Encouragement . . . for the Journey

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark,
Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place,

where He prayed." Mark 1:35

What does your morning routine look like? What is the first thing you do? Turn on TV/the radio/CD ~ read the paper ~ head for the computer ~ look on facebook ~ exercise? None of those things are wrong in themselves, but have they become your first love? When you look at the routine of Jesus, the radiance of God's glory, the One who came "to serve," (Mark 10:45); what did His morning look like? In Mark it says, very early, Jesus got up, went to a quiet, solitary place and prayed. As much as He loved being around the disciples and those He came to minister to, He knew how important it was to spend time alone with God to be renewed and filled up before going out to serve.


If you recall, after being baptized by John; recognized by His Father as the beloved Son, in whom He was well pleased, He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness (Matthew 3:13-17; 4:1-11; Mark 1:9-13). It was there He was ruthlessly tempted by Satan. Jesus responded with Truth and stopped the enemy in his tracks. Temptation comes to all of us. When we spend time in the Word, we have the tools we need to counter any attack by the enemy. "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." Ephesians 6:10-11 (see also 1 Corinthians 10:13)


So often as believers (those who have put their trust in Jesus as their Savior ~ 1 John 5:11-13) we serve, or try to serve God on empty. Running throughout our day without being renewed in the Word or talking to the One who longs to give us direction for the day; whether our work is at home, in an office setting, or in our community. I love what Warren Wiersbe says, "Where did the Servant get His power? He depended on the Holy Spirit and prayer. He did not allow the demands of the work to rob Him of the time He needed to renew His strength. If the holy Son of God needed to pray, how much more do you need to pray! In the Lord's service, you cannot run on empty."


In Isaiah 40:28-31 we find the perfect prescription for renewal that works every time, because our faithful God always keeps His Word. "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."



* With the Word, Warren Wiersbe, Thomas Nelson, Inc. Publishing

Encouragement . . . for the Journey

"The Son is the radiance of God's glory
and the exact representation of His being,
sustaining all things by His powerful Word.
After He had provided purification for sins,

He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven."
Hebrews 1:3-4

Praise Jesus today for He is:
R -- Radiance of God's glory
E -- Exact representation of God
S -- Sustainer of all things by His powerful Word
T -- The purifier of our sins

Because of what Jesus did, we can fully REST in Him and His promises and KNOW that through Him we too can reflect God's glory and represent Him well to our family, friends, co-workers, neighbors or whoever we come in contact with in our: attitudes, desires, thoughts and actions.

~ ~ ~

"Great and marvelous are Your deeds,
Lord God Almighty,
Just and true are Your ways,
King of the ages.
Who will not fear You, O Lord, and bring glory to Your name?
All nations will come and worship before You, for
Your righteous acts have been revealed."
Revelation 15:3-4

Encouragement . . . for the Journey

"If I seek fellowship with the Father, I will find Him in His word."
Andrew Murray

When you find yourself needing some guidance, you can ALWAYS find it in God's Word. Let His truths ~ transform ~ renew ~ revive ~ strengthen ~ encourage you in your journey.


Saw this in With the Word by Warren Wiersbe:

"When you can't sleep" ~ Psalm 3-4
"When you have sinned" ~ Psalm 32; 51
"When you are ill" ~ Psalm 31
"When you need God's guidance" ~ Psalm 25
"When you are traveling" ~ Psalm 121
"When people create problems" ~ Psalm 37
"When you are downcast" ~ Psalm 42-43
"When sinners seem to succeed" ~ Psalm 73
"When you are afraid" ~ Psalm 27; 91
"When you "feel old" ~ Psalm 102
"When you worry about the future" ~ Psalm 34
"When you think about death" ~ Psalm 124; 130
"When problems seem bigger than God" ~ Psalm 139
"When you just want to praise Him" ~ Psalm 103



"Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to You I pray. Morning by morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; morning by morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation." Psalm 5:1-3


* 199 Treasures of Wisdom on Talking with God, Andrew Murray; Barbour Publishing, Inc.
* With the