THE BLESSING OF ENCOURAGEMENT
But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 3:1
Have you ever played the arcade game Whack-a-Mole? It is a fun little game in which you take a padded mallet in your hand and whack the moles as they pop up from their holes. You have to be observant and "quick on the whack" to do well at that game.
Did you know a lot of us play Whack-a-Mole with our spouse and our children? We notice every wrong thing that pops up in them, and we quickly whack them for it. We are so adept at seeing the negative. We are so good at beating down those we supposedly love. The sad truth about playing Whack-a-Mole is this: eventually those we love stop popping up; they just give up. Their attitude is understandable as they quietly whisper, "What's the use of trying anymore. It is obvious that there is nothing I can do to please my dad (or my mom or my spouse)."
PUT AWAY THE MALLET
If you have been guilty of playing Whack-a-Mole, the time is now to put away the mallet. Take time TODAY to let your spouse, your children, your loved ones know that you are proud of them. Be observant of what those special people in your life do well and praise them for it. People respond to positive encouragement much better than they do constant correction and criticism. Isn't that true of you? I know it is of me.
What if Jesus played Whack-a-Mole with us? How could we ever make it? We would be beaten into total despair. But Jesus doesn't deal with us that way. He gently and patiently works with us, convicting of us sin while encouraging us with His love and grace. When you fall and fail, He is quick to reach out His hand of forgiveness to pull you out of the ditch of discouragement and get you back on the narrow road with Him. In Psalm 130:3-4, the Psalmist said, "If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared." Aren't you glad of that?
REAL ENCOURAGEMENT FOR REAL LIFE
If you are prone to beat yourself up over faults and failures, if you are prone to discouragement because of the negatives you see in your own life, let me recommend my book, REAL ENCOURAGEMENT FOR REAL LIFE. I believe this book will be a great help in your relationship with God so you can truly walk by faith and not by sight. May God bless you and yours as you look to Him.
Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries
Dr. Jeff Schreve believes that no matter how badly you may have messed up in life, God still loves you and has a wonderful plan just for you. From His Heart provides real truth, love and hope on over 700 radio stations each day, in 182 countries each week on TV, and is always available online. Pastor Jeff takes no income from this ministry. All donations go to furthering the broadcast outreach. As a listener/viewer supported ministry, we thank you for joining with us to help speak the truth in love to a lost and hurting world. Go to www.fromhisheart.org for more information.
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