Check it out . . .
• Do you have a real hope for the future?
• Is there a reason for your hope?
• Can you put this reason into words for someone who asks?
• Are you ready to relate this reason if someone asks?
Can you convey this information with confidence because you know who you are, and with awesome appreciation for Who God is?
Perhaps we’ve read through this Bible verse much too quickly, thinking it was merely an example of some long-ago, godly people who were especially gifted with bravery.
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:
and be ready always to give an answer
to every man that asks you a reason
of the hope that is in you
with meekness and fear,”
(1 Peter 3:15).
Does this verse apply to you? Does it apply to me?
What if God really expects this of us!
If we THINK we lack specific direction and confidence, perhaps what we actually lack is blessing and empowerment.
The key may lie in those first words of the verse, “Sanctify the LORD God in your heart.”
Picture yourself standing before the King of Kings in His glory. Awestruck, you are speechless, but then your heart brings forth, “Oh, Lord and Savior. Thank You for forgiving my sins, for giving me eternal life.”
Overcome with His magnificent love and mercy, you kneel there as angels sing His praises. “God, I offer myself to you. I worship You as You deserve.” Time seems to stand still, there in that Heavenly Throne Room.
Now, are you ready to take your place back on earth and deny Him? Or ignore Him? Or turn aside when some lost person asks about Him?
Be certain of this: when you bow your heart before Him and honor and reverence Him, you will be changed. God’s Holy Spirit will indwell you in the amount that you allow Him room in your busy mind and life.
After that life-changing encounter you will be placed into Divine Appointments. People will come into your life, and they will notice if you speak with calm confidence. They will observe your kind attitude if you’re not grasping for attention. They will ponder what you say and how you say it. Perhaps there will be no visible miracle at that moment for them, but be assured God is at work. Leave the results to Him.
From time to time the pressures of life will surround you with confusion and agitation. If you neglect to speak to your Lord about this, then your eyes will be drawn to the spectacle of worldliness. It’s a show put on for you by Satan, the enemy of our souls.
Too frequently the words that float out of our mouths are not expressions of faith and hope and joy. Too readily we speak sarcasm, silly talk, small talk, irritation.
When that happens turn to the Lord and confess your actions and your attitude. Let Him restore you to the desire to please Him, alone.
Expect the same challenge to come to you again. The Lord is looking for you to trust Him and obey Him. He will bring opportunities.
Just reading a Bible verse now and then, just sending up a prayer once in awhile will not do it. Relationship with Him takes time spent together.
Like a race, life is full of hurdles. Unseen, others are cheering you on. God, Himself, Almighty Creator of All There Is, Savior and Lord — He blesses and empowers you to succeed.
If someone asks, are you ready? The way to be ready is to get ready now.
These words from the Bible are not a suggestion. “Be ready always to give an answer of the hope . . .”
So, what do you say?
EncouragingU * * * * * * * * * * * * We ALL need a word of encouragement once in awhile.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Dealing with a Troubled Relationship
1. Thank God for giving you a glimmer of hope that He can help you through this difficult time in this troubled relationship. (Psalm 16:7-8)
2. Ask the Lord how to proceed. Be open to His leading. Be willing to wait quietly after you've prayed. (Psalm 37:7)
3. Honestly tell the Lord that what you've done has contributed to the problem.
4. If you have any known sin it must be confessed to the Lord. Don't overlook the power that little things have had over you, such as feelings of irritation, confusion, unwillingness to talk about the problem, keeping too busy to think about it, adopting a phony "I'm OK" attitude. (1 John 1:8)
5. For your own use write out your perspective of the problem, even if it's only a few sentences. Seeing it on paper helps bring focus.
6. Keep in mind that if for some reason you are not able to talk about the problem with the other person(s) you can still make progress, even by yourself.
