Category: Encouragement For The Downcast

“The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him because his hands refuse to work.” – Proverbs 21:25 ^NIV

What do you want in life? Success? A spouse? A family? A job? To lose weight? Get in shape? Spiritual growth? Run a 10k? Get your degree? We all have desires. We all have dreams. There is something that all of us want, but not all of us get them. The majority of the time, our biggest problem is us. We allow laziness, procrastination, fear, lack of determination to overtake us. We’ll settle for less than because we don’t want to put in the work, or we’re too afraid to fail.

But what do you want? Because success won’t hunt you down, neither will a job, weight loss, a spouse, or anything you want in life. You have to go out and take it. You have to go out and fight for it. Work for it. It’s not enough to want it. It’s not enough to pray for it. Sure God will help you, but you have to do your part, get the ball rolling. Once you get the ball rolling, God will help His children. Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Do. Don’t wait for tomorrow to do what you can today because tomorrow may never come. Don’t wait for the perfect time because there is no such thing as perfect timing.

Whatever you do, do it to the best of your abilities. Give it everything you have. And as you go through your day, I pray this blessing over you, “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!” (Psalms 90:17 ^ESV) Decide what you want in life. Get the ball rolling. Don’t wait for tomorrow. Do it today.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Get The Ball Rolling.

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“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” ~ Psalms 30:5

Needless to say, heartache is a part of life. It is inevitable, and especially when you have loved ones, because life does not last forever. Someone today may have their heartbroken for whatever reason. Maybe it’s the death of a loved one or the death of your innocence. Maybe it’s words that have cut through your very soul. I’m here today to let you know it’s not the end of the world. It is not the end of your dreams.

I know it hurts now, but God has promised: “Joy will come in the morning.” So hold on, hold tight, don’t lose sight of where you’re going. The LORD is your very great reward. Begin to put this into practice bit by bit daily, and you will receive the joy of the LORD, which will be your strength. Be encouraged today for the pain you feel now won’t last forever, for you have been promised the joy of the LORD.

Heavenly Father, please bring Your peace to troubled lives, bring comfort to the brokenhearted. And as hard as it seems to us, help us to forgive others who have hurt us needlessly. Restore relationships, put the broken pieces of shattered lives back together, and bring Your overwhelming peace into our fragile lives. I ask this all in Jesus’ name, amen.

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“³¹He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. ³²He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ³³But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. ‘Get behind me, Satan!’ He said. ‘You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.’” ~ Mark 8:31-33

Jesus was on a mission, and when He shared His mission, it was different than what Peter had in mind. So what does Peter do? Peter rebukes Jesus in an attempt to discourage Him from His God-given purpose. Now, what does Jesus do? Let’s look at verse 33, Jesus turns and looks at His disciples. He was refocusing, reevaluating His mission, and when He saw His disciples, He was reminded why He had come. He had come to die for these lost souls and, indeed, all the lost souls of the world. If you are ever discouraged, turn, look, reevaluate your mission, and never ever let anyone, no matter how close, talk you out of your God-given purpose, for it is for the Glory of God.

Heavenly Father, we know the enemy is stomping around like a roaring lion seeking someone or some ministry to destroy. We realize he will use anyone or any situation to achieve this. LORD our God, we ask you to rebuke the devourer today on our behalf and to deliver us from discouragement. Send someone along today to encourage your people because You love us and care so much for us that You shed Your blood to redeem us. Thank You, Father, in Jesus name I pray, amen.

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He says, “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” ~ Isaiah 49:6

Look at what the LORD says. He tells Isaiah that it is too small a thing just to be a servant; He will make him more than just that. If we continue reading just a couple of more verses, we will find what else the LORD sees fit to add. He causes high ranking people such as kings to pay homage, honor, and respect to Isaiah. Why? Because the LORD is faithful and kind.

Are you feeling like a despised servant without respect or honor? Be faithful to your calling no matter what, and God will eventually promote you and make you more than a conqueror. But you have to remain a faithful servant of God without wavering. Things may not come when they seem, but keep your faith for God has great things in store for you.

