Words of Encouragement
Isaiah 35:3-4, "Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you."
It is possible for people to lose their drive in life and for life. For the disciples in Mark 6, they were beginning to lose their drive because they were working hard (toiling in rowing - vs. 48), but they weren't seeing much result. Long periods of work and effort without positive results can cause us to lose our drive.
Personally, I don't want to do anything in life simply going through the motions. We need to always do our best no matter if we see a result or not. Why is this? Because I am doing what I do for the Lord and others and not for myself.
It is dangerous when we take God out of our circumstances. I have to constantly remind myself that God is sovereign in everything. This helps keep my focus where it needs to be and helps me not lose my drive.
Today's passage is packed with encouragement! Verse three is a portrait of people who are spent and discouraged. They have weak hands and feeble knees. The same picture is painted in Hebrews 12:12-13, "...lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed." Sometimes we need our spirit healed from discouragement.
God often speaks to His people the words found in verse 4, "Be strong, fear not." Why does God remind us often to be strong? It is because we can lose our drive. Because God is present with us and is coming again, we can be strong and fear not. "...behold, your God will come with vengeance, ...He will come and save you."
The opposite of being discouraged is to be encouraged. Discouraged people have lost courage, but they have also lost drive! We need to hear the words spoken to Joshua of old and allow them to speak to us today, "Have not I commanded thee: be strong and of a good courage, be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
Be encouraged, be strong, and be not afraid!
Your Friend and HIS,
Pastor Abbott
MEDITATIONS
1. How are you living your life today? Are you going through the motions or are you highly motivated to live for the Savior?
2. God is always ready to help. Are you leaning upon Him sufficiently to be encourage? If not, why not?
3. Discouraged people are self-focused; how can you change your focus today to be encouraged?