7. You must be willing to forgive the other person(s), even if they aren't willing or able to agree that what they did was hurtful. When you relinquish your "right" to feel unhappy about them and the situation then you allow God to work actively in His own wisdom and in His own timing. (Colossians 3:13)
8. You must forgive yourself for falling into the sin or the problem. When you do not own up to your part and consciously forgive yourself you will give the devil an open door to come and stir things up again. (11 Corinthians 7:10)
9. You must receive forgiveness from the Lord and from your own heart. Speak it aloud. Write it down with your name and date. (1 John 1:9)
10. Be willing to take steps to bring healing to the other person as the Lord leads you. There might not be one big, all-encompassing thing that you are to do. There may instead be many little things. (11 Timothy 2:22-23)
11. Do not get discouraged. God is always faithful to His Word. He is actively working on your behalf. In fact, sometimes things seem to get worse before they get better. When you are close to a breakthrough the devil may intensify his attack. Let that remind you to come closer to the Lord. (Philippians 1:9-11)
12. Trust God for the healing of the relationship in His wisdom and in His timing. He wants to build your character and make you a godly person. Use this to bring you closer to God. (John 15:9-11) Continue reading His Word. Trust and obey.
# # #
By Elaine Hardt ©1992
2. Ask the Lord how to proceed. Be open to His leading. Be willing to wait quietly after you've prayed. (Psalm 37:7)
3. Honestly tell the Lord that what you've done has contributed to the problem.
4. If you have any known sin it must be confessed to the Lord. Don't overlook the power that little things have had over you, such as feelings of irritation, confusion, unwillingness to talk about the problem, keeping too busy to think about it, adopting a phony "I'm OK" attitude. (1 John 1:8)
5. For your own use write out your perspective of the problem, even if it's only a few sentences. Seeing it on paper helps bring focus.
6. Keep in mind that if for some reason you are not able to talk about the problem with the other person(s) you can still make progress, even by yourself.
7. You must be willing to forgive the other person(s), even if they aren't willing or able to agree that what they did was hurtful. When you relinquish your "right" to feel unhappy about them and the situation then you allow God to work actively in His own wisdom and in His own timing. (Colossians 3:13)
8. You must forgive yourself for falling into the sin or the problem. When you do not own up to your part and consciously forgive yourself you will give the devil an open door to come and stir things up again. (11 Corinthians 7:10)
9. You must receive forgiveness from the Lord and from your own heart. Speak it aloud. Write it down with your name and date. (1 John 1:9)
10. Be willing to take steps to bring healing to the other person as the Lord leads you. There might not be one big, all-encompassing thing that you are to do. There may instead be many little things. (11 Timothy 2:22-23)
11. Do not get discouraged. God is always faithful to His Word. He is actively working on your behalf. In fact, sometimes things seem to get worse before they get better. When you are close to a breakthrough the devil may intensify his attack. Let that remind you to come closer to the Lord. (Philippians 1:9-11)
12. Trust God for the healing of the relationship in His wisdom and in His timing. He wants to build your character and make you a godly person. Use this to bring you closer to God. (John 15:9-11) Continue reading His Word. Trust and obey.
# # #
By Elaine Hardt ©1992
An Encouraging Word
Who are you encouraging this week?
Ordinary chit-chat comes easily, just like making routine comments about the weather. But how about encouragement? How about mentoring? Both of these are strong, positive steps we each can take. It’s a blessing for others that brings to us opportunities for our own growth and spiritual development.
What is encouragement?
Encouragement comes in many flavors. It may be written or spoken. It may be acknowledging something accomplished by the other person. It may be a word to “stand strong” in the middle of a muddle. It may be a reminder that God has worked in the past and is now working in the current situation.
What is mentoring?
Something you know how to do, that you can pass on to someone else who’s trying to do it qualifies as “mentoring.” You don’t actually have to be an expert to mentor someone. You don’t have to be older and the other person, younger. Anyone with a caring heart can mentor anyone else who is the recipient of some of your time and interest.
Encouragement can be a big help.
A kind word can be a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. Can’t you recall a time when someone, out of the blue, noticed your effort or achievement and said something to you? Have you been mentored on the job? Have you been mentored when you volunteered to do something at church? Maybe those were rare occasions; maybe you labored on unnoticed and unhelped.
Who needs it?
Look around your family, neighborhood, job, for starters. At one time or another probably each one of us could be greatly helped by some encouragement.
Why don’t we do this?
It’s probably not that we are uncaring, not that we are unable; the fact is most people hardly notice what’s going on in someone else’s life. We are simply, “busy!”
Actually, we can set our priorities and proceed, if we want to. As always, pray for the Lord’s direction. Ask, “Who? What? How?”