Dear Heavenly Father, please look and see the faithfulness of Your servants. Take note of the plight that they are in. Notice their lowly state and come to the rescue of Your people. Promote the faithful, those who have honored You; please lift them up and promote them now.

In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” ~ Luke 2:8-12

Apparently, a shepherd was a very despised occupation in the time of Jesus, so much so that they could not testify in a Jewish court because their word was not considered valid, neither were they allowed into the temple to worship God, because they were ceremonially unclean. They were basically the lowest of the low in Jewish society. Yet, Almighty God chose them to be the first to tell of this great news, the birth of the long-awaited Messiah.

He did not choose the eloquent, or the high and mighty High Priest, but instead, according to 1 Cor 1:27-29, “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” If you are feeling this way, rejoice you fit the description, Jesus came for you. Those shepherds did not return to the fields and to their sheep the same way they left; they had an encounter with the Holder and Giver of Salvation. So rejoice and be glad, Jesus came just for you.

My Heavenly Father, thank You that You came for whomsoever will and not just the rich or the powerful, or for those who are acclaimed to be somebody in the world. Your eye has always been on the widow and the orphan, and on the poor and the needy. You will protect those who were abused and left behind because they don’t belong to the right Country Club or hold the right accreditation. LORD thank You that You love us and care for us not because of who we are in this world, but because of who we are in Christ Jesus. May Your name be forever praised, and may You receive all honor and all glory, in Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,” ~ John 17:20

Wow! Jesus Himself has prayed and indeed is still interceding for you and for me. If Jesus, the Son of God, has prayed for our deliverance and for us to succeed in this world, tell me what can stop us or who can hinder us? Let us then persevere with all diligence knowing that Christ already won our battle, and because He overcame, we too shall overcome.

Our Father who watches over us and who resides in heaven may Your name be glorified forever. Give us the victory today and help us to overcome the temptations and the obstacles that may befall. Thank You for deliverance and for Jesus, who lives and who intercedes for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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“So Joshua said to the Israelites: ‘How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?’” ~ Joshua 18:3

Do you have big dreams of ‘someday’? Someday I’m going to start my own business. Someday I’m going to Copywrite my stuff. Someday I’m going to pursue my invention. Someday I’m going to…but I’m waiting for the right time, the right circumstances, I’m waiting for God to move. But, just maybe God is waiting for you.

He has given you creative ideas, abilities, and the open door. Now He is waiting for you to make the move and walk through the open door. So what exactly are you waiting for? Go ahead conquer the land that has been given to you. Don’t be afraid or discouraged for the LORD your God is with you.

Heavenly Father, I pray for boldness and for confidence. I pray for opportunities and for open doors. LORD, please give success to everyone that is about to step out in faith. Be with them and give them the victory, in Jesus name I pray, amen.

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“When He [Jesus] had finished speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets'” ~ Luke 5:4-5

Jesus had just finished using Peter’s boat to preach to a huge crowd of people, and now it was time for payment. God never uses anybody or anybody’s things for free, anyone He uses will receive compensation. Peter and his men had worked hard all night and caught nothing. Besides that, they had just finished cleaning all their equipment, including those big bulky nets. He very well could have said, “You know, Jesus, we are tired, we’re hungry, we just want to go home to our families now, but next time for sure.”

Instead, Peter was obedient and did what seemed like a useless task. The reward was that they caught so many fish that the nets began to break, so they had to call for their partners to come and help. Then the two boats began to sink from the amount of fish they hauled in. What a payday! So never feel like the volunteer work you have done, the finances you have given, the help you have freely lent is all for naught because it’s not. Your labor is not in vain with the LORD, you will reap a harvest if you don’t give up.

Father, remember those who give of their time and effort. Those who give of their finances and their possessions, LORD let their payday come and come quickly. For Your Word says for us to cast our bread on the waters and in many days, it will return to us, press down, shaken together and running over, because we know we can never out-give You.

Thank You, Father, in Jesus name I pray, amen.

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