“Strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith” -Acts 14:22
I’ve come to realize that God, for whatever His desire was to do so, has given me a gift of encouragement, and I’ve just recently come to this conclusion even though I’ve been doing it all my life I guess. I never realized it before, I guess its because I’m a very optimistic person, so I’m always seeing the good side to things. I’m one of those people that if I’m not smiling then you know somethings wrong. But I’ve never really seen that as a spiritual gift. Encouragement. Optimism. Those are gifts of the Holy Spirit. And my friend told me over aim, “I think that you’re ability to encourage is a spiritual gift. It’s a way that you can help to build the body of Christ.” And he told me that last night, and then tonight when reading my Bible I come across this verse in Acts and its just hit me. I’m an encourager. I, like Paul and Barnabas, am striving to follow after God’s own heart, and in doing so and by listening to Him and reading and praying I’m becoming more and more like Him. I believe God encourages. There is no doubt in my mind that He does, for how could He not when he created the very image of what encouraging is.
But here’s where the trouble lies. See, sometimes…sometimes I’m afraid to encourage others. Especially when I feel in my heart that I should, and yet my head tells me that I don’t know all the circumstances so what right do I have to say anything. And I worry and fret over if I should actually say what I feel that I should say. And I know that only comes from the enemy because he wants to stop what the Lord is trying to do, but sometimes it just gets confusing. I guess that’s where knowing the Holy Spirit’s voice comes in. My dad always prays over me and tells me to always listen to the Holy Spirit. To always know when He is speaking to me. Its so easy to not listen to that little voice inside your head telling you right from wrong. Its so easy to ignore what you feel inside and go with the flow. Its so easy to just give in and blend in with the crowd instead of standing out. But I don’t want it to be easy.
I used to pray that God would somehow let me even to impact lives like Paul. Don’t get me wrong now. I’m in no way say that Paul is greater than Jesus. But what I would pray, is that I would have the heart to follow Jesus like Paul did. The heart to serve Jesus, and to reach people by sharing the gospel like Paul did. Paul considered himself the worst of all Christians, and I am in no way a better christian than Paul. And yet, the word christian means Christ Follower and in that respect, I am one and the same as Paul in following Christ. I want to die to myself daily so that only Jesus comes out. I want to live a life that honors and glorifies God no matter what it may cost me. And I type these words out, and in the typing they can be meaningless unless I realize what God could actually ask of me. For all I know He could ask me to leave everything I have and follow Him into the unknown. For all I know He could ask me to reach people that have never heard of His saving grace. For all I know He could ask that I become a martyr for His glory. For all I know I could just be a businesswoman in the work force and people will see Him through how I act and what I say. And these words don’t mean anything unless I fully realize what God could ask me to do. But what would I be if I ever said no? How can I ask for Him to guide me and teach me and bless me if I say no to what He asks? How can I possibly even think to say no to Him who gave me salvation? I can’t imagine-its like a horror that I don’t even want to imagine. I don’t want to think about saying no to whatever God asks of me. And its because of that, that I listen to the Holy Spirit and I strive to hear what He’s telling me. I don’t want to ever miss an opportunity because I’m too scared. I’m sure it will happen…it will happen as surely as it has in the past. But I hope with time that I will be able to let it happen less and less.
I want to be a person who by “strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith” that I in turn will be strengthened and encouraged. I want to be a person who always says “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
I guess I want to encourage (ha. imagine that) whoever reads this to take heart. As Paul said, “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22) but in the end, the blessing will overcompensate any hardship that might have been. God is always there. He is always listening. He is always waiting to hear you call upon His name. He is always there wanting to help you and He always will be. That’s how awesome my Jesus is.
Peace and Blessings be upon whoever reads this.
-immashutterbug