An example from the New Testament
Who in the Bible was an encourager or a mentor to someone? Several examples may come to mind. David and Jonathan, Elijah and Elisha. Others?
One New Testament example would be the disciple, John, and Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Remember that at the cross Jesus speaks to His beloved disciple and His mother who are witnessing the terrible scene.
“When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!”
Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. (John 19:26-27).
Why didn’t Jesus put his mother Mary into the care of his brothers or sisters? Matthew 13:36, mentions “sisters.” Mark mentions his brothers by name, “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us?…” (Mark 6:3).
Obviously, John and Jesus had developed a closeness that made Jesus’ statement understood to both. It was something Jesus had to say.
Some years later John wrote the Gospel of John, the letters I, II, III John, and finally the book of Revelation.
It has been suggested that John wrote the little letter of II John to Mary. Read for yourself the 13 verses of II John with that in mind. Consider that she, too, needed encouragement at that time in her life. Only one place in the Bible speaks of the Elect Lady.
How do we do this?
Each situation will suggest its own pathway. Picture yourself walking alongside that other person who the Lord has put on your heart. Don’t withhold little reminders of God’s grace or revelations of love.
“For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.” Philemon 1:7).
Don’t smother the person with your attention. Like a good parent, suggest something, offer to share some ideas, perhaps pass along some pertinent articles. Offer personal prayer ministry.
Don’t expect the undying gratitude of the person. Give them space to absorb, put it into practice, and grow at their own pace.
Being an encourager and/or a mentor doesn’t mean you’re setting yourself up for promotion or publicity. It’s a quiet, caring way of being submissive to the leading of God’s Holy Spirit.
As you bless others you yourself will be refreshed. Let this encourage you!
By Elaine Hardt ©2005
Ordinary chit-chat comes easily, just like making routine comments about the weather. But how about encouragement? How about mentoring? Both of these are strong, positive steps we each can take. It’s a blessing for others that brings to us opportunities for our own growth and spiritual development.
What is encouragement?
Encouragement comes in many flavors. It may be written or spoken. It may be acknowledging something accomplished by the other person. It may be a word to “stand strong” in the middle of a muddle. It may be a reminder that God has worked in the past and is now working in the current situation.
What is mentoring?
Something you know how to do, that you can pass on to someone else who’s trying to do it qualifies as “mentoring.” You don’t actually have to be an expert to mentor someone. You don’t have to be older and the other person, younger. Anyone with a caring heart can mentor anyone else who is the recipient of some of your time and interest.
Encouragement can be a big help.
A kind word can be a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. Can’t you recall a time when someone, out of the blue, noticed your effort or achievement and said something to you? Have you been mentored on the job? Have you been mentored when you volunteered to do something at church? Maybe those were rare occasions; maybe you labored on unnoticed and unhelped.
Who needs it?
Look around your family, neighborhood, job, for starters. At one time or another probably each one of us could be greatly helped by some encouragement.
Why don’t we do this?
It’s probably not that we are uncaring, not that we are unable; the fact is most people hardly notice what’s going on in someone else’s life. We are simply, “busy!”
Actually, we can set our priorities and proceed, if we want to. As always, pray for the Lord’s direction. Ask, “Who? What? How?”
An example from the New Testament
Who in the Bible was an encourager or a mentor to someone? Several examples may come to mind. David and Jonathan, Elijah and Elisha. Others?
One New Testament example would be the disciple, John, and Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Remember that at the cross Jesus speaks to His beloved disciple and His mother who are witnessing the terrible scene.
“When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!”
Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. (John 19:26-27).
Why didn’t Jesus put his mother Mary into the care of his brothers or sisters? Matthew 13:36, mentions “sisters.” Mark mentions his brothers by name, “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us?…” (Mark 6:3).
Obviously, John and Jesus had developed a closeness that made Jesus’ statement understood to both. It was something Jesus had to say.
Some years later John wrote the Gospel of John, the letters I, II, III John, and finally the book of Revelation.
It has been suggested that John wrote the little letter of II John to Mary. Read for yourself the 13 verses of II John with that in mind. Consider that she, too, needed encouragement at that time in her life. Only one place in the Bible speaks of the Elect Lady.
How do we do this?
