Tag: Encouragement For The Downcast

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Peace On Earth

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” ~ Luke 2:13-14

By the time the angel appeared to the shepherds, Jesus had already been born. The angel told them that a Savior was just born. Then, a great multitude of heavenly hosts appeared with the angel praising God and declaring peace to those on earth with whom He is pleased. Isaiah prophesied that when Jesus, the coming messiah, is born, He will be called Prince of Peace.

On the night that He was betrayed, Jesus told His disciples,

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you … (John 14:27a).

Jesus gave us His peace so that we are not shaken no matter what comes against us, so that in all situations, no matter what, we can have peace because peace comes from Him.

I read a story once about a king who loved paintings. He announced that any artist who could paint a picture depicting peace would be greatly rewarded. The day came, and many paintings were presented to the king. After examining them, the king chose two. One was a scene of a beautiful calm lake, with water so still and so clear that even the inner surface of the lake was visible. The sky was blue with white fluffy cotton clouds floating and drifting lazily overhead. The air was so still that not a leaf was waving.

The second was of mountains, which were completely dry and lifeless. Over the mountains were thick, angry black clouds with lightning flashing and the wind blowing. The heavy rains were pelting down on the landscape, causing the river to swell and overflow. The storm swept over the scene, causing the trees to sway terribly. Everyone thought the first picture would surely win.

After a few days of being on display, the king announced, to everyone’s shock, that the second picture would be the winner. When questioned about his decision, he said, “Look at this tree bent to one side by the wind on the left side of the waterfall. Look at the nest on its branch. See how a bird is feeding its chicks with such tenderness, calmness, and love.”

That is the kind of peace that the Prince of Peace gives us. Even amidst the haste, noise, and confusion, even when problems threaten to topple our stability and our whole world comes crashing down, the Shalom Peace of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, will keep us and preserve our joy. We are not alone, the Prince of Peace is with us, therefore, we will say, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus Christ, Your Son. Thank You, LORD Jesus, that You give us Your peace that passes all understanding and will keep us calm and at peace even in the most difficult times. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Christmas Gift of The Holy Spirit

39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ~ Luke 1:39-41

The Scripture said, “In those days…”. In what days? The days just after the Angel Gabriel visited the virgin Mary to tell her the good news that she would bear the Son of God. The Holy Spirit then overshadowed her right after she accepted the assignment, and she conceived in her womb without knowing a man because all things are possible with God. Therefore, it was in those days that the Scripture speaks of right after Mary received the good news about her being the birth mother of Jesus, the Son of God, and the Savior of the world.

According to John, the brother of James, the angel Gabriel also told Mary that her cousin Elizabeth, who was old and beyond childbearing age, was also pregnant with her firstborn son, who would be the forerunner of Jesus. This forerunner that Isaiah described as ‘One Crying in the wilderness’ would grow up to be John the Baptist. Now, as Mary entered the house of Zechariah, she greeted her cousin Elizabeth, and as soon as she heard Mary’s greetings, little John the Baptist leaped in his mother’s womb, and his mother Elizabeth was also filled with the Holy Spirit.

That is one of the promises of Christmas. Not only do we receive salvation from Jesus, but we also are filled with the Holy Spirit. No good thing will our God withhold from us. He is kind and generous and ever so patient with us, even those who are wayward. For it is not His desire or His will that anyone perish. Jesus came as a baby in the manger. He grew into a man and went around doing only good. He healed the sick, raised the dead, and preached the Good News to those who lived in darkness. He suffered, died, and was buried, and was raised to life again on the third day. Now, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us.

His word still speaks because He still cares and loves us. So, the next time you are feeling like no one loves you, remember the Christmas gift of the Holy Spirit. He is the Comforter. He is the One who bears witness with our spirit that we are sons and daughters of the Most High God. We are not orphans. We are not left alone. We are not losers. We are precious in God’s sight because we are His children.

Thank You, Father, that we are loved by You. Thank You for giving us the promise of Your Holy Spirit. Fill me today, like You filled Elizabeth and the 120 believers in the Upper Room, as well as the early believers in the book of Acts. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Our Christmas Promise

2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me One who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. ~ Micah 5:2

This is Micah’s Christmas prophecy that came to pass over 2,000 years ago when Jesus was born of a virgin, the virgin Mary, right there in Bethlehem Ephrathah. It was just a little place with a little name but a huge promise. Ephrathah, though small and insignificant, would be the birthplace of the Promised Messiah. A ruler so great that there will be no end to His rule nor a transfer of His power. He will have an everlasting kingdom with an everlasting throne.

If such a great promise was spoken over an insignificant place, and fulfilled, how much more us who are called by His name can look forward to great things? We do not have to be from a huge, important city. Nor do we have to have an earthly royal bloodline. Our name does not have to be great upon the earth in order for God to give us great promises. He uses the humble, the meek, and the insignificant and raises them up to greatness.

