, "A friend loves at all times, and a brother [or sister] is born for adversity." I want, however, to develop the habit of going to Christ first. I want to be in the habit of pouring my heart out to Him and seeking comfort and strenth "and grace to help in time of need." (Hebrew 4:16). To habitually pursue other sources of encouragement is to practically deny the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the relevance of the place of God's word and prayer in my life. I love my friends and so appreciate their 'being there' for me but I want to have an intimate relationship with the One who is my ultimate source of joy and hope. When I am weary I also realize that I need to realign my thinking. It has become out of whack due to my tired mind and body, I need to realize afresh that my "job" is to be whatever it is I am to the glory of God. My chief end is, in fact, "to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever." (Westminster Shorter Chatechism question 1) Additionally I need to seek the Lord in confessing sin as the Holy Spirit brings this to mind. In weary times we are given to particular sins-discontentment and complaining; backbiting and gossip; and indulgance of the flesh to satisfy emotional/Spritual barrenness. Praise God He is a God of mercy and of new beginnings. May you be encouraged to lift up your heart to the Lord for He is "full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth." (Psalm 86:15) We can fully trust that "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" because our God always keeps His promises! ♥ ~Laurie