Category: Encouragement For The Downcast

²⁷ the locusts have no king, yet all of them march in rank; ~ Proverbs 30:27

Though the locusts have no king, they still do exactly what they need to do. King Solomon ranked this as the third example of wisdom. We, the Church, need to act as locusts. Jesus is the King of kings, but yet He is not physically here leading us. Because Jesus isn’t physically here leading us, it’s as if we don’t have a king. Sometimes it can feel lonesome. Sometimes it can be difficult to do good because you can’t see your king.

But even though our king isn’t physically here on earth leading us, we are not alone. He is with us spiritually, and the Holy Spirit lives within us. We are not alone. We can still keep going. Jesus said, ‘Blessed are those who have not seen and still believe.’ He was speaking about us. We haven’t seen Jesus, yet He is guiding us spiritually that we might believe and be saved.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and March As Locusts.

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¹ For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. ~ Galatians 5:1

Through Christ Jesus, we are freed from a Spiritual yoke of slavery. We no longer have to live our lives as slaves to sin. What does that mean? In other words, through Christ Jesus, our past stays in the past. We are no longer slaves to alcohol, sexual immorality, depression, anger, suicidal thoughts. We are free in the name of Jesus.

Even though we are free in the name of Jesus, we still have a constant battle in the spiritual realm (Ephesians 6:12). But when we stand firm in Christ Jesus, we overcome through Christ Jesus. Sin no longer has a hold on us; the weight of this world no longer has a hold on us. Be encouraged today; it may not happen in the very moment you repent. It may be a constant battle, but when you fight through Christ Jesus, you will overcome any obstacle in your path.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Accept Your Freedom.

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¹ In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. ² The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. ³ Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ⁴ And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day. ~ Genesis 1:1-5^NLT

Notice how it says that darkness was over the face of the deep, not that darkness was over all the waters? This is because the Spirit of God hovered over the surface of the waters. Why does that matter? He wasn’t hovering over it all. God’s light was only on the waters above, in Heaven. His presence wasn’t shining over everything. His peace wasn’t shining over everything. His love wasn’t shining over everything. It was only over a specific section of the universe—the Heavenly realm.

God could have easily just left it there that first day and went on creating earth the next, but before He did anything else, He created light. He created a way to Him in the darkness. Not a physical light, because as we know, the sun and moon aren’t created until day four, but a spiritual light. A light that could penetrate the darkness of man’s hearts. He created the wisdom and knowledge of God.

Romans says that His invisible attributes have been made known from the creation of the world. Jesus said that while it’s still day, we have to work because night is coming. This world is becoming filled with more and more darkness, and the knowledge and wisdom of God are dwindling fast. When we look around, we feel almost hopeless because darkness seems to overcome the light. But the Psalms assures us that weeping only lasts the night and joy comes in the morning. The Psalmist isn’t talking about a physical day and night. The psalmist is saying when we encourage ourselves in the LORD, and we remember who He is, and we strive to be with Him, our spiritual night turns to day, and the Joy of the LORD becomes our strength.

So, don’t be discouraged when you feel like the night will never end. Encourage yourself in the LORD as David did. For if we draw near to God, He’ll draw near to us. And if He is near to us, then there is no room for darkness. For He is the light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome Him.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Draw Near To the Light.

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^13b But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. ¹⁶ Only let us hold true to what we have attained. ~ Philippians 3:13b–16

We’re constantly told that nobody’s perfect. That it’s impossible for anyone to live a constant holy life. But Paul, influenced by the Holy Spirit, had a difference of opinion. He said there are examples out there. Examples that can encourage us to do even better.

When we see others trying to be holy, trying to make a difference in the world, don’t roll your eyes and think, “Holier than thou.” Let them be an example to you, and stop letting Hollywood be your household example. These Christians are trying to live out that which they are called to live out. They aren’t caught up with the world; they’re focused on the Eternal. They’re focused on Jesus.

This is where we need to be. This is how we live a life of no regrets, by following those like Paul because he wasn’t just a great example of how to live our lives. He was a great encouragement that it’s possible to live our lives for Christ regardless of our past or background. He showed that it’s possible for the blood of the Lamb and the presence of the Holy Spirit to soften and change the hardest of hearts. Paul showed us that’s it’s possible to live for Christ with no regrets.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Follow Suit.

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¹⁰ Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.” ~ Nehemiah 4:10

Let me tell you, too much rubble will stop the building. Too much rubble will stop the growth. We have to clear the rubble to build and grow, but sometimes we need help to clear the rubble.

It’s been 141 years since the walls were broken down, the city pillaged, the people led into captivity, and the royal line has been dissolved, so to speak. And now Nehemiah, being of royal descent, graces the scene. But he doesn’t just kind of appear in Jerusalem; he has some encounters to overcome and tests of the LORD’s favor before he is released to come.

Now, what do I mean by that?

Well, Nehemiah was of royal descent, as I said, but he was born in captivity, but nonetheless, he held a very high-ranking and important position in the government of the Persian Empire. He was Cupbearer to the king. To us, it sounds like a lowly butler, but his position was actually a really high one. According to some scholars, the job came with great responsibility. He had full access to the king, and the king knew him pretty intimately since he realized that something was bothering Nehemiah.

