ift.tt/1Bc2iwx Infused With Encouragement Can you be infused with something that strengthens you indefinitely and not only temporarily? Fiona shares. “May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word” (2 Thessalonians 2:16). I’d been in touch with one of our pastors who was just about to go on long service leave and her response to me included, “I trust the next three months is infused with encouragement for you.” I thought. isn’t that a great way to pray for others, or even for our own lives? It started me thinking about what an infusion is–something that gently seeps out over time. The Thesaurus led me to “mixture, blend, combination, concoction.” Her comment came when I was feeling somewhat discouraged and it was an idea that remained in my mind. I began to ponder how we infuse others, or ourselves, with encouragement? • Look for ways to encourage • Be encouraged by the Word–see how God reaches out to us in His Word • Surround yourself with positive, uplifting, people–people who know “your story”, so they understand you better • Ask God to help you encourage, be open to His prompting you to reach out to someone • Be mindful of people–see them as God might, reach out with His hands and His words of encouragement • Don’t let darkness overwhelm you–be infused with His light These thoughts reminded me I have a passion for encouragement–a need to have others feel encouraged, just as I need it myself. We’d shared before how “no-one can have too much encouragement!” I’ve learned the truth of, when no-one seems to encourage you–encourage someone else–you’ll both feel better. There are plenty of days when I don’t want to think about encouraging others–I don’t always even want to think about anyone else, while I wallow in self-pity. But God calls all of us to share the encouragement we have in Him. Let’s infuse encouragement into someone today. Prayer: Father God, You promise us eternal encouragement and hope in You. Help us to infuse others with the encouragement of those same promises as our actions and words point them to You. On the days where we feel dejected and selfish in our thoughts, open our hearts and eyes to see those we can encourage and infuse with your light. Amen. About the Author: Fiona Burrows lives in Melbourne, Australia. She is thankful that God walks each step of her life with her, and that He is teaching her new things as she learns to live with chronic back pain. She enjoys finding time for reading, writing, and photography, and to share those things with others. You can contact her in the Sunroom, or read more of her writing on her blog there. Have you ever had a medical infusion? How can you compare being infused with encouragement versus being infused with something biologic? Nick Vujicic has a new album out and it includes this song, “Something More.” If you have ever been tired of trying to just get through your days, if you wonder if life will hold something more, I think his lyrics–and of course, his story– will encourage you. We can all use the encouragement of one another. What God has done with the life of this man who was born without limbs is an encouragement to us all. -Lisa The post Infused With Encouragement appeared first on Rest Ministries - Chronic Illness and Pain Support.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 14:19:50 +0000
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