Every now and then we need to take inventory of our lives. Part of the enemy’s plot to keep us from being successful is to tell us that our lives are ineffective and they don’t count for anything. We go day after day hoping to shake the world with our dreams, and nothing happens – we get discouraged, we begin to get faint-hearted – he has us right where he wants us!
A couple of weeks ago, one of the women in a prayer group I attend was surprised when someone commended her on her friendship and support. She was taken aback when her friend told of her of how much her self-sacrifice meant to her. I understood her surprise – it’s something that most of us go through at one time or another. We fail to see the impact that we are making on our world, because we so often have such high expectations that we discount the small ripples we are making in the little ponds that we live in.
We could all take a lesson from the Apostle Paul – who knew he was and was “fully persuaded” of the work God had commissioned him to do. Consider the following passage:
1ARE WE starting to commend ourselves again? Or we do not, like some [false teachers], need written credentials or letters of recommendation to you or from you, [do we]?
2[No] you yourselves are our letter of recommendation (our credentials), written in your hearts, to be known (perceived, recognized) and read by everybody.
3You show and make obvious that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, not written with ink but with [the] Spirit of [the] living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.2 Corinthians 3:1-3 (AMP)
Donald Lawrence has written a song which speaks to our every discouragement with a word of hope:
Verse 1:
Sometimes you have to encourage yourself.
Sometimes you have to speak victory during the test.
And no matter how you feel,
speak the word and you will be healed;
speak over yourself,
encourage yourself in the Lord.
Verse 2:
Sometimes you have to speak the word over yourself,
the pressure is all around,
but God is a present help.
The enemy created walls,
but remember giants, they do fall;
speak over yourself,
encourage yourself in the Lord.
Bridge:
As I minister to you, I minister to myself,
life can hurt you so,
’til you feel there’s nothing left.
(No matter how you feel),
(speak the word and you will be healed).
“Encourage Yourself” by Donald Lawrence
Don’t stop being a friend, don’t stop sharing your faith, don’t stop being who you are, your life counts for far more than you know.
God Bless You This Lord’s Day,
Maria
THANK YOU!!
Thank you Ma, this is a good word, I needed it even tho i am reading it 3 days later.
lv you