His Encouragement #104

Welcome to His Encouragement Thursday! I don’t know about you, but Thursdays are my struggle day of the week. By Thursday, I have already been working hard at school and at home, and I just wish it would hurry up and be Friday already. LOL! I definitely need a little extra Jesus time on Thursdays.

Trisha, my blogger friend at Joy of Reading, and I decided on calling this post “His Encouragement” because our real source of peace, strength, and security can only come from Jesus Christ. He and He alone is our constant! We pray and hope that these Thursday posts become a real encouragement to you and help you end your week strong in God’s love and purpose for you. God bless!

Today’s Thursday Encouragement comes from:

Exodus 1:17 (ESV)

But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live.

Once upon a time in Egypt, there were two midwives. One was named Shiphrah and the other Puah. As the Hebrews were growing in number and strength, Pharaoh grew more and more disconcerted. As Pharaoh saw it, the Hebrew population was more than the Egyptian, so what was stopping the Hebrews from taking over? Pharaoh decided to make the Hebrews his slaves and ordered the midwives to murder all Hebrew baby boys. In his blinding paranoia, it never occurred to Pharaoh that the midwives might not be OK with his murder plan.

It turns out they absolutely were NOT OK with Pharaoh’s plan, and instead took it upon themselves to lie — “we are sorry, Pharaoh, but we just can’t get to the births in time to kill the boys because Hebrew women are too strong. They give birth so quickly we can’t get to the homes in time.”

Lying to an earthly king didn’t phase Shiphrah or Puah because they feared God. To these women, nothing, not even Pharaoh, was bigger or stronger or more powerful than God. Because of their courage, and for saving countless lives, God rewards Shiphrah and Puah with families of their own.

Today I am encouraged by Shiphrah and Puah. Their story is a good reminder to stand firm in my trust and faith in God. There truly is no one on this earth bigger, stronger, or smarter than God!

NOW, IT’S YOUR TURN!

WHAT BIBLICAL VERSE IS ENCOURAGING YOU TODAY?

Check out more Thursday Encouragement from my fellow blogger friends:

Trisha @ Joy of Reading

Jacquelyn @ A Heavenly Home

Jessica @ A Baker’s Perspective

Becca @ The Becca Files

Gina @ Stories by Gina

Rebecca @ Rev. Rebecca Writes

Andi @ Radiant Light

Leslie @ Edits & Reviews by Leslie

His Encouragement #103

Today’s Thursday Encouragement comes from:

Joshua 24:15 (ESV)

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

We serve a truly remarkable God.

We serve a God who loves us so much He is willing to let us make our own choices. God does not force any of us to bow down to Him.

Instead, He wants a relationship with us. Imagine that — the Creator of EVERYTHING wants a relationship with you and me. Doesn’t that just blow your mind?!

And, He wants that relationship to be a free-will choice.

Yahweh, You are amazing. Today, I choose YOU!

NOW, IT’S YOUR TURN!

WHAT BIBLICAL VERSE IS ENCOURAGING YOU TODAY?

Check out more Thursday Encouragement from my fellow blogger friends:

Trisha @ Joy of Reading

Jacquelyn @ A Heavenly Home

Jessica @ A Baker’s Perspective

Becca @ The Becca Files

Gina @ Stories by Gina

Rebecca @ Rev. Rebecca Writes

Andi @ Radiant Light

Leslie @ Edits & Reviews by Leslie

His Encouragement #102

Today’s Thursday Encouragement comes from:

Isaiah 40:29 (ESV)

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength.

This verse speaks to me. I like the idea that God knows I’m struggling.

I know that sounds odd, but in this world, I’m most often invisible, and the other times I’m getting beat down. In my 38 years, I’ve felt loneliness more than any other emotion. So to know that God knows I’m struggling means something — it means everything. And then to know He does, and always will, give me power and strength is just miraculous.

God is a promise keeper. If He says He sees you, He does. If He says He will increase your strength, He will. We just have to be tuned into Him and His Word in order to see His promises fulfilled.

NOW, IT’S YOUR TURN!

WHAT BIBLICAL VERSE IS ENCOURAGING YOU TODAY?

Check out more Thursday Encouragement from my fellow blogger friends:

Trisha @ Joy of Reading

Jacquelyn @ A Heavenly Home

Jessica @ A Baker’s Perspective

Becca @ The Becca Files

Gina @ Stories by Gina

Rebecca @ Rev. Rebecca Writes

Andi @ Radiant Light

Leslie @ Edits & Reviews by Leslie

His Encouragement #101

Today’s Thursday Encouragement comes from:

Hebrews 7:25 (ESV)

Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Jesus Christ is our perfect, eternal High Priest. His sacrifice on the cross made it possible for us to be saved at any time and in any place. No matter how we feel, IF we go to God, Jesus will intercede on our behalf. We don’t need to say a special prayer. We don’t need to make a particular sacrifice, attend a specific church, or tithe a certain amount. IF we go to God, Jesus will intercede. In fact, according to Hebrews 7:25, it’s Jesus’s passion. He lives to intervene on our behalf. How amazing is that?!

Dear reader, do you feel like you’re not good enough to go to God? Do you feel unworthy? Do you feel too insignificant? Stress not! Just cry out to God. Jesus loves you and is willing to do whatever it takes to draw you closer to Him.

NOW, IT’S YOUR TURN!

WHAT BIBLICAL VERSE IS ENCOURAGING YOU TODAY?

Check out more Thursday Encouragement from my fellow blogger friends:

Trisha @ Joy of Reading

Jacquelyn @ A Heavenly Home

Jessica @ A Baker’s Perspective

Becca @ The Becca Files

Gina @ Stories by Gina

Rebecca @ Rev. Rebecca Writes

Andi @ Radiant Light

His Encouragement #100

Today’s Thursday Encouragement comes from:

Mark 6:2 (ESV)

And on the Sabbath He began to teach in the Synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished, saying, ‘Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to Him? How are such mighty works done by His hands?’

I read Mark 6:2 during my daily Bible study yesterday and these questions really took me aback. Where did this doubt come from? I mean, these people saw Jesus and His miracles with their own two eyes. They heard Jesus’s sermons with their own two ears. How could they doubt who Jesus is? How could they not see Him as the Son of God?

Then I started thinking about myself today. I have several Bibles, I have done and will continue to Bible study until the day I pass on, and I pray regularly. I mean, I know who Jesus is, and yet I still doubt sometimes.

Here’s why I allow doubt into my heart — I am weak and life is hard. Some people have rough moments, but some people have rough lives. When life is constantly difficult it becomes very hard to trust the good moments. Surely, the other shoe will drop, it is just a matter of time…is a “thinking” trap many with rough lives fall into.

Jesus is the BEST Man ever. He is ALL love, knowledge, power, ability, etc. NOTHING is stronger than Jesus. But, for someone like me (and maybe you, dear reader?), it can be a struggle to understand and accept that this Savior has my back when life keeps pummeling us down into the ground. I completely understand why anyone at any time would ask the questions these people ask in Mark 6:2.

As I was considering ALL of this yesterday, God placed this truth on my heart: doubt is why it is IMPERATIVE to be in constant prayer and in God’s Word daily. Being in relationship with Jesus combats the doubt no matter how hard life gets. If you are struggling today, go to Jesus. Remember, He is the storm calmer!

NOW, IT’S YOUR TURN!

WHAT BIBLICAL VERSE IS ENCOURAGING YOU TODAY?

Check out more Thursday Encouragement from my fellow blogger friends:

Trisha @ Joy of Reading

Jacquelyn @ A Heavenly Home

Jessica @ A Baker’s Perspective

Becca @ The Becca Files

Gina @ Stories by Gina

Rebecca @ Rev. Rebecca Writes

Andi @ Radiant Light

His Encouragement #99

Today’s Thursday Encouragement comes from:

1 John 4:10 (ESV)

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Yesterday was Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement. In honor of that day, I want to share this glorious verse from 1 John 4:10.

Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. He willingly suffered at the cross for you and me. He became our atonement (that’s what propitiation means) so we wouldn’t ever have to suffer the wrath of God. How AMAZING is that?! Can you think of a single human who would gladly, selflessly step in front of a bullet for you? Jesus did that for all of us!!! He’s just so awe-inspiring.

I love You, Jesus, and I am SOOOOOOO grateful You took my wrath for me. I don’t deserve it, but I am truly, eternally grateful.

NOW, IT’S YOUR TURN!

WHAT BIBLICAL VERSE IS ENCOURAGING YOU TODAY?

Check out more Thursday Encouragement from my fellow blogger friends:

Trisha @ Joy of Reading

Jacquelyn @ A Heavenly Home

Jessica @ A Baker’s Perspective

Becca @ The Becca Files

Gina @ Stories by Gina

Rebecca @ Rev. Rebecca Writes

Andi @ Radiant Light

His Encouragement #98

Today’s Thursday Encouragement comes from:

Malachi 2:17 (ESV)

You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied Him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”

Picture this:

Israel, c. 445 BC.

God calls to Malachi. He says, “Malachi, profess my weariness.” Malachi says, “OK,” and tells God’s people, “Your words and actions weary the Lord.”

They are indignant. “What do you mean we weary the Lord!?”

Malachi explains, “You say good is evil, and evil is good. You say God delights in you but you are doing and saying evil. And, you call out seeking the Lord of justice, but you don’t really want justice. You want what you want when you want it. You want justice according to you. God is tired of you.”

Now back to today:

God calls His Church. He says, “Behold! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone should hear My Voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20 ESV). The church yells back, “Quiet with the knocking already, we’re busy doing church (our way)!”

God walks away weary.

†††

Malachi 2 tells us that we weary the Lord. To be weary means to feel or show tiredness. God is tired. Why? Because His people want things their way. Then when things go wrong, they demand justice. We disrespect our Father, oftentimes in His own house of worship, and then we have the nerve to scream at Him because our way didn’t end the way we wanted it to.

We are hurting God, the Creator of the known and unknown universes. We are exhausting Him with our selfishness. He is tired of being treated like a genie in a bottle.

God’s Fall Feasts (Leviticus 23) are upon us. Rosh Hashana just ended on the 1st. Yom Kippur begins on the 9th. And Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) begins on the 14th. Rosh Hashana is all about new beginnings. It is a time to celebrate God and His creations. It’s an introspective time where we ponder God’s amazingness and our relationship with Him. Then there is Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement. This is the holiest day of the year where God’s people atone not just for their sins, but for the sins of the nation. It is believed on this day that God closes His Book of Life, and our fates for the year are sealed. Both Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are meant to prepare God’s people for 8 days of Sukkot — the time God tabernacles with His people. God wants to spend time with His people, but He cannot do that until things are set right and sin is dealt with.

Why am I telling you this? Because God told me to. He wants you to know that it is time to take a look inside. Are you making God tired? Do you have things that need fixing? Go to Him today. Ask for forgiveness. Seek His will for you. Do it before it is too late!