Dan Czaplewski posted on October 09, 2008 11:22
This Sunday at Shepherd of the Coast, Vicar Bert will be preaching on the topic of encouragement. I don’t get an advance copy of his sermon, but I know it is a part of our series, “The Best Is Yet to Come,” and I have an idea where he will probably be going with his message.
Last night I facilitated a session of our grief recovery group and, though I keep what is shared in those contexts confidential, I can say that I left the group encouraged. I was encouraged to see the body of Christ being the body of Christ last night.
I hope you have found some encouragement last night or today. Bad things happen to me when I miss my daily requirement of encouragement. There is so much discouragement that is just a normal part of daily living, that I need some encouragement. The worst thing that happens when I don’t get any encouragement is that I find it harder to be an encourager when I’m discouraged.
I find encouragement in two places: God’s word and God’s people. The time I spend in God’s word each morning makes a huge difference in my day. In God’s word I see how God lifted up His people in the past and how He promises to always hold me up with His everlasting arms. I’m also confident that the Holy Spirit works through God’s word.
When I connect with God’s people I also know that God is at work. When we lift up, pray for, remember, help, care for, or listen to each other, God is at work. If you don’t have that kind of connection with other Christians, I pray that you will seek it out and find it.
I hope that you found a little bit of encouragement in these words and that you will be enabled to encourage someone else.