Delivering Encouragement

Continued from yesterday's post...

“The Almighty Lord will teach me what to say, so I will know how to encourage weary people.” (Isaiah 50:4a GWT) 

Morning by morning, the Lord wakes us up to listen. He teaches us what to say, so that we will know how to encourage and comfort those who are weary.  Waking up early to learn from God can be meaningful, but unless we follow through on His directions, our mission remains incomplete. 

How can we encourage those who are discouraged?

Notice people--not just what they said, but also what they leave unsaid. Listen with empathy. Care consistently. Understanding requires regular communication and trust. Speak truth. Do not use the counterfeit currency of flattery. Wake up dormant potential in others. Bring it to the forefront so that it can be affirmed. 

Face the light and show others how to do the same. Do not call attention to yourself, but direct their gaze to God.  Most of all, be prayerful. Lift everything and everyone up to the Lord. Let your speech and actions be led by the Spirit. Ask the Lord for the right words to encourage those who are weary. Every waking moment, seek to understand God’s will, and be a conveyor for His wisdom.

Time to Hear from God

 “Morning after morning he will wake me to listen like a student.” (Isaiah 50:4 GWT) 

In the 1980s, Dunkin’ Donuts had a series of popular commercials about a baker named Fred. He woke up before dawn and went to the bakery. He and his assistants diligently mixed up the dough, kneaded, baked, and glazed donuts before the customers showed up. Fred’s catchphrase, “Time to make the donuts,” is still in use today. 

In the overall scheme of important work, baking donuts would not be deemed essential. It is easier to wake up early when we feel a sense of purpose. The morning hours are especially conducive to spiritual work. It is the ideal time to study, contemplate, pray, and understand God’s will. However, the temptation to sleep late or fritter away this time can be strong. We must remember our mission: “It’s time to hear from God.” 

God can and will speak to us throughout the day, but the morning hours can be the clearest time for us to hear. The Lord is a wonderful teacher. He explains complex truths in ways that we can understand. He brings people to mind who need uplifting. He gives directions for what we need to do. Concentrated prayer and study in the morning allows us to remain focused all day.

(Continued in next post...)

Good Influencers

“For God called you to do good...” (1 Peter 2:21 NLT)

In modern day lingo, an influencer is someone who has the power to affect the decisions of others. Those who are perceived as having authority, knowledge, or position in a distinct niche, and also have a large social media following, are seen as more influential than average. Yet according to sociologists, even the most introverted person will influence 10,000 people over his or her lifetime. Like a flowing river, we shape the landscape, feed the ecosystem, and  impact everything around us. 

God called us to do good and to inspire others to do the same. The direction of our influence depends on how we conduct our lives. Our values, choices, words, attitude, and behavior have an impact. We can guide people toward truth, or we can promote fallacies. We can show the way to a purposeful life or to meaningless pursuits.  The degree of a person’s influence is contingent on discipline. Lack of consistency dilutes credibility. An orderly life is more persuasive than eloquent speech or a curated public persona. 

Lord, You are my example. I want to be influenced by You and be a conduit of Your goodness. I pray that those around me will be uplifted more than diminished, feel compassion instead of apathy, have clarity rather than confusion, and move closer toward Your light. 

Validation Dependency

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV)

Like many, I am on the spectrum of addiction to validation. I’ve been trapped in the pointless struggle to maintain repetitive patterns that society has deemed worthy. Everyone around me is on the same path of competitive acquisition and advancement. I tell myself I want to be a better person, but in actuality I strive to be better than the next person. If I were to choose an unpopular path, how would I compare myself? Outside an arena of contrast, how would I feed my addiction to validation? I’ve grown accustomed to flawed desires and pointless pursuits. I want to change. 

Renewal requires relinquishment of old, familiar ways of seeking comfort. First we must acknowledge that our repetitive lifestyle choices are not bringing fulfillment. No amount of external affirmation can bring satisfaction. The craving for more becomes a form of addiction. 

As with any addiction, rehabilitation is a lifelong process. Even those of us who have made a conscious decision to change are faced with withdrawal symptoms. Learning to recognize warning signs and triggers can be helpful. New coping mechanisms must be developed. Otherwise, relapse is inevitable. Validation dependency is so common that it is acceptable in modern society. Choosing not to participate will make you the weird one. The right path is often lonely. However, a life of truth brings renewal. We are no longer dependent on human approval. We appreciate the freedom of an unshackled mindset.  Gradually, our attitude and frame of reference shift. The Spirit of God touches our soul and confirms our value.

Measuring Progress

“The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.” (Psalm 121:5 NLT)

When I run, I wear a fitness watch that measures my progress. It has a built-in GPS receiver that tracks my speed and distance. On hot days, I try to run in the shade as much as possible. Unfortunately, the trees in my neighborhood are not close enough to the street to provide any relief once the sun is up. The only exception is a lone, birch tree on one of the empty lots. I look forward to this respite during every loop. Recently I discovered a spot in an adjacent neighborhood with a small stretch of road covered by a canopy of trees. I decided to run back and forth in this small segment, so I could stay in the shade. Unfortunately, my GPS watch could not measure my progress because the trees blocked the satellite signals. Remaining in the shade meant I would not receive feedback on my advancement. I couldn’t deal with that, so I went back to my usual route. 

Even though this world can be oppressively competitive, it provides us with measuring standards. We can compare and contrast ourselves with others. We can track our progress and get constant feedback. The spiritual journey provides an alternate route. It leads us through the canopy of God’s protective shade. What prevents us from staying and moving continuously in the shadow of the Almighty? We have become dependent on the external feedback we get from other human beings. We do not know how to measure our progress without these signals. We question the worthiness of our life outside the context of worldly standards. Thus, we go back to familiar routes even when we sense there is a better way.

Rest for Your Soul

This is what the Lord says:

Stand at the crossroads and look;

ask for the ancient paths,

ask where the good way is, and walk in it,

and you will find rest for your souls.

(Jeremiah 6:16 NIV)

There was a time when I equated vacations with rest. I would look forward to going on a trip, away from the routine chores and the monotony of everyday life. I expected a period of relaxation and leisure would be rejuvenating. However, I would come back from my travels feeling drained, needing to recover from my vacation. I continued following this practice of seeking rest in leisure, because that is what everyone else around me did. I stood at the crossroads and looked where the crowd was going, and I followed. 

Leisure activities may be less stressful than the pressures of work, but they are not necessarily restful. On a superficial level, recreation can feel exciting, but the benefits are often short-term. Silence and solitude, away from all external turmoil, can be more relaxing--but inner restlessness may continue to be draining.

Even when we are surrounded by turmoil, rest can be found in the presence of God. Deep rest, the kind that reaches the soul, is acquired through a sense of security and stability. Trust in God brings peace that transcends circumstances. Every day we come to a crossroad where we have to choose. Do we take the deserted paths or follow the crowd? Can we separate ourselves from the worldly way? Do we dare to follow Christ alone? 

Showered with Blessings

“And in the proper season I will send the showers they need. There will be showers of blessing.” (Ezekiel 34:26 NLT)

A few months before my wedding, I was surprised with a bridal shower by my friends. I fondly remember the little appetizers, the silly games, and the laughter. It was fun to open up each lovely present in the company of loved ones. I felt loved, cherished, and joyful. 

Recently I had an unexpected spiritual shower. During the span of one week, I received several inspiring messages from friends. Some were little notes of encouragement, including links to podcasts, songs, and articles. I listened and read deeply. I took notes. I sat in contemplation. Each of these messages blessed me greatly.  I felt loved, cherished, and joyful.

Now fresh ideas are stirring within me--leading me down unfamiliar paths. My intellectual curiosity has been galvanized once more. There are new concepts to ponder, angles to consider, and vistas to explore. I am grateful to each of these people who contacted me. Perhaps they were following divine nudges. If so, I am glad they followed through. In this season of dryness, I needed this shower of blessings.