Blessed

Eph 1; Phil 4: 4-8

When ever I am discouraged I return to the old standbys. Yes, I get discouraged often too. Sometimes people who know that I write & speak to encourage others think I never get down or discouraged. You would think a person who writes and encourages others would be in the word enough to make it nearly impossible to get down. That's just it, when you encourage, counsel, write or speak, a lot of life is drained from you. It takes time away for reading the word, worship and prayer. All the things that keep each of us in close contact with Christ. You see by how few blogs written to you this month that both time and discouragement choked inspiration from me. Praise be to God. He has lifted me and again inspired me to encourage you to look at these verses with me.

Phil 4: 4-8 once again reminds me to fix my mind on that which is true, honorable and right. To think about things that are pure, lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worth of praise. To keep putting in to practice all I've learned, heard and seen God doing in myself and those around me. Then the peace of God will surround me. It tells me to rejoice in the Lord....Rejoice. Let everyone see that I am considerate in my actions. To remember that the Lord is coming soon. That I need not worry, instead pray about everything, and let God know what I need. To thank Him ahead of time for the answer.

Yes!! Of course I remember these words of encouragement. They have lifted me often. Why? Because I believe Him. Believe...that's faith. He says He is the author and finisher of my faith. Even that come from Him.

Then there is Eph. That first chapter is filled with promises from God to me...to you. He says that Christ has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly reams because we belong to Christ. So we praise God for the wonderful kindness he has poured out on us because we belong to his dearly loved Son. It continues to tell us of how great these blessing are and how powerful they are in us. Then around verse 16 the writer prays the we will understand this. That we gain wisdom from and grow in this knowledge. Understand What? Understand that God works in us and that the power used to work in us is the same power that raised Christ from the dead. How can we loose? We can't. You see, regardless of how discouraged we become He promises to be there...to encourage...to lift...to restore. How? Mostly through His word. It may take awhile, but reading the word to someone over and over every day will have an effect, even if it looks like they can not see or hear or think. The word of God will heal.

Thank you Lord for such great Blessings. Help me never to forget them.