Struggle And Encourage

Thursday, October 10, 2024

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-Your peace-Your knowledge and discernment. I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name...

Verse of the Day:  Proverbs 19:21

21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man,

    but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

Memory verse: Psalm 42:2(New American Bible )

"My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When can I enter and see the face of God?"

Today's reading: Isaiah 37-38 Colossians 3

Struggle and Encourage

Of all you may have to do today, what is the most pressing-the most worrying?

It was dark outside and I was in the scriptures doing my morning study in Colossians 2 and in walked my grandson with tears in his eyes. He said,"Pa, I had a dream that we don't go to Heaven".

Suddenly, everything I had in the back of my mind I had to do today meant very little. This was a crisis.

Father, what do I do? What do I say?

Yes, I know, I am a Pastor, but all of us have these battles we go through-battles of faith and doubt. All of us need to go to the Holy scripture and depend on the Holy Spirit to relieve our minds so we can walk with divine confidence in Christ.

We must struggle for each other in prayer if not in action. Why?

(From Colossians 2:2&3)

> To be encouraged and also, we believe, to encourage-for what?

> So that we can be united in love-in The Love of God in Christ Jesus.

> So that we can have the riches-what kind? Material wealth from the world?-No. Paul writes of the riches from fully understanding and knowing God's secret. Christ Jesus is that secret.

Verse 3 says: "It is in him that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden."

I believe we must struggle for ourselves first before we can be of much help to anyone else. Our own spiritual growth is assured only by putting in the work-the conscious work of seeking God in our daily spiritual routines-prayer, Bible study, scripture memory, meditation, journaling, sharing Christ, or anything else that the Holy Spirit actually leads you into.

Then, in the love of God, we struggle for each other. We may not suffer as Paul did physically, but we can bear each other's burdens.

Galatians 6:2 ►"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."

Seek, trust, pray-knowing Christ is the way to true riches-Christ Jesus holds all of His treasures of wisdom and understanding.

My grandson has a long journey ahead-as we all do.

Struggle and encourage for Christ Jesus.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Your name holds all the riches. Your kingdom power is what I seek. Give me Your bread today. Forgive me for my lack of resolve to know as much as I can of Christ Jesus. Lead me away from the world's luring.

Father of light and abundance,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen