TODAY’S INSPIRATION: ENCOURAGE YOURSELF!

Donald Lawrence sings a song called “Encourage Yourself.” The song says sometimes you have to encourage yourself. I’m feeling that today. I’m feeling a lot of things today which is why I have to encourage myself. I am so thankful that I no longer allow how I feel to determine my praise, worship, and thankfulness to God. Early this morning as I communed with God, I was reminded that we must stay humble, submitting our will to God’s will. We should ask for our specific needs according to His Word and keep praying persistently even when we don’t see the results right away. We must have hopeful expectations that God is going to show up, no matter how long it takes.  

The thing is when you don’t act or look like you feel, no one realizes that you are in need or hurting. I remember a song called, “The Tears of a Clown”. The lyrics say outside I’m smiling but inside I’m crying. No one sees silent tears, so they don’t know your pain. They say you are strong. The truth is you are human and just like any other human, you are weak in yourself. The strength they see comes from God. (2 Corinthians 12:9-12). So why would you need anyone else you may ask. Because the Word of God encourages us to encourage others. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul said ” what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29). Galatians 6:2 reads, “Carry each other’s burdens and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.” The first thing a strong person will say when asked how they are doing is I’m all right. I have learned to respond by saying ok and how are you really doing? How is your heart? What do you need? Because no matter how much we encourage our own self, the Bible reads, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). Please check on your strong friends.

The good news is thank God for Jesus! He knows. He sees silent tears. He sees our heart and knows when it is hurting. Even when we don’t have the words to cry out, he hears our silent cries for help. And we can be confident that help is on the way. We may not know how, when, or where, but He will show up! And while we are waiting on Him, sometimes we have to encourage ourselves because the waiting can be hard. The pain is real, the hurt is real, whatever the situation or circumstances you may be going through is real. But God is realer. I don’t think realer is a word, but you get my point, God is bigger than anything we may be going through. And we that love the Lord know that He has proven time and time again that the wait is always worth it! I know He hears our prayers. I encourage you as I encourage myself to trust God. Love and Blessings…  

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-8)  

“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14)