Dear Ones,
God has impressed upon me to “Encourage My people.“ Well, that’s a wonderful task to have. So often, we are our own worst critics. If you really think about it, if you are constantly thinking on your shortcomings or things you haven’t gotten done, you are spending your energy in the wrong place. That is nothing more than worry or negative thinking. It is fine to want to improve. We should all be trying to learn and grow and change things for the better every day. We all want to grow a little more in Christ every day, but we are not going to be able to do that focusing on where we might fall short or have failed in the past. Let’s look ahead with the light of revelation God gives us to move forward in Him so that we can accomplish all He has for us to do. Time is too short to think on where we are less than perfect. There is only One Who is perfect, and as long as we know Him, that’s all we need. Everything else will fall into place.
Scripture tells us to think on these things: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:8).“ How does that make you feel when you think on the goodness around you and the goodness you have sown? It makes me feel like I want to do that some more, and it encourages me to continue on in the good fight!
Then God reminded me of something He told me to say in a message at River City Church. “Every time you have stood on the Word for someone, every time you have been an encouragement, every time you have mended a broken heart, every time you have disciplined unto righteousness, every time you have prayed for another’s healing, every time you have stood in faith or been brave for the things of God, every time you have stood against the devil in your family, every time you have stood for My virtue, you have done My work. Well done thy good and faithful servant. Keep up the fight. Know that there will be fruit, a good harvest from the seeds you plant and the prayers you pray and your obedience and faithfulness to walk in virtue.“
Dear brothers and sisters, know that when you have sown such precious seeds, you have been God’s hands here on the earth. You have been His help to someone in need. You will stand before Him and hear Him say, “Well done My good and faithful servant.“ Matthew 25:34-40 says:
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
So, be encouraged dear ones and know how very pleased your Father is when you share His mercy, love, compassion, joy, peace, wisdom, and healing with those to whom He takes you. You are running His good race here on earth.
With much love,
Pastor Lisa Marie
If you have never made Jesus the Lord of your life and desire to, pray this: Dear God, I believe that Jesus is your Son, that He died on the cross for me and was resurrected for my redemption. I choose to make Jesus the Lord of my life. I thank you for forgiving me and for filling me with Your Holy Spirit. I thank You that I am Your child, that You are my Father, and that You have great things planned for me. Amen.