Tag: <span>encourage</span>

What are You Doing?
Published March 28, 2019

What are You Doing?

“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” Isaiah 1:17

Think for a moment… who do you admire? On the top of the Gallup Poll list of the most admired people of the 20th century is Mother Teresa. We often admire people that have shaped the lives of others through a dedication that brings help to those most in need. Deep within, we know that a profound indicator of noble character is how someone treats those who can do nothing for that person in return.

God has this same view. In the opening words to the nation of Israel, God called His people to do right, seek justice, defend the oppressed, and care for orphans and widows. Isaiah then pronounced God’s displeasure and rejection of their religious observances because their actions were not consistent with their profession of faith. They were being hypocrites.

God’s longings for his followers have not changed since the days of Isaiah. James restated God’s perspective:

“What God the Father considers to be pure and genuine religion is this: to take care of orphans and widows in their suffering and to keep oneself from being corrupted by the world” (James 1:27 GNT).

Jesus is the ultimate example of a person with a willingness to help the helpless.

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6).

How do you respond to those in the greatest need near you? Is it consistent with your experience of God’s grace and compassion in your life? Or do you do it to be admired?

Father, may I reflect your grace and compassion to each person in my day. I want to see myself and each person as you see them, as loved, valued and uniquely made for your purposes. Thank you for your love and forgiveness in my life. Amen.

By Mike Woodard
Used by Permission
https://www.familylifecanada.com/

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Thoughts by All Thoughts by Men thoughts by Mike Woodard

Victory over Worry
Published March 22, 2019

Victory over Worry

How much we worry and how many of our worries are unfounded?

Unhealthy worrying can cripple us to the point of making us ineffective and unable to cope with life’s challenges. It can also lead to depression. We worry over sickness, viruses, finances, family, children, salt, sugar, unforeseen dangers and many other things.

The Longman Dictionary describes worry as ‘an uncomfortable feeling in the mind, caused by a mixture of fear and uncertainty’.

Sadly, according to experts, worry can also take a heavy toll on our physical and mental health. Dr. Charles Mayo once said,

‘Worry affects the circulation and the whole nervous system. I’ve never known a man who died from overwork, but I’ve known many who have died from doubt’.

So, what are you worrying about today?

A lot of our stress and discouragement is caused either by unfounded or maybe even real fears and anxieties. The Lord Jesus however said in Matthew 6:34 

“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own”.

He was advising us to take each day as it comes, trusting Him. That’s a great antidote for anxiety and we should consider doing so for the following  reasons.

  1. Because We Can’t Control Tomorrow

There is no point in worrying about tomorrow, because no one is assured of a tomorrow. God holds the times and seasons in His hand. Proverbs 16:9 tells us that “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps”. That’s a good reason to commit each day and our future plans into God’s hands and to receive His strength for our anxieties. Only He can control our tomorrow.

  1. Because There Is Enough Trouble For Today

In Matthew 6:34, Jesus said.  “… Do not worry about tomorrow, …Each day has enough trouble of its own”.

Not only can’t we control tomorrow, but we do not know what may happen today. In fact, some of us going through severe crisis situations may dread the dawning of a new day. I once read that there are two possible ways people could wake up in the morning. One group cheerfully says, ‘Good morning, Lord”, while the other says, ‘Good Lord, its morning’! Let’s place our today in God’s hands for He is always in control. We are then assured of His providence, protection and provision.

It is interesting that God identifies Himself in the scriptures in the present tense as, ‘I am’. He is therefore a God of the present; a God of today. Sadly, many people are either living with regret over the past or with anxiety over the future. For those living with regret over the past, Paul says in Philippians 3:13, ‘But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind….I press on..’, while for those worrying over their future he says, “Do not be anxious about anything” and then encourages us to trust in the power of praying to God (Philippians 4:6). Paul trusted in God’s grace every day.

By  Palitha Jayasooriya
Used by Permission

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Thoughts by All Thoughts by Men thoughts by Palitha Jayasooriya