He recognized a change in Nehemiah’s countenance and seemed genuinely concerned about what was bothering him. Nehemiah wasn’t just another employee to the king. The king liked him a lot and trusted him immensely,

This is called the favor of the LORD. When we submit to God, God will open doors and opportunities for us. God doesn’t leave us in our rubble; He gives us favor with those who can help us out of our rubble. No person is an island; we all need help sometimes. Iron sharpens iron.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Accept the Favor of the LORD.

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²⁷ But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your sight, I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you.” ~ Genesis 30:27

Laban, Jacob’s uncle, realized that God had blessed him abundantly because of his nephew Jacob, and he wanted him to stay so he could enjoy the blessings of the LORD. It goes both ways with God, not just bad, but good, blessings also. Even though Laban was an idol worshiper, he was blessed because of Jacob.

Potiphar also realized that he was being blessed because of Joseph. He was an Egyptian. He was not a part of the covenant. As a matter of fact, he owned Joseph as a slave. But when the blessings of the LORD begin to follow, it flows high, and it flows low, and all in its path are blessed.

In the account of the flood, it was Noah who found grace in the sight of the LORD, and not his family, yet it was 8 of them saved from the flood.

• • Noah and his wife
  • Shem and his wife
  • Japheth and his wife
  • Ham and his wife

They all entered the Ark on Noah’s ticket. What we do affects others, sometimes in a bad way but also in a good way. God will bless those who bless you. When you serve the LORD, He isn’t stingy with His blessings. When He blesses you, He will also bless those around you.

As the Syrophoenician woman said, even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from their master’s table. You can’t stop the flow of the blessings of the LORD.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Let the Blessings of the LORD Flow.

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²⁴ He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed. ~ 1 Peter 2:24

The other day Celia’s wrist began to hurt her for no good reason. She didn’t hit it. She didn’t twist it. We have no idea why it began hurting. She was just lying in bed, and it began to hurt. The next day it began to travel up her arm to her elbow and started making its way up to her shoulder. We prayed and believed.

There were no significant features, although we prayed twice. But Celia kept claiming and proclaiming her healing. She kept reminding herself that by Jesus’ stripes, she is healed. When she woke up in the night from pain, she flexed her hand and proclaimed, “By His stripes, I am healed.” And by God’s mercy, she received her healing.

Someone else had that same problem, where the pain started in the wrist and traveled up the arm, and they had to have surgery. Though there may not be any significant features, God is working in the Spiritual when we move in the physical. When we speak and believe. When we hold to His promises, we receive His promises.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Proclaim His Promises.

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⁵ But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. ~ Isaiah 53:5

The chastisement of our peace was upon Him. This is why Jesus could leave us His perfect peace.

²⁷ Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]

John 14:27^AMP

• • Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population every year.
  • People with an anxiety disorder are three to five times more likely to go to the doctor and six times more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric disorders than those who do not suffer from anxiety disorders.
  • Anxiety disorders develop from a complex set of risk factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events.
  • It’s not uncommon for someone with an anxiety disorder to also suffer from depression or vice versa
  • Nearly one-half of those diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder

Some folks have it so bad that they cannot function in society and have to stay locked up at home. Some can’t even go to work or go to normal places, like the grocery store or any place with large crowds. But Jesus Christ paid the price to set you free from that.

And you can be free! My daughter, Arie, suffered from anxiety and panic attacks. When she was in college, some nights would have to drive to her college and pick her up. She couldn’t order food through a drive-thru. Her counselor told her she would be on medication the rest of her life, and she would have to live with it.

But the chastisement of our peace was placed upon Him, Jesus Christ. So, Arie did a 40-day fast in January of 2019 and hasn’t taken one pill, nor has she suffered from anxiety or one panic attack since.

There is freedom in the name of Jesus! God is good!

LORD God, please help us to accept Your perfect peace that You so graciously purchased for us. Help us to always remember who You are and how much You love us. Help us to remember that no one can snatch us out of Your hand, that You have never abandoned us. You are with us always. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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^48a He, [speaking of Jesus], saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them… ~ Mark 6:48a

Let me encourage you today, Jesus sees you. He knows where you are in your storm. He sees you straining at the oars when the wind of this life is against you. The Bible tells us in

Therefore He, [referring to Jesus], is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.

Hebrews 7:25

Jesus sees you in your storm, and He is interceding for you, just like He was interceding for His disciples. You aren’t alone. Call out to God, and He will calm the storm.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Cry Out to God.

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⁵ Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” ⁶ He said this to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. ~ John 6:5–6

Jesus knew exactly what He was going to do. He was only testing Philip. Remember that Philip was the one that Jesus called, and he went and told his brother, Nathanael, who doubted that asked, can anything good come out of Nazareth. (John 1:43-46)

 ²¹ Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

Proverbs 19:21

What I mean is this, God doesn’t force people to do what is right, neither does He prevent them from doing evil. Everyone has free will, and everyone is free to choose and refuse, but God will work everything out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Everyone has free will in the world, and bad things will happen, but God is always in control, and He is always working things out for the good of His people. Stay strong and trust in Him during the lowest times of your life.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Trust God In Difficult Times.

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