Encouragement Archives

March 19, 2024March 18, 2024

Unclean To Clean

³¹ You must keep the Israelites from their uncleanness, so that they do not die by defiling my tabernacle that is among them. ~ Leviticus 15:31^CSB

In the Law of Moses, God explained that certain natural bodily functions were unclean; some even required a sacrifice at the end of the days they were unclean for. At first glance, this sounds unfair and quite mean of God, but when you take into account that God is preparing them for the new and better covenant, it begins to make sense.

See, in the Law of Moses, bodily functions out of our own control made us unclean, but today our fleshly desires that feel natural and out of our own control, are what make us unclean. No longer are the things out of our control what is separating us from God. Instead, no temptation that has ever come to us not tempted someone else. In fact, we overcome because Christ first overcame.

No longer is our own uncleanness out of our control. Now, we have been given the power, authority, and weapons to overcome all temptation of the enemy. No sin is who we are. No sin did God plague us with. We are called out of darkness into His everlasting Light so that we might be transformed by the renewal of our mind and be the very dwelling place of God Himself.

Dear LORD, please forgive me for every sin I’ve given into. Please forgive me for every sin I’ve claimed as just who I am. Cancel my words of death, lies, and separation from You, for You created me to be with You. Your desire is for my good and not for evil. Please fill me with the Spirit of Discernment so that I might know the difference between Your Truth and the lies of the world and my flesh. Please cover me in Your precious blood and protect me from every attack of the enemy. Teach me to put on the full armor so that I might stand strong in the day of temptation. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

Back to Encouragement?

Back to Daily Bread?

God Is Concerned About You

⁷ The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.” ~ Exodus 3:7

Have you been crying out to God? Has He not answered yet? Maybe you feel like He doesn’t love you or even care about you. Please be assured God HAS heard your cries, and He IS concerned about you. The time will come when He will rend the heavens and come down to see about you. He will send you a deliverer, someone who is in a position to help you or to open a now-closed door. He may send someone just to encourage you, to lift up your spirit, or to let you know you are not alone.

The Father has done it before, and He will do it again. He will come to your rescue. In times past, He saw our misery, even though we ourselves did not see it, but our sins and iniquities had condemned us to an eternity in the Lake of Fire with no chance of release or parole. We needed a Savior, but there was none. The Father knew and understood that we needed a Savior, and so He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the Cross for us. We were all lost because of sin. We were all separated from God because of disobedience, but in the fullness of time, God sent His Son to die so that we might live. We had no hope, but the Father gave us Hope in the form of His Son, Jesus, who was crucified but was raised to life on the third day.

Make no mistake—God knows where you are. Keep trusting, keep doing good, keep on keeping the faith, and know for sure your good deeds are not in vain in the LORD. Since the Father sent Jesus to die so that we might live, do you think He will withhold any good thing from us? The answer is no. No, He will not withhold any good thing from those who seek His face and call upon His name.

Heavenly Father, I pray for persistent faith today. The type of faith that overcomes all adversities, crushes all obstacles, and cannot be moved but can move mountains. LORD, revive the faith that may be dying or has died, and breathe life into our dry and thirsty souls. Let Your Holy Spirit be known, and let no doubt remain that it is profitable to serve You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

Back to Encouragement?

Back to Daily Bread?

We Are Known And Loved By God

⁷ And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. ~ Luke 12:7

We callously read this verse without actually thinking about what Jesus is saying here. Let’s just pause for a brief moment and ponder what our LORD is telling us. He says, “Why,” not asking a question, but making an almost unbelievable statement as in, can you believe this? “Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered.” Who does that? God does! He loves us so much that the very hairs on our heads are numbered and known to Him, and not one falls out without Him knowing.

If we can just grab hold of that concept, it should bring a sense, or a feeling of great joy and self-worth that Almighty God, Creator God, Father God loves us that much to take the time to know the number of our very hairs on our head. Jesus is striving to help us get a hold of what is important. It’s not this life or hardships; it’s not even about successes. It’s about eternity, and God wants us to spend eternity with Him.

He proves His love in several ways, and one is that He knows the number of hairs on your head, and not one falls out without his knowledge and re-tallying the sum. Now, if He knows that, then He certainly knows what is going on with us. What our needs and burdens are. Who is persecuting us? Our lack of daily adequate finances, and He cares. So, tell Him your troubles, your worries, your concerns. He cares for you. He loves you with an unfailing love.

Heavenly Father, please help us to understand this huge concept of Your great love for us. Help us not take Your great love for granted but to be overwhelmed with such great salvation that You have lavished upon us. Help us to stir up the eternity that You have placed in our hearts. In Jesus name, I pray, amen.

