weekly words of encouragement

If We Humble Ourselves – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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“Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” Matt. 23:12 (NIV). In this verse Jesus continues to set us free from bondage to worldly success. In fact, those who exalt themselves in this world will be brought low in the next age, which is eternity. But if we humble ourselves, God will exalt us! Perhaps we don’t think about God exalting us, but he is our Father and he wants to honor his children. In the next age God will make us into radiant images of the perfect human, Jesus. God will appoint us to govern his creation as we were originally intended to do. But it is not easy to humble ourselves. We don’t just hope it will happen; we need to work at it. It requires a change in mindset toward others. We choose to help others succeed and we look Continue Reading →

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Humble Leadership – Part 1

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You just finished leading a great meeting. Everyone was happy and happy with you. Several smiled and thanked you personally. At home you are feeling thankful for being able to lead. Then, as you relax, your mind starts wandering and thinking about what a great person you are. You are a fantastic leader, so much better than most…whoa! What happened here? You were just thinking about being thankful then you started getting delusions of grandeur. How quickly spiritual pride rears its head and sabotages humble leadership. Scripture teaches that you have an old self, or “flesh” that you have to fight. It has desires that assault us, which we resist by centering on Christ, “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh” (Rom. 13:14, NIV). This explains why these temptations and impulses rise up within us. In Continue Reading →

weekly words of encouragement

Servants Will Be Great In God’s Kingdom – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave.” Matt. 20:26-27 (NIV). This may not seem like an encouragement at first but it is a tremendous encouragement. Jesus promises that servants will be great in his kingdom. This promise encourages us because it sets us free from status-seeking in this world. Status in this world doesn’t count for anything in the New Creation to come, which lasts for eternity. Being a servant and learning how to bless others is what matters in this age because this will be invaluable, eternal fruit. This is another feature of God’s upside-down kingdom. You can be the weakest, smallest, least-educated and most neglected person in your community, but if you adopt a servant’s heart then you will be greater than everyone in your community who does not have a servant’s heart. Only Continue Reading →

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How To Deal With Unwanted Thoughts – Part 2

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This is the second of two blog posts on unwanted thoughts. The first post looked at the stages a thought goes through, and when we need to stop it. This post looks at specific strategies for dealing with unwanted thoughts. In general, we can examine the thought, reject it, then let it float by. We can turn our mind to something else, and let the thought die of neglect. We may have to repeat this process hundreds of times for ingrained unwanted thoughts. God Is Our ProtectorFebruary 9, 2026Discerning The Voices In Our HeadFebruary 6, 2026God Guides The Humble – Weekly Words Of EncouragementFebruary 2, 2026

weekly words of encouragement

He Is Among Us When We Meet – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

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“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” (Matt. 18:20 ESV). Jesus is always with us, but he promises that when two or three are gathered in his name he is among us. God loves community and he honors community by promising that God the Son is present in a better way than with a single believer. Remember that our destiny is to be fruitful members of God’s perfect community of followers on the New Earth. Jesus referred to this as the kingdom of God. God is restoring his image in you so that you can flourish in his community and contribute your gifts and personality. But God’s community does not begin in the next age – it began on Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came after Jesus’ resurrection. You are part of that continuous community. Jesus is sad when we neglect his Continue Reading →