Wednesday, June 13, 2012

June 14, 2012 ~ Encourage and Strengthen



Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble.
Isaiah 35:3

Thoughts~

I usually write my devotionals the night before they are to be posted, not weeks in advance. So when you read one, what I have written is fresh on my heart.

This afternoon a man named Matthew was feeling many frustrations and had shared his feelings on his Facebook wall, unbeknownst to me. When his page refreshed, the image from yesterday’s Daily T.A.P. had just been posted. He wondered if it was a message from God (The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:16). I happened to post it at the very right time, when he was likely to see it, so I do believe it was God’s purpose to send some encouragement and strength to Matthew.

Later, I had a similar thing happen to me. I had been babysitting my one-year-old-constantly- moving grandson; as much as I adore him, I was feeling super drained and exhausted. To add to my situation, his Mommy called to say she was going to the hospital with leg pains and contractions with baby #2. She said Michael’s Daddy would pick him up at 9:30 when he got off work.  I was faced with two and a half more hours of babysitting which normally is not an issue at all. I was in the kitchen, making coffee to perk me up and for about one minute I could hear Michael happily baby talking and playing just 12 feet from me . . . and then there was silence. I looked over at where he was playing and he was sitting on a 3’ high sofa table in a crouch, feeling so proud of himself that he finally maneuvered climbing up onto  the wing chair and over to the table. His joy was contagious and it was hard not to smile but it was rather dangerous.

I was so drained and wanted to collapse and take a two hour nap. He did not like that idea at all. So, I gave him some Tupperware to stack and logged onto Facebook to check in on things and the first post was this one, posted by a page I like called Our Prayer:

“No matter how low down you are; no matter what your disposition has been; you may be low in your thoughts, words, and actions; you may be selfish; your heart may be overflowing with corruption and wickedness; yet Jesus will have compassion upon you. He will speak comforting words to you; not treat you coldly or spurn you, as perhaps those of earth would, but will speak tender words, and words of love and affection and kindness. Just come at once. He is a faithful friend - a friend that sticks closer than a brother.”
-D.L. Moody

It was exactly what I needed. Sweet encouragement on a rather tiring day. Not an overly stressful day and not one filled with concerns, just one where comfort came gently into my heart. I do believe the Holy Spirit sends us comfort and encouragement at the very right time. Always and forever.

Action~

Sometimes when we have day upon day of struggles we tend to get too much into ourselves. I think that’s when we need to work on encouraging others the most. It takes our eyes off our situation and seeks to help others.  Can you think of a few ways you can encourage someone today?

Pray~

God, I am always amazed how you bring me just what I need when I need it.  Thank you for your encouragement and show me others that I can encourage.

Trusting in Him,
Becky

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