(Picture from Flick r Creative Commons Julie McLeod)
[Therefore beware] brethren, take care, lest there be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart [which refuses to cleave to, trust in, and rely on Him], leading you to turn away and desert or stand aloof from the living God. 13But instead warn (admonish, urge, and encourage) one another every day, as long as it is called Today, that none of you may be hardened(into settled rebellion) by the deceitfulness of sin [by the fraudulence, the stratagem, the trickery which the delusive glamor of his sin may play on him]. Hebrews 3: 12,13 (Amplified Version)
Just when you have encouraged someone for the 160th time, and you wonder well maybe I should of just told them to get over it. Well you and I both know that telling someone to just get over it, doesn’t work most of the time. That’s mostly a flesh response to others pain, an abrupt attempt to snap someone out of their despair or pit they may be dwelling in. Since we know that doesn’t work, lets try responding God’s way, it’s just more effective and moreover it brings healing and direction to people who are hurt. Isn’t that what we would want for them? Healing and wholeness?
There are more then one life principles in the scripture above. But I want to bring your attention to is the importance of fellowship with other believers. There is a supernatural provision from God that takes place when we encourage one another to keep fighting, and keep going in life when we know all they want to do is quit. It’s the Holy Spirit talking through us to them, to press on, and persevere through it with Christ! Well, you are probably saying, gosh, how long do I have to encourage this person? Daily is the answer. I love how the word says as long as the day is called today, encourage each other. But why is it so important? So that faith will continue to rise, and you can take hold of that thing called “rest.” God’s rest is the best kind of rest you can ever take a hold of, by believing and having a confidence in God’s ability to come through for you ALL of the time, even in life’s disappointments. Encouraging one another keeps your heart from hardening and allowing a temptation of any kind to turn into a stronghold. Having believers give you wisdom to reveal a possible lie you may be believing about yourself or your situation just could be that breakthrough you needed to see the situation from God’s perspective.
When you encourage each other daily, you are keeping lies from becoming a truth. Today, may God encourage you so you can be an encourager to others! God bless u!
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