Each situation will suggest its own pathway. Picture yourself walking alongside that other person who the Lord has put on your heart. Don’t withhold little reminders of God’s grace or revelations of love.
“For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.” Philemon 1:7).
Don’t smother the person with your attention. Like a good parent, suggest something, offer to share some ideas, perhaps pass along some pertinent articles. Offer personal prayer ministry.
Don’t expect the undying gratitude of the person. Give them space to absorb, put it into practice, and grow at their own pace.
Being an encourager and/or a mentor doesn’t mean you’re setting yourself up for promotion or publicity. It’s a quiet, caring way of being submissive to the leading of God’s Holy Spirit.
As you bless others you yourself will be refreshed. Let this encourage you!
By Elaine Hardt ©2005
Thinking About God
God, it is interesting to think about You,
yet it is really scary, too.
I want to know that You are here and that You really care,
but the implications are overwhelming.
I am concerned about life; so much is beyond my control.
I am afraid of dying and being somewhere in a vast Eternity.
It's easier to pretend that nothing bothers me.
The little child part of me still sees You
as the smiling Jesus in Sunday School picture stories,
and as our Heavenly Father, the Great, Big Person who is very busy.
Forgive me for taking You for granted.
Forgive me for my ignorance and apathy.
Forgive me for leaving out of my daily life a conscious awareness of You.
Give me a new vision of You,
high and lifted up above the universe and all creation,
eternal, powerful, magnificent!
Give me a new vision of You,
Jesus, Messiah, Savior on the cross paying for my sins,
real man, real God!
Give me a new vision of You,
Holy Spirit, God in me, empowering me to trust and obey,
filling every part of me!
Your Word says I am to display Your splendor!
Come upon me, Awesome God; shine Your light on every part of my life.
Expose any sin; cast out everything that is false.
Take away my confusion and frustration.
Your Word says I am to do the works of the Kingdom,
standing boldly against the forces of the devil,
ministering love to the lost and needy.
It's breathtaking to imagine myself doing all of that.
Thank You for this incredible grace and peace and joy,
the free gift of salvation, the promise of Heaven.
I choose to follow You wholeheartedly for the rest of my life.
No matter what happens, I love You, God.
AMEN!
—Elaine Hardt ©1993
yet it is really scary, too.
I want to know that You are here and that You really care,
but the implications are overwhelming.
I am concerned about life; so much is beyond my control.
I am afraid of dying and being somewhere in a vast Eternity.
It's easier to pretend that nothing bothers me.
The little child part of me still sees You
as the smiling Jesus in Sunday School picture stories,
and as our Heavenly Father, the Great, Big Person who is very busy.
Forgive me for taking You for granted.
Forgive me for my ignorance and apathy.
Forgive me for leaving out of my daily life a conscious awareness of You.
Give me a new vision of You,
high and lifted up above the universe and all creation,
eternal, powerful, magnificent!
Give me a new vision of You,
Jesus, Messiah, Savior on the cross paying for my sins,
real man, real God!
Give me a new vision of You,
Holy Spirit, God in me, empowering me to trust and obey,
filling every part of me!
Your Word says I am to display Your splendor!
Come upon me, Awesome God; shine Your light on every part of my life.
Expose any sin; cast out everything that is false.
Take away my confusion and frustration.
Your Word says I am to do the works of the Kingdom,
standing boldly against the forces of the devil,
ministering love to the lost and needy.
It's breathtaking to imagine myself doing all of that.
Thank You for this incredible grace and peace and joy,
the free gift of salvation, the promise of Heaven.
I choose to follow You wholeheartedly for the rest of my life.
No matter what happens, I love You, God.
AMEN!
—Elaine Hardt ©1993
Problems, Trouble, Weariness, etc.
It was “one of those days . . . ”
Aggravating circumstances mounted an attack,
problem people caused me trouble and grief,
my body kept complaining with sickness and pain.
Finally, in desperation I called out to God,
and this is what He said:
It’s a test and it’s temporary;
Do it right or you’ll have to do it over.
People and problems are different everywhere,
yet the principles are the same for everyone.
There are lessons to learn; that’s the truth about life.
If you listen, My Spirit speaks to your spirit,
warning, instructing, reminding:
Stop that, my child. Let Me light your path.
