Encouragement: March 7, 2013

TODAY’S WORD FOR THURSDAY MARCH 7, 2013.

ENCOURAGEMENT

DEFINITION:

The act of inspiring with courage or confidence; to cheer; support.

SCRIPTURE:

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever, the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they then gold, sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 19:7-11.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

It can be hard not to get discouraged these days. Like many others are you looking for encouragement today? You may be one that is possibly fighting discouragement, frustration or a taste of depression in your life? Possibly you feel that nothing is going right and you do not know where to turn. Take time now and listen to the news on the radio, television or the internet. How much good news do you hear? It seems to us that most of the news we read about or hear is discouraging and in most cases evil. We need to remember that what is happening in our world is controlled by the evil one, the devil.

The scripture verses we have written above by the psalmist David can lift your spirits in an unexpected way through some words that we normally would think are negative. Our thoughts on these verses could be considered UNLIKELY ENCOURAGEMENT.

In these verses from Psalm 19, written by David, we discover a short listing of ways that the Lord clearly defines for us standards (laws) for living. When we think of standards or laws we often think of something that keeps us from enjoying life. These are standards that can bring us positive encouragement enabling us to overcome the negative feelings that overwhelm us in life. These are unlikely encouragement thoughts because some see God’s standards as restrictive and robbing them from happiness. As we study this passage we find the opposite is true. God’s standards serve to revive us.

Look at some of the words the psalmist uses to share with us God’s standards: “law of the Lord,” “testimony,” “statutes,” “commandments,” “fear of the Lord,” and “judgments.” These words have an ominous sound to them that causes many people to want to avoid them or reject them, even believers in Jesus.

We want you to notice that these standards bring to the believers an obedient heart: conversion of the soul, wisdom, rejoicing of the heart, purity of life, enlightenment of the eyes, endurance, truth, and righteousness. Isn’t that great encouragement? No wonder David said about God’s law that He’s given to us, “more to be desired are they then gold, sweeter than honey.”

Be encouraged today. We serve an awesome God who loves you and wants to turn your focus away from the discouragements of life to the positive things of the Lord your God.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in II Timothy 3:7.

That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

PRAYER:

Help me Lord, to love You and Your Word. Give me delight in my heart as I read it, learn about You, and follow what You teach me. Thank You for all the blessings that come my way daily overcoming the discouragements in life that I seem to face. You are an awesome God and I praise Your name.