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Take Your Needs to Jesus – Max Lucado

Jesus was attending a wedding with the disciples and his mother, Mary, when she approached him with a seemingly irrelevant problem. “‘They have no more wine,’ she told him” (John 2:3). Mary presented the problem, Jesus commanded a solution, and the wineless wedding was suddenly wine flush. And we are left with this message: our diminishing supplies, no matter how insignificant, matter to heaven.

Listen, if Jesus was willing to use divine clout to solve a social faux pas, how much more would he be willing to intervene on the weightier matters of life? He wants you to know that you can take your needs—all your needs—to him. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).

There’s no better starting point to learn how to become an encourager than this famous passage: Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. – 1 Thessalonians 5:11

How To Become an Encourager – Mark Altrogge

I want to grow as an encourager. I want to be like Doug, a man in our church, who has the gift of encouragement. Every time I talk with him, he has this uncanny way of turning every conversation into an encouragement of my session. For example, “Hey Doug, thanks for all the good ideas you brought to the meeting last night.” Doug: “I only did that because I was trying to imitate you. You have so many great ideas. You’re so innovative and always bring a creative perspective to any conversation. And you’re such a great husband and dad. And the way you love your dogs so inspires me. And when you’re doodling in our meetings, I know you aren’t bored, you’re creating great works of art!”

Well, Doug isn’t really over the top, but he does consistently encourage everyone he interacts with. I want to be like Doug.

So here are some reflections on ways to encourage others that I have observed in Doug and many others.

15 Ways To Become An Encourager

1. Point out how you see God working in their life.

Tell them how you can see they have changed over the last six months, a year, or five years. “You know, a year ago you would have responded in anger. But today you were patient and gentle.”

2. Tell them you are praying for them

– and be sure to do that.

3. Point out any way they encourage you.

“Thank you for sharing that scripture this morning. It really helped me.”

4. Share an encouraging scripture with them.

“I’m sure you know this, but none of your labor in the Lord is in vain. Someday you’ll be rewarded for what you’re doing right now.”

5. Encourage them that God is for them

and will be faithful to them

6. Tell them what you appreciate/respect/like/enjoy about them.

Thank them for the ways they inspire you. Point out the good qualities they have.

7. Appreciate and thank them

Thank them for any way they serve.

8. Encourage them for any effort you see

Cheer for them making in the right direction.

9. Encourage them not to give up.

“God is going to come through for you. He will surely reward your faithfulness. Someday this will all be worth it when you are standing before God in heaven and he says to you, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Master.’ ”

10. Thank them for their example to you.

“Thank you for being an example to me of faithfulness to your husband through thick and thin.” “Thank you for your example to me of trusting God in affliction.”

11. Commend them

Commend them for any job well done.

12. Share with them how you see them glorifying God.

“You know, to forgive your brother for the way he hurt you is so pleasing to God.”

13. Encourage them for any gifts or talents they have.

Thank them for the ways their gifts have blessed you.

14. Point out the fruit of the Spirit you see in their life.

“I appreciate how consistently joyful you are.”

15. Remind them.

Remind them that they have a sympathetic and compassionate great high priest who intercedes for them.

Send them a note. Fire off an email. Give them a quick call on your commute home. Text them. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. Sometimes, “Great job!” is all you need to say.

Tell them why you’re glad you get to work with them. Tell them why you’re glad God brought them to your church. Tell them why you’re glad they are your child (assuming they are your child). Husbands, thank your wives for anything and everything they do for you.

Hi ,

Warm greetings.

Hope you are going OK and enjoying some of the welcome sunshine.

Can I encourage you, that if you are finding the going hard and need any assistance or prayer, please do contact me at holts@bigpond.com or 0419 248 724.

This week's inclusions for your encouragement follow on from last Sunday morning's Message on Psalm 42 : ' Desperate for God...responding to Discouragement! ' 

In particular, the Articles ( Help for Anxiety & Depression (2)...used with permission from Vision Christian Media : Word for Today) and the longer very helpful article attached for you to download ('6 Ways to Stop Thinking Fearful Thoughts' used with permission from christianleader.com) focus on the important matter of learning to challenge our thoughts/thinking. Lastly, a uplifting devotion from Max Lucado ('God's Resume' used with permission from Max Lucado).

God’s Resume

After a few moments of flailing in the water, Peter turned back to Jesus Christ and cried, “‘Lord, save me!’ And immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’ And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down” (Matthew 14:30-32 NIV).

Now Jesus could have stilled this storm hours earlier, but he did not. He wanted to teach the followers a lesson: storms are not an option, but fear is.

God has hung his diplomas in the universe. Rainbows, sunsets, horizons. His résumé includes Red Sea openings. Lions’ mouths closings. Goliath topplings. Lazarus raisings. And his lesson is clear: he is the commander of every storm. Are you scared in yours? Then stare at him.

Help for Anxiety and Depression

My anxious thoughts multiply within me…’ Psalm 94:19 NAS

Your thought-life can be the incubator for anxiety and depression, so understand this:

(1) Your thoughts are yours! ‘My anxious thoughts multiply within me.’ You conceive, interpret, assign meaning to, accept or reject them. So be decisive about which thoughts are, or aren’t, helpful.

(2) You become what your thought-life makes you (Proverbs 23:7). It’s not your circumstances, it’s your thoughts about your circumstances that produce your emotions. Your thoughts trigger biochemistry that determines your feelings, their duration and their intensity. When you begin to think differently you’ll feel differently.

(3) Your thoughts are prolific. The Psalmist said they ‘multiply’ within you. Random thoughts may be temporarily upsetting, but they don’t produce lasting anxiety or depression. That is the work of persistent thought patterns – negative thoughts that multiply, repeating themselves within you. You must ‘take them captive’ and ‘bring [them] into obedience’ to Christ-like thinking in order to control your feelings (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

(4) You must ‘Let the Spirit renew your (individual) thoughts and attitudes (habitual mind-set).’ (Ephesians 4:23 NLT) Submit your thoughts to God’s Spirit, allowing Him to approve or renew (replace) them with His thoughts. Anxiety and depression cannot continue to control you when you give God control of your mind. (5) People can contribute to your anxiety and depression. They can make you want to live – or die! (Proverbs 18:21) They can reduce or increase your anxiety and depression. Avoid those who speak discouraging words, and spend time with those who speak ‘…a good word [that] makes [your heart] glad.’ (Proverbs 12:25 NAS)

SoulFood: 1 Kings 6-7, Matt 15:29-39, Ps 36, Pro 5:21-23

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright 2014

Further Reading:

6 Ways to Stop Thinking Fearful Thoughts

Silent...Written...Spoken Witness!  Psalm 19 - Glenda de Jager

Desperate for God!!? Psalm 42 with Ken Holt at 10:00 am