Tag: encouragement

Consider Others

Philippians 2:3 NLT, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.”

This verse completely goes against what our culture promotes nowadays. Thinking of ourselves first is what we are encouraged to do. People trying to impress other people is often the norm, and humility is totally out of the question, because it is considered by many to be a sign of weakness. However, the Word of God assures us that these type of self centered actions will lead to a downfall, because they are rooted in pride, and pride comes before a fall (Proverbs 16:18).

Photo by: Andrea Piacquadio of Hungary 🇭🇺

While Jesus lived here on Earth, He lived a life of love and humility, yet He had all power in His hands. He never tried to exalt Himself above others, yet He was a King. He never compromised His standards, yet He took time out to be with people who were different from Him. Jesus always considered the needs of others and so should we. His words and actions proved that He considered the needs of others and so should ours.

I pray God will empower us to live according to His Word and not give in to any ungodly cultural norms. I also pray He would soften our hearts to walk in love daily by considering the needs of others.

Photo by: Dio Hasbi Saniskoro of Indonesia 🇮🇩

Reflecting on God’s Goodness

14 But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in your hands…Psalm 31:14-15 (NIV).

I’m very thankful for the way God holds each of our days safely in His hands. He is with us every step of the way guarding our paths. Only He has the ability to make sure that the details of our days go perfectly according to His plans. We don’t have to be anxious for anything. He faithfully provides all we need. His goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives. His unconditional love covers us no matter where we go.

Remembering how far God has brought me and the blessings He has given me, even over the last year as I’ve gone through many changes, makes my heart rejoice. I’m thankful to have the basic necessities of life and so much more. When we take time daily to reflect on the goodness of God, it makes a difference in our life. It enables us to see how amazing our God is, and how much He cares for us.

I pray that as you reflect on God’s goodness, your heart would be filled with thanksgiving, joy and hope. God’s Word declares that when we hope in Him, we will never be put to shame (Psalm 25:3).

Photo by: Na Urchin of Vietnam 🇻🇳

Trust And Be Blessed

Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. Proverbs 16:20 NIV

The Lord always wants what is best for us, so it’s important to follow His instructions for our lives. Although we may not always understand why He is leading us in a certain direction, we can rest knowing He will never lead us astray. He can see the entire outcome, and we can only see what He allows us to see. There have been many times in my own life that God was leading me in a direction I didn’t fully understand. I had to trust Him, obey His instruction, and walk by faith.

Photo by: Q. Hưng Phạm of Vietnam 🇻🇳

It brings peace to follow the path He has laid out, and He always makes sure we have what we need. It has brought amazing joy when I’ve gotten to the point in the journey where I can see why God required me to do whatever He asked me to do. We never come up short when we obey the Lord. The uncertainty we face because of obedience to the Lord is overshadowed by the rewards we receive, especially the rewards of deepening our relationship with Him and growing stronger in our faith. May God bless you as you continue to trust and obey!

I will be taking a blogging break, but hope to return in a couple of weeks or so.

Trade In Panic For Peace

“So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.” (Isaiah 28:16 NIV)

Jesus Christ is our sure foundation. We don’t have to worry when we rely on Him, because He has our lives in His hands. The plans He has for us are good. Sometimes we have experiences in life that are not good; however, we can rest knowing that God will take those experiences and work them out for our good. Although there are many reasons to be stricken with panic, when we rely on Jesus, we can trade in panic for peace. When we put our hope in the One who always keeps His promises, we can walk in joy.

Photo by: Kelvin Valerio of Dominican Republic 🇩🇴

Choosing to trust Jesus is a daily decision. No matter who or what may come our way, we have to be ready to choose Jesus. The enemy is constantly trying to frustrate our efforts to know and serve our Lord, but greater is He who lives in us than He who lives in the world (1 John 4:4). Jesus, our Sure Foundation will never collapse; we can continue to stand strong in Him as we rely on His faithfulness one day at a time.

Never Separated From God’s Love

“No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:39 NLT

Photo by: Pixabay

One thing about the Lord that I love is that He loves us. He not only loves us, but He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Therefore, there is nothing we can say or do to earn His love. He gives it to us freely. Even when things around us are unpredictable, God’s Love is the one thing that will never change. We can be sure of His perfect love. It’s true, nothing can separate us from God’s love. When we go through hardships, His love is there. When we feel alone, His love is there. We live in a world that wants to separate us from God’s love by denying His existence, but even through the denial, His love is still there. We don’t have to worry, because His love lives inside of us through His Spirit. He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

I encourage you to remember God’s Love for you as you face this day, and I pray you find peace in knowing that His love is always with you.

10 Things That Make Me Happy

Thank you to my little sister Herry @ Herry Chic Counsels for nominating me for this tag! Please visit her uplifting blog where she shares God’s Word and her personal experiences in her walk with God. 🌼❤️

My 10 Things…

1. Reaching my goals

2. Sunny Days

3. Helping others

4. Reading a good book

5. Listening to music

6. A peaceful environment

7. Making wise choices

8. Learning new things

9. Meeting new people

10. Being responsible with my finances

My nominees…

Sheree

Yonka

Georgetta

God’s Love

Celica

Sharing this verse from Herry’s post:

“Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].”Isaiah 41:10 (AMP)

Continue On In Compassion

“The LORD is merciful and good; our God is compassionate.” (Psalm 116:5, GNT)

The Lord impressed upon me recently the importance of us as Christians having compassion on others. We never know what someone has been through or what they are currently going through. Everyone’s journey is unique, and the experiences we have had, have contributed to who we are today. Some are born into poverty, while others are born into wealth. Some are born into crime, while others are born into legitimate opportunities to excel. Some grew up in loving families, while others don’t know their parents at all.

Photo by: Külli Kittus of Estonia 🇪🇪

Jesus encountered people from all different walks of life; however, He always showed compassion. One of my favorite stories is when He was with the woman at the well. He took time to notice her. He didn’t disregard her because of who she was or because of the life she lived. How often do we disregard others because they are not like us? How often do we reach conclusions about others that are based on our own viewpoints?

As representatives of Jesus, we have the privilege to show His compassion to others. It can be simple to slip into our own little comfortable worlds and forget those around us who are hurting or less fortunate. It’s important to be sensitive to God’s Spirit as He teaches us how to show compassion; because even the smallest act of compassion can go along ways.

Photo by: Pixabay