Before fear can paralyze your zeal,
before anger simmers again,
before weariness dampens your joy,
you have another choice.
The right decision can be wrong if it’s too late.
You need to do it My way.
This is a spiritual matter and you’re in the war;
the only land you’ll obtain is
the land you fight for and take.
Your enemy, Satan, is real and his purpose is deadly.
This is a real battle, but the victory’s been won.
You’re there to build your character.
Doing it over the same way as before,
will give no better results than it already has.
Frustration waits to suck out your energy;
depression wants to claim your soul.
There’s no progress with passivity;
no testimony without a test.
So I cried: Lord, give me wisdom,
show me what pleases You the most.
You alone know what’s best;
Your presence in my life, Your power is what I need.
I am determined to do it Your way, now and always.
By Elaine Hardt ©2000
Joshua 1:6-9. Numbers 33:55,
John 14:26, II Timothy 1:7
Aggravating circumstances mounted an attack,
problem people caused me trouble and grief,
my body kept complaining with sickness and pain.
Finally, in desperation I called out to God,
and this is what He said:
It’s a test and it’s temporary;
Do it right or you’ll have to do it over.
People and problems are different everywhere,
yet the principles are the same for everyone.
There are lessons to learn; that’s the truth about life.
If you listen, My Spirit speaks to your spirit,
warning, instructing, reminding:
Stop that, my child. Let Me light your path.
Before fear can paralyze your zeal,
before anger simmers again,
before weariness dampens your joy,
you have another choice.
The right decision can be wrong if it’s too late.
You need to do it My way.
This is a spiritual matter and you’re in the war;
the only land you’ll obtain is
the land you fight for and take.
Your enemy, Satan, is real and his purpose is deadly.
This is a real battle, but the victory’s been won.
You’re there to build your character.
Doing it over the same way as before,
will give no better results than it already has.
Frustration waits to suck out your energy;
depression wants to claim your soul.
There’s no progress with passivity;
no testimony without a test.
So I cried: Lord, give me wisdom,
show me what pleases You the most.
You alone know what’s best;
Your presence in my life, Your power is what I need.
I am determined to do it Your way, now and always.
By Elaine Hardt ©2000
Joshua 1:6-9. Numbers 33:55,
John 14:26, II Timothy 1:7
Have you thought about this?
Congratulations on living as long as you have! You must have learned a lot of things, by now. Have you thought about this: what you now know may be interesting or helpful to someone else?
And consider this: many of us have thrown away a lesson we once learned,
simply because we never thought it through, and we have never written
it down. We struggled, survived, but then forgot it.
If we’ve coped with some calamity, but haven’t analyzed the situation, then there’s a big chance that we may face another calamity and have to learn the hard way, again. To profit from our past experiences we need to make sense of the cause and effect.
Tensions, temptations and transitions come to all.
None of us will live long enough to make all the mistakes and learn all the lessons first-hand. Learning from experiences — good and bad — of others can save us a lot of time!
Pour yourself a cup of coffee (or herbal tea) and take a walk down memory’s lane. See how you will answer the following:
• What has God taught me from failure?
• What has God taught me from lack of money?
• What has God taught me from pain — sorrow — depression?
• What has God taught me through waiting?
• What has God taught me through health issues?
• What has God taught me from disappointment?
• What have I learned from my family and my relationships?
• What have I learned from my church and small groups?
• What have I learned from my critics?
Major life lessons are worth thinking about. Some events can be extrapolated to yield useful insights into life, in general. Go ahead, and discover your responses to other thought-provoking questions:
• What have I learned from observing others?
• Was there a major turning point in my life?
• How did I see that life is worth living?
• What has brought me the most joy?
• Who have I been able to encourage?
• Who have I helped and challenged to greater spiritual awareness?
If you consider the effort you’ve put into your own survival and your own success so far, perhaps you’ll want to invest some time writing down the insights you have gained through your challenges, problems, circumstances. Don’t be put off by the word, “writing.” It isn’t an official-looking term paper for school. No teacher is going to red-mark your spelling or grammar! This project is for you, and you’ll judge its contents and appearance.
You’ll then be in a better position to grasp the value of your own life lessons. You’ll be able to more effectively share nuggets of wisdom with others.