So, just because you were not born wealthy or come from a prominent family does not mean that God will overlook you. All you have to do is to be a willing vessel and God will fill you and use you. Even if you are broken, just like the potter fixes marred vessels, God will put you back together and mold you into a useful vessel. He is the repairer of the breach and all that is broken.

That is our Christmas promise from our LORD and Savior. He will love us, use us, and take care of us, no matter who we are or where we come from, as long as we are willing and obedient. That is His promise to us.

Father, thank You that I don’t have to be rich and famous for You to see and recognize me. But that you take notice of the lowly and the unimportant. I totally submit to you, LORD Jesus, make me a useful vessel that You can use, although I’m worn and broken. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Micah’s Christmas Prophecy

2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me One who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. ~ Micah 5:2

Micah prophesied that a ruler so great that there will be no end to His rule, nor a transfer of His power will come from this place, Bethlehem Ephrathah. This is Micah’s Christmas prophecy of the coming Messiah that was fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth. The Savior of the whole world. This Messiah, Jesus Christ, will inherit an everlasting kingdom, and an everlasting throne.

How is this possible, when kingdoms rise and fall all of the time? There has never been an everlasting kingdom. It will happen because His coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. In other words, His origin is from eternity. Jesus did not begin to exist at the time of His birth. Jesus existed even before time began. For John 1:1-5 declares that it was through the Word, Jesus, that all things was made and without Him, not one single thing was created that was created. Jesus is not only the author and finisher of our faith, but He is the creator and upholder of all that exist in heaven and on earth and in the seas and oceans.

Not only is Jesus the ruler of an everlasting kingdom, but there will be no usurpers in His kingdom. No wars, nor lawlessness. No lack, nor want. No fear, nor dread. Only love, joy, peace, and the fulfillment of a true utopia. The sun will not even burn down on the heads of the citizens of that kingdom, because Jesus will be our light, and the Father will be our supplier.

Let us, therefore, live to this end. Let us purposefully live so that we will be chosen to enter into that kingdom when Jesus comes back to make up His jewels. We are His jewels. We who love Him and keep His commandments, and who look forward with a strong, burning desire to His return.

Father, thank You for choosing me. Thank You that You gave me the opportunity to live for You. Now strength me this Christmas so that I might make my election and calling sure. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Look For His Prophecies

15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel. ~ Genesis 3:15

2,000 years ago, God set off His Godliness, took the form of man, and came to earth as a baby to save the world. This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. This was a well-planned rescue mission prophesied from the Garden of Eden. See, God created Adam in His own Image and then created woman because man could not be alone. His creation was perfect, and He would come, walk, and talk with His creation daily. Then suddenly, in an instant, His creation was completely corrupted.

So, what does God do? In the punishment of the tempter and deceiver, God prophesies the hope of all of humanity. See, the Serpent was the root of the fall of mankind, so not only was the Serpent punished, but the eventual undoing of all that he had done was prophesied. Let that sink in. The Serpent intended for the downfall of all humanity, but the LORD not only punished him but also told him how He (God) would undo his evil actions.

Let this be a reminder this Christmas season that even when the Devil tempts you successfully, God will be there to show all involved His plan of redemption. Be encouraged by this and let not your hearts be discouraged by the temptations of this world, for the LORD will also come to redeem those who love Him and whom He loves.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Look For His Prophecies.

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Returning

14 All the officers of the priests and the people likewise were exceedingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations. And they polluted the House of the LORD that He had made holy in Jerusalem. 15 The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. 16 But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD rose against His people, until there was no remedy. ~ 2 Chronicles 36:14-16

According to the Scripture, it was not only the people but the officers of the priests who were unfaithful. Actually, it was the officers that were listed first, suggesting that it was them that led the people into following all the abominations of the nations around them. Meaning that they got caught up in idol worship. The worship of false gods. But not only were they unfaithful, but they were exceedingly unfaithful. Thus, they polluted the House of God with their idols.

Yet God was compassionate with them, not wanting wrath and judgment but mercy and grace. But the people would not listen. In fact, they mocked the messengers that God had sent. By scoffing at His prophets, the people despised God’s words. They did this until their time of grace ran out, and there was no more remedy for them. So, God had no choice but to pour out His wrath on them.

Now, understand this. It was not their personal failure that sent the nation into exile, but rather, it was their corporate decision to reject the LORD their God, Who had brought them up out of the land of slavery into a good and spacious land. A land flowing with milk and honey. They chose to reject the goodness and the mercy of their God for the lies and deceit of the enemy.

Therefore, God had no choice but to send them into exile as He had threatened.

How does that affect me? Well, the lesson here, I believe, is that personal failures, not even those done out of your own self-will, will separate you from God if you will do as David did, repent before the LORD, and not do it again. Always remember, we have an advocate in heaven by the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who makes intercessions for us day and night.

But what will permanently separate you from God is your open rebellion and your blatant rejection of Him by choosing other gods and despising His Word. If you have strayed away from God, repent. Ask for forgiveness and come back to Him; the Father is waiting with open arms. He loves you much more than you even know.

Father, I have sinned; please forgive me. I repent before You with a broken heart. I am so sorry for my rebellious actions. Thank You, Jesus, for Your shed blood that cleanses me from all sin and shame. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Believe Regardless of Others

3 So His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. 4 For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For not even His brothers believed in Him 6 Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After saying this, He remained in Galilee. ~ John 7:3-9

Jesus’ brothers were on their way to the Feast of Booths, but before they left, they spoke with Jesus. They attempted to cast doubt into Jesus’ mind because they themselves doubted. That’s really hard. It’s actually discouraging when not even your family wants to be a part of your ministry.

See, the Devil will use those closest to us in order to try to cast doubt into our minds. Not everyone will see the LORD’s call for your life. Not everyone will believe it; they’ll even try to discourage you. Here’s the thing tho, even though other people may not believe, if you believe, God will be faithful to you. He will see you through. Jesus didn’t have the support of His brothers, but He had the support of His Father. God’s support is all that truly matters.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Believe Regardless of Others.

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Look In The Mirror Then Look To God

10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life. ~ Romans 5:10

24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! ~ Romans 7:24-25

We were NOT all good people. We have all gone astray. We have all done some horrible and awful things against our God. We have betrayed Him. We have let Him down. We’ve forsaken Him. And we have committed spiritual adultery against Him.

But He chose to overlook all of our faults and all of our transgressions against Him, and He chose to honor us by dying for us, and now He expects us to do the same to others. He could have said, “It is too much, I refuse to pay the price for them, let them die for their own selves.”

Then what would we do? We would not have a leg to stand on, so to speak. There would be no hope for us at all. Absolutely none! Paul looked at who he was formally, and what he saw was not a pretty sight. Paul looked and saw an awful, wretched man with no hope of deliverance. Because it was the very same One that he had transgressed against, who was the only one who could deliver him from his body of death.

But then he got excited because that same One, the same God he had transgressed against, was his deliverer, and you know what? That is true for us as well. Jesus is the only One who can, and will, and has delivered us from our body of death. Jesus looked past our sins and transgressions and saw our needs and still loved us and still died so that we might live. Even though we were vile, disgusting sinners. And now, all we have to do is come to Him and accept His free gift of life.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Look In The Mirror Then Look To God.

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Know What You’re Worth To Him

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. ~ John 1:1-5

John said that in the beginning was the Word. Who is the Word? Jesus is the Word who became flesh (John 1:14). So, the Word that became flesh was from the very beginning. But the beginning of what? The beginning of creation when time began.

Before creation, there was eternity, but nothing existed. The only existence was the existence of the Trinity who were before the eons of time. Things sprang into existence when God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. It was at this point that time actually started. Jesus existed before time, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus prayed to the Father to glorify Him in His own presence with the glory that He, Jesus, claimed He had before the world existed. From before the beginning. The teaching of the Holy Trinity is splashed throughout the Scriptures. So, Who or What makes up the Holy Trinity?

  1. God the Father
  2. God the Son, also known as Jesus Christ
  3. God the Holy Spirit

Why does this matter? Because it wasn’t just anybody who died on the cross for our sins. It wasn’t just anybody that took lashings on His back for our healing. It wasn’t just anybody who took our chastisement upon Himself for our peace. It was God Himself who did these things for us. Why? Because He loves us. He did it for all who would come and accept His free gift of salvation.

So, next time you feel alone, unloved, unseen, unheard, or unimportant, remember that the God of the universe. The God that created all things set off His Godliness, took the form of man, and died so that you would no longer be separated from Him. Then, on the third day, He rose again and gave us the free gift of eternal life. You are seen, heard, and loved by God.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Know What You’re Worth To Him.

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The LORD, My Refuge

2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and buckler ~ Psalms 91:2-4

The Psalmist starts out with, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” We Christians do not wait until disaster is upon us before we start praying; no, we are in prayer continuously. Therefore, we abide permanently in the shelter of the Almighty. That means that we are always under His great protection.

Think about it this way. You are on the school playground, and bullies are coming toward you, and you know exactly what their intentions are. They are there to bully you and make your life a living nightmare. But as they come into range, your big brother, who is two or three times bigger than them, turns around and looks. He is so close to you that you are standing in his shadow. What do you think those bullies will do? They will turn around and leave without saying one word or making one move. They are out of there.

That is how it is with Jesus. He said that He will never leave us nor forsake us but will abide with us forever. It’s like the poem Footprints. A man was looking over his life and saw two sets of prints in the sand, and he knew that it was Jesus who was with him. But then he realized that in the hardest times of his life, there was only one set of prints. When he asked Jesus why this was, why He had left him in his most troubled times, Jesus replied, those were the times that I cared for you. That is a very comforting thought. Even when it seems like the whole world is against us, remember, God is with us. It is in those times that Jesus will carry us.

Heavenly Father, thank You that You are with us in the day and in the night. In the highs and in the lows. In the good times and in the bad. Thank You for carrying me in my most troubled times. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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