Back to Encouragement?

Back to Daily Bread?

Jesus Our Deliverer

⁶ Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. ⁷ And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. ⁸ And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” ~ Acts 12:6-8

The Scripture doesn’t say how long Peter was in prison; we only know that it was during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Neither do we know how long after the death and resurrection of Jesus this took place, but we know it had to be at least a year since Jesus was crucified just before the Passover. So, Peter could have been in prison for several days waiting for the feast to be over or just one day.

But at any rate, it was the night before Herod was planning on bringing him out to do him harm as he had done to James, the brother of John. But Jesus sent His angel to deliver Peter. Why? Because the Scriptures tell us that the Church was in earnest prayer for Peter. Jesus is our deliverer; He will never leave us, nor will He forsake us.

You may be going through something, and it seems like you are at your wit’s end. You may feel like you’re bound with two chains, sleeping between two soldiers with sentries guarding the door, and there is no way out. Rest assured that what seems impossible for man is quite possible for Jesus. It may seem like you are out of time, but know this, Jesus has no time limits, for He holds time itself in His hand.

Don’t wait for your situation to change before you move. Peter’s chains did not fall off until he began to get up after being told to do so by the angel. The iron gate did not open until they approached it. We, as Christians, walk by faith and not by sight. Just because it looks like a dead end, just because it looks hopeless, just because we can’t see the end, doesn’t mean it is a dead end, or that it is hopeless, or that the end is obscure to Jesus. He will fight for you, and He will win.

Thank You, Father, for Your great deliverance. Thank You that You will never leave me nor forsake me and that I am always within Your reach; in Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

Back to Encouragement?

Back to Daily Bread?

The Goodness of God

⁶And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. ~ 1 Samuel 30:6 ^KJV

The Scripture states that David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. It wasn’t somebody else’s God. It was his God. David knew Him personally, and God knew David personally.

Imagine, there is chaos all around him. There are men wailing and crying. But these aren’t just ordinary men; they are seasoned warriors. Confusion and sorrowing of heart and loud lamentations are charging the air. While everyone else was wallowing in their own despair and self-pity, David found strength or encouragement in the LORD his God.

Many of us today are feeling low. We’re feeling heartache, pain, depression, sorrow, etc. The very weight of the world feels as though it’s been laid on our shoulders, and it’s crushing us. This is when we remember what David did, and we follow suit. We bow our knees at the feet of Jesus, and we cry out to Him. We encourage ourselves in His love, mercy, promises, etc. We remind ourselves that God is good even when our world becomes difficult and taxing.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Remind Yourself of The Goodness of God.

Back to Encouragement?

Back to Daily Bread?

Our Creator God

¹⁵ The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. ~ Colossians 1:15-17^NIV

Paul wrote that Jesus wasn’t just the beginning of God’s new creation, being the first to acquire the new eternal, perfect body that we so desire. The body that He received at His resurrection and the body that we will receive at the blowing of the last trumpet on that day when He comes back for us. Not only all of those things but all creation was created through Jesus and for Jesus. We weren’t created for no reason. We weren’t created just to be slaves to sin, fear, anger, lust, etc. We were created for Christ.

We have salvation that the angels in heaven long to even understand or grasp. We are a beloved creation. We are so loved that He spiritually seats us with Him so that we can overcome all things through Him. So that we might be able to fulfill our God-given call.

We weren’t mistakes. He intentionally created each and every one of us with a purpose and call. Not a single one does He desire to lose, but instead, He desires each and every one of us to come to acceptance through Christ Jesus. We are each loved and desired by our gracious Creator.

Dear LORD, thank You for creating me. Thank You for giving me a purpose. Thank You that I’m not alone, even when it feels that way, for You have never left nor forsaken me. Thank You that You’re a good, loving Father who only wants good things for me. Teach me to find those good things and follow Your good path for my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

Back to Encouragement?

Back to Daily Bread?

We All Have A Gift

⁴ I always thank my God for you because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus. ⁵ For in Him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— ⁶ God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. ⁷ Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. ~ 1 Corinthians 1:4-7^NIV

Today, the Church is quite divided over spiritual matters. One says spiritual gifts were for a time; another says some spiritual gifts were for a time, while another says all spiritual gifts are for all times. Paul encouraged us that we don’t lack any spiritual gift. So, what does that mean? Paul listed multiple spiritual gifts later on in this same letter. That not only suggests but confirms that we aren’t lacking in any spiritual gift as we wait for the return of our LORD, Jesus Christ.

