Category: Weekly Word of Encouragement

Those who trust the Lord will be joyful. Proverbs 16:20 (NLT) We all want joy, in other words, happiness. The American Declaration of Independence asserts that all people have a right to pursue happiness. We make our decisions based on expected happiness outcomes. Most of the bad decisions people make are based on the hope that it will bring them some kind of happiness or at least help them avoid unhappiness. They make short-term decisions, like taking Methamphetamine, because they want some happiness, and they discount the long-term harm. But where can we find deep, lasting joy? It can only be experienced if the deepest part of ourselves connects to something big enough and good enough that it satisfies our deepest self. And happiness can only be found in relationships; humans have never been fully satisfied without close friendships. So, the only way we can find and grow in joy Continue Reading →

The Lord works out everything to its proper end —even the wicked for a day of disaster. Proverbs 16:4 (NIV) God will bring everything to a just and good conclusion. He will establish fairness and reward you with blessings for your faithfulness. Since you have pursued him and his goodness God will bring you to your proper end – eternity with him and his goodness. You will live in a perfect community with all the others who pursued God. That is the proper end of all who follow God in Christ. Everything you do matters to God; he will work all things together for good. But this means that those who pursue destructiveness or turn away from God will also be brought to their proper end. Someone who never surrenders their life to God in Christ, but exalts themselves to be god of their own life should not come to Continue Reading →

The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked,but the prayer of the upright pleases him. Proverbs 15:8 (NIV) Followers of Jesus desire to please God. We want more than right standing with him and knowing he loves us, we want to know that our lives please God. We do not want to be a problem child, loved by their parent, but inflicting distress and disappointment on them. It is important to remind ourselves that our lives do please God when we abide in him. If we are becoming more and more Christlike, in other words, righteous, then we know that our prayers please him. The Creator of the universe is actually glad when he hears us. He is happy that his love for us has not gone to waste, but has transformed us and made us more godly. Do not forget to encourage yourself by reminding yourself that you please Continue Reading →

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life Proverbs 11:30 (NIV) Trusting Christ and following him transforms us into the righteous people God intended us to be. And what is the fruit of that? What are the consequences? Life. In fact, the fruit is an entire tree, which also produces fruit. Our righteousness brings life to ourselves and to others. True life consists of friendship with God, peace, harmony, joy, truth, fruitfulness and eternal happiness. This is what we reap for ourselves and what we bring to those around us. Consider how it gives you life when you are around someone who radiates these qualities. Does it not cheer you up, encourage you, make you feel cared for, and affirm your commitment to good? Likewise, we do the same for others when our righteousness shines upon them. And this encourages us deeply because we see how God uses Continue Reading →

The righteousness of the upright delivers them,but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires. Proverbs 11:6 (ESV) Sometimes we forget how blessed we are to be free of a sinful life. We no longer allow our evil and selfish desires to guide us; instead, we crucify them. We know that our old desires only damage and neutralize us; they do not lead to life. Jesus gave us his righteousness and the Father put a new self inside us so now we have desires for God and godliness. Consider how many dangers we have avoided by following the path of righteousness. Consider how many temptations we have resisted that could have harmed us. Even if we sometimes fall, we are free from the power of destructive desires; we can walk in the power of the Spirit and defeat our old desires. But those who have rejected Christ and chosen to be Continue Reading →