Being Encouraged

11038785_432560306908283_1299849286995274178_nWow…is all that I can say!

Did you know God uses people all the time to do His work? As I write and travel and speak…I am overwhelmed, at times, by God and His faithfulness and goodness, especially when I don’t see it coming. Allow me to explain. Know that my deepest desire for this post is for you to seek God’s will and live it and experience His power in your life. It is available to all who believe!

On Monday morning I got up, a little tired physically and mentally with normal stresses of a busy week. Some deadlines to make–April 15 is approaching, getting tax stuff together now with having a non-profit, pending graduation for Collins and her next step, Thomas on the road as a professional golfer with his own challenges, putting our house back together after the small flood. The list could go on and on.

I sat down in my prayer chair to quickly upload my daily post, ignoring Daisy (snoring) and Sadie (giving me the fetch stare). I put on my headset of soft instrumental music and started the morning with “I Can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me. After a time of just “laying it all at God’s feet,” I opened my Bible and started reading all of 1 Corinthians.

I thought to myself, “I am gonna keep reading until I am refreshed and encouraged by the Holy Spirit.” I had been reading for a while, moving into 2 Corinthians chapter 1 and had just read the following in verses 3-6, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.”

Just then my phone vibrated. It was the most TIMELY, ENCOURAGING TEXT. No coincidence at all. The Holy Spirit was speaking through a long-time friend who lives in another state. She was fulfilling the scripture above and I was experiencing it firsthand! Her words and the timing were as if God Himself were speaking….to me…a warm…a refreshing….blanket for my whole body, mind and spirit!

Friends…..God speaks…..HE DOES!

He speaks to us and HE speaks through us. I know that I know that I KNOW it was from God–what I was reading, what I was thinking, what I was feeling and the timing of the text. This friend has been a friend for over 30 years. It is a sweet friendship and one in which our physical lives are miles apart but our hearts beat off the same page. I don’t think I have talked to her since Christmas….and boom….I get a text from her. Our friendship is sweet and one where we just pick up wherever we leave off.

If it weren’t for friends like her, I might not have any. God used my friend to encourage me. When I texted her to tell her of the timing, I even took a picture and sent her what I was reading in 2 Corinthians to let her know how God had used her in my life that morning. Her response to me? “I just felt the desire at that moment to let you know. He does ALWAYS know what we need. LUV U!”

She is right.

Point of post: Run to God with
your praise,
your fatigue,
your stress,
your doubt,
your fear,
your sorrow….
…whatever….lay it at HIS FEET….then turn to His Word…the NUMBER ONE way He speaks to us. Don’t be surprised if He Shows up and Shows out. It can be through a stranger or a friend who lives miles away. He may use you to be that friend. TRUST Him today. He has me and He has YOU!

May all of Psalm 121 encourage you today. Here is a portion of it. “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber;” (v1-3).

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