Spiritual gifts aren’t something God gave to us for just a season. It can’t be. Why? Because those gifts were given for the building up, strengthening, and empowering of His Church. If He took those away, we’re saying one of two things: either He weakened the Church, or the Church is perfect and doesn’t need His help in those areas anymore. Neither of these two things is true. The Devil is still on the earth, running free with much power and authority. He’s not a toothless lion; otherwise, he wouldn’t be someone we have to watch out for. That’s why Peter warned us that the Devil, our adversary, is prowling around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

To be on the prowl is to be on the hunt. It’s to seek out prey for food. This isn’t a toothless defeated lion that Peter is warning us of. Therefore, how can we say we no longer have the spiritual gifts that strengthen, build up, and uphold the Church? The very body that he is seeking to destroy. We can’t. That’s a lie from the enemy to weaken his adversary so that he might easier overpower and devour us.

Spiritual gifts, according to Paul and Peter, are given to each person. Paul even tells us to earnestly seek the greater gifts. Why? Because he wants us to be strong and not weak. He wants us to be prepared in every possible way, just as he was so that when we get to the end of our race, we can stand confidently as he did and say,

⁷I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.

2 Timothy 4:7-8

Dear LORD, help me to be like Paul and seek out not only the spiritual gifts you have given me but the greater gifts as well. Help me not to live in fear or doubt that these gifts are for me. Help me to live in the confidence of Your Truth and not the truth of an individual with biases and opinions. I don’t want to follow man, but You and You alone. Show me how to seek out my gifts and the greater gifts. Teach me how to use my gift for the furthering of Your Kingdom. May it be for Your glory and honor and not my own. May it bring You praise and point the world back to You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

Back to Encouragement?

Back to Daily Bread?

Cry Out Until You Receive

²⁹ As Jesus and His disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. ³⁰ Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” ³¹ The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” ~ Matthew 20:29-31

During the time of Jesus, the people tried to silence those who cried out to Jesus. They didn’t feel they were worthy of Jesus healing them. They didn’t see their worth. Today’s crowd is even more selfish, for they don’t even want Jesus to come into their city. But the two blind men were not intimidated nor discouraged. They shouted even louder, and Jesus heard them and granted them their heart’s desire. If they had caved under the abusive words of the crowd or decided to wait for a more opportune time, they would have missed their miracle.

Don’t wait, don’t be intimidated, don’t hesitate, and DO NOT BE DENIED; Jesus is passing by; this is your day and your miracle. Just reach out and touch Him, and your life will never be the same.

LORD, turn Your ear to my cry of faith today. Tough my heart, mind, soul, spirit, and body. Grant liberation to me as I cry out to You. Deliver me from all of my bondage and sin. Restore my mind and cleanse me of all evil thoughts and desires. Come to my rescue and help me to become worthy of Your love. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

Back to Encouragement?

Back to Daily Bread?

Joy Comes In The Morning

⁵ For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. ~ Psalms 30:5^KJV

If God loves you, He will discipline you, but it’s only for a short time because He loves you. Therefore, His favor lasts a lifetime. His favor will open doors that were once closed; it brings that promotion that was out of reach. It protects that wayward child and restores that broken relationship.

His love is the reason why weeping will only last a night, but when the sun comes up, it brings joy, new hope, renewed mercies, and fresh blessings. Be blessed today, be joyful today, be hopeful and optimistic today; God loves you and cares for you.

Father, we, Your children, come and present to You the offering of praise. Receive it today and leave behind a blessing. Thank You, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Back to Encouragement?

Back to Daily Bread?

Be Encouraged By Grace

³³And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. ~ Acts 4:33

The Apostles were giving their testimony about the resurrection of our LORD Jesus Christ, and grace was upon them all. But I want you to notice; it was not just grace, but great grace that was upon not just the apostles, but upon them all. And through that grace, mighty miracles, signs and wonders, and mighty acts of healing were being performed by the believers.

All the believers enjoyed the grace or the favor of the LORD. I want you to understand that grace or favor is not the same as mercy. Mercy is defined as NOT getting what we deserve. Grace, or favor, is defined as getting what we do NOT deserve.

The favor, or the grace of the LORD, can and will open doors. It can and will heal the sick. Save the lost. Raise the dead. Perform signs and wonders. It will perform miracles. Because of the LORD’s Favorable Grace, the first-century Church moved in power. Without grace, or favor, there is no Holy Spirit, and thus, there is no power.

It is because of this –Favorable Grace– that we can sing:

Let the weak say I am strong
Let the poor say I am rich
Because of what the LORD has done for us
Give thanks

It is not by man’s might; it is not by man’s power; it is not by man’s intellect, but by God’s grace and God’s favor. When we enjoy the Favorable Grace of the LORD, we don’t need anything else.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be Encouraged By Grace.

Back to Encouragement?

Back to Daily Bread?