Encouragement

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Thursday, November 20, 2008

..:: Articles » Encouragement ::..

Encouragement From God's Word

Watch Your Words.

There are those who speak rashly, like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise

brings healing. -Proverbs 12:18

Our lives have been greatly impacted by the words that have been spoken to us. Likewise,our words impact the lives of those around us--for better or for worse. That's a sobering thought.

Many people have been crippled with insecurity because their parents spoke words of judgement, criticism, and failure to them. These wounded people can be healed by receiving God's unconditional love, but it takes time to overcome the wrong image they have of themselves.

That's why it is important to use our words for blessing, healing, and building up instead of for cursing, wounding, and tearing down.

If you've been wounded by words, be quick to receive God's unconditional love. Let Him heal any unhealthy and false images you may have of yourself. If you have been fortunate enough to escape such damage, determine that your words will bring blessing and healing to others.

This was sent from a sister in the Lord via email today and it really impacted my husband and me. My prayer is that I will be so careful with my words. I must be seeking the Lord daily for His guidance and control of my tongue. Our children are so precious and we can damage them so easily with our tongues.

May you be blessed by His word,

Amy

Morning Devotional

It’s important to begin the day right. David said, “I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved” (Psalm 16:8). Because our knowledge of Him increases, and awareness of His soon return is like something pressing us, our lives are changing quickly and there’s more at stake. The morning is holy, a set apart time; the Lord comes and takes us into His confidence revealing Himself as the One who has it all in His Hand.

The Lord goes before you today. Details you’ll never know, thousands of them, He knows, sees and oversees. He takes you into His confidence early in the day, to make you the person you’ll need to be today. He takes you into His confidence to reveal everything you must know today: “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning… (Hosea 6:3).

"...because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved."

Amen.

Psalm 16, verse 8
Hosea 6, verse 3

What is a Disciple?

A disciple is one who loves the Master. Love moves the disciple.
While he is conscious of duty, responsibility and requirement,
these do not drive him. Because love does. This love far exceeds
his love for others, even those otherwise dearest and most
precious to him. This love even goes way beyond his love for
himself and all that he would naturally value in himself and in
his life. This love isn't some mere human emotion or sentiment.
This love is a commitment to obedience to and self-sacrifice for
the Master. So . . .

A disciple is one who lives for the Master. The disciple's love
compels him to serve his Master. Cost is no longer an issue
because he has already surrendered his all to the Master. You
see, the disciple has chosen to be a servant. A disciple is not to
be confused with modern-day servants whom we commonly
know as employees. A disciple could more accurately be
compared to the slaves of years gone by. The focus of his life is
the Master. The purpose of his life is the Master. His delight and
desire is the will of the Master. Therefore . . .

A disciple is one who lives like the Master. Compelled by love
and addicted to service, the disciple naturally lives like his
Master. His values, his motives, his thoughts, his speech, his
actions -- these all not only glow in the reflection of the Master,
they spring forth directly from Him. Staying in touch with his
Master through prayer and meditation on His Word, the disciple
daily grows in his likeness to the Master. No wonder . . .

A disciple is one who loves other disciples. The Master Himself
made sure we would get this point straight and unambiguously:
"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have
love one to another" (John 13:35). The Master left no room in
His kingdom for disconnected, independent discipleship. In fact,
He prayed to His Father thus: "That they all may be one; as
thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one
in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me" (John 17:21).