Don’t be surprised if the Lord brings someone into your life who needs to hear some of what you have to say. Your success in dealing with some problem, addiction, grief, or illness may bring help and encouragement to others.
Why has God put you here on earth? First, to bring you to an awareness of Him, so you will want to turn your back on sin and invite Jesus into your heart. Receive Him and be baptized. Then, He will allow you to be part of His reaching out to others who need to hear the way of salvation so they can have a loving relationship with Him, too.
Sharing our life lessons with others is one way we can tell others about God’s grace.
“Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders;
make the most of every opportunity.”
(Colossians 4:5 NIV).
We are not expected to do this by our own abilities, clever arguments, or even heartfelt sincerity. God will enable and empower us by His Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8). Be thankful for this!
Life is not meant to be a string of confusing and frustrating episodes without purpose or meaning. Find out what God has been doing in your life, then ask Him to show you how to make the most out of what you’ve got. Picture yourself hearing the awesome words, “Well done, good and faithful friend. Enter into the joy of My eternal presence.” (taken from Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:21, John 3:15 and John 15:14).
Have you thought about this?
By Elaine Hardt ©2003
“ Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way.
The Lord be with you all.”
(2 Thessalonians 3:16).
And consider this: many of us have thrown away a lesson we once learned,
simply because we never thought it through, and we have never written
it down. We struggled, survived, but then forgot it.
If we’ve coped with some calamity, but haven’t analyzed the situation, then there’s a big chance that we may face another calamity and have to learn the hard way, again. To profit from our past experiences we need to make sense of the cause and effect.
Tensions, temptations and transitions come to all.
None of us will live long enough to make all the mistakes and learn all the lessons first-hand. Learning from experiences — good and bad — of others can save us a lot of time!
Pour yourself a cup of coffee (or herbal tea) and take a walk down memory’s lane. See how you will answer the following:
• What has God taught me from failure?
• What has God taught me from lack of money?
• What has God taught me from pain — sorrow — depression?
• What has God taught me through waiting?
• What has God taught me through health issues?
• What has God taught me from disappointment?
• What have I learned from my family and my relationships?
• What have I learned from my church and small groups?
• What have I learned from my critics?
Major life lessons are worth thinking about. Some events can be extrapolated to yield useful insights into life, in general. Go ahead, and discover your responses to other thought-provoking questions:
• What have I learned from observing others?
• Was there a major turning point in my life?
• How did I see that life is worth living?
• What has brought me the most joy?
• Who have I been able to encourage?
• Who have I helped and challenged to greater spiritual awareness?
If you consider the effort you’ve put into your own survival and your own success so far, perhaps you’ll want to invest some time writing down the insights you have gained through your challenges, problems, circumstances. Don’t be put off by the word, “writing.” It isn’t an official-looking term paper for school. No teacher is going to red-mark your spelling or grammar! This project is for you, and you’ll judge its contents and appearance.
You’ll then be in a better position to grasp the value of your own life lessons. You’ll be able to more effectively share nuggets of wisdom with others.
Don’t be surprised if the Lord brings someone into your life who needs to hear some of what you have to say. Your success in dealing with some problem, addiction, grief, or illness may bring help and encouragement to others.
Why has God put you here on earth? First, to bring you to an awareness of Him, so you will want to turn your back on sin and invite Jesus into your heart. Receive Him and be baptized. Then, He will allow you to be part of His reaching out to others who need to hear the way of salvation so they can have a loving relationship with Him, too.
Sharing our life lessons with others is one way we can tell others about God’s grace.
“Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders;
make the most of every opportunity.”
(Colossians 4:5 NIV).
We are not expected to do this by our own abilities, clever arguments, or even heartfelt sincerity. God will enable and empower us by His Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8). Be thankful for this!
Life is not meant to be a string of confusing and frustrating episodes without purpose or meaning. Find out what God has been doing in your life, then ask Him to show you how to make the most out of what you’ve got. Picture yourself hearing the awesome words, “Well done, good and faithful friend. Enter into the joy of My eternal presence.” (taken from Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:21, John 3:15 and John 15:14).
Have you thought about this?
By Elaine Hardt ©2003
“ Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way.
The Lord be with you all.”
(2 Thessalonians 3:16).
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