Encouragement

(adapted from a GiveHim15 Post from 8/8/22)

“In today’s post, I want to encourage you. When looking up the meaning of “encourage”, I found some interesting facts.

“One of the meanings of the prefix “en” is to cause (a person or thing) to be in or within the place, condition, or state named by the primary word. To encourage, therefore, is to put someone into a state of courage. Allow Holy Spirit to place you into a state or condition of courage today…

“One of the primary strategies of satan is to wear down the saints. The kingdom of darkness wants us to become so overcome with exhaustion and discouragement that we back off. He wants us to be occupied with worry and fear. He also desires for us to be so tired that we won’t pursue what God has put in our hearts. 

“Daniel 7:25 (NASB) tells us, ‘And he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Highest One…’ The two words ‘wear out’ is one Hebrew word, bela, which means a ‘mental or emotional attack’.(1) This references attacks against our soul, which is our mind, will, and emotions. It isn’t a physical weariness. The oppression of the soul is a compressed, squeezing feeling, even a feeling of constantly being overwhelmed. The picture in the Hebrew language is that of a snake that wraps itself around its prey and squeezes until there is no longer breath. The enemy’s agenda is to put the squeeze on the saints until we are mentally and emotionally exhausted. 

“Hell’s plan is to wear us out until we throw up our hands in utter frustration and walk away in a shroud of hopelessness. Darkness fueled by wokeism and liberalism, fired by hell, is resulting in unrest, despair, fear, and worry. 

“This is a clear tactic of hell in our times. The division, lies, deception, and constant turmoil in our nation can produce a feeling of hopelessness. If we are not careful, this can cause us to wonder if things will ever change. 

“The [Church] must confront the lies with truth. Sometimes the battles are long, but that doesn’t mean we can’t win them. Jesus said, (John 16:33, NKJV) ‘In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world!’ 

“We are to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. By placing our eyes on Jesus and giving Him our heavy burdens, life’s journey will be met with much less exhaustion and much more joy. 

….“Your tomorrows are going to be better than your yesterdays. Your future will be far better than your past. The God you served yesterday is still God today, and He’s God of tomorrow.” – Dutch Sheets

Consistent God,

Thank you for your faithfulness to us, your children. Thank you that yesterday, today, and forever you are the same Omnipotent God whose Grace and Love for us is infinite. Thank you for the ways in which you are working in this world, especially when we can’t see them. Help us to fix our spiritual eyes and ears on Jesus so we can sense what he is doing in our world and in our individual lives. Give us discernment so we can identify what is of you and what is evil. Holy Spirit, fill us with courage as we face the struggles in this life and give us encouragers around us who will help us keep fighting for your Will and your Ways. Cleanse our hearts and cleanse this world from the forces of evil that seem so strong. Renew within us and renew our world so we are totally tuned into your Goodness and your Righteousness and Truth. Grant us wisdom and grant us courage, we pray in Jesus’s name. Amen.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8 NIV)

“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV)

https://www.givehim15.com/post/august-8-2022

1. Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, ref. no. 1080.

God of grace and God of glory, on thy people pour thy pow’r.

Crown thine ancient church’s story, bring its bud to glorious flow’r.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour, for the facing of this hour.

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 Lo! the hosts of evil round us, scorn thy Christ, assail his ways!

From the fears that long have bound us, free our hearts to faith and praise.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the living of these days, for the living of these days.

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Cure thy children’s warring madness; bend our pride to thy control;

shame our wanton, selfish gladness, rich in things and poor in soul.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, lest we miss thy kingdom’s goal, lest we miss thy kingdom’s goal.

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Save us from weak resignation to the evils we deplore.

Let the search for thy salvation be our glory evermore.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, serving thee whom we adore, serving thee whom we adore.

(By Harry Emerson Fosdick)