ENCOURAGING: Goodbook 11-08-13

Goodbook messages arrive every Tuesday and Friday with a Scripture reading and ideas for how to apply the reading in our lives. We are reading through the book of Acts. For additional Scripture reading, you can follow the Advanced Track.

Reading: Acts 20:1

1 When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said good-by and set out for Macedonia.

Application:

As I read through Acts, one characteristic of Paul touches my heart like no other: his encouragement.  It started back with his first encounter with a man named Barnabas.  Barnabas’ name means “son of encouragement.”  Barnabas was the first person to believe in Paul and welcome him in after his life was transformed by Christ.  From that point on, Paul was a super encourager of others.

We hear another example of Paul’s encouragement in this verse.  After a scary uproar, where an angry mob was trying to kill Paul, the very next thing Paul does is encourage other followers of Jesus.  What a gift.  I feel it on my heart today to encourage you.  So here you go…

You are fearfully and wonderfully made by God.

God loves you … so much that he gave his life to save you.  You are worth that much to God.

God can forgive your past and give you the power to create a new future.

No matter how big the challenge or the obstacle you are facing is, God is bigger.

God will finish the good work he started in you.

You are never alone.  God is always with you, and you have a community of faith who cares about you and is here to walk with you.

Today is a new day.  It is filled with new possibilities, new opportunities, and new beginnings.  It is a chance to make good choices.  It is a chance to take action.  It is a chance to be all God created you to be.

I believe in you.

Don’t give up.

You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength.

Nothing – absolutely nothing – can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

There is no wound God cannot heal, no sin God cannot forgive, no difficulty God cannot overcome. 

 

Let me know if this encouraged you.  If you were encouraged, share it and encourage someone else.  God bless!