Encouraging Words
Do you ever get discouraged? Do your circumstances in life cause you to complain? Do you sometimes have sad, lonely thoughts? Honestly, who among us has not experienced some of these at some times in our lives? I know I have. Today, in my devotional reading from Martin Luther's Through Faith Alone devotion, available through Concordia Publishing House, I found answers for the difficult moments in life. We all have these moments, but we can find help through the Word of God. The answer is simple, really, just praise the Lord. (Psalm 118:14.
Luther says that when we are happy and sing praises to God, the devil has to flee from us. When we begin to praise the Lord and think upon Him, our complaining and impatience will soon end. How can we complain and be impatient when we are thinking upon our God who has done so much for us? When we think of His promises to us that He will never leave nor forsake us nor forsake us, or "God is not a man that he should lie." Our impatient thoughts, our discouraging thoughts, must flee in the presence of the Lord. Are any of you like me? When I get discouraged, I don't read my Bible. This is where I get into trouble.
Luther says, "But as soon as we stop praising God, miserable, lonely, sad thoughts return. That's what happened to Joseph when he remembered how his brothers had sold him. They were at home having a good time while he was lying in prison, tied up and miserable. This is how the devil works. when the water becomes troubled, he likes to fish. He uses these opportunities to tempt people to abandon their faith and give up in despair." (January 31)
These words encouraged me today, to turn to Christ and His Word, when those moments come to me. I may need my family to remind me, and I may wallow for a moment, but I pray it will only be for a moment.
I pray, Dear Reader, that these words helped you today. May your day be blessed in the richness of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Luther says that when we are happy and sing praises to God, the devil has to flee from us. When we begin to praise the Lord and think upon Him, our complaining and impatience will soon end. How can we complain and be impatient when we are thinking upon our God who has done so much for us? When we think of His promises to us that He will never leave nor forsake us nor forsake us, or "God is not a man that he should lie." Our impatient thoughts, our discouraging thoughts, must flee in the presence of the Lord. Are any of you like me? When I get discouraged, I don't read my Bible. This is where I get into trouble.
Luther says, "But as soon as we stop praising God, miserable, lonely, sad thoughts return. That's what happened to Joseph when he remembered how his brothers had sold him. They were at home having a good time while he was lying in prison, tied up and miserable. This is how the devil works. when the water becomes troubled, he likes to fish. He uses these opportunities to tempt people to abandon their faith and give up in despair." (January 31)
These words encouraged me today, to turn to Christ and His Word, when those moments come to me. I may need my family to remind me, and I may wallow for a moment, but I pray it will only be for a moment.
I pray, Dear Reader, that these words helped you today. May your day be blessed in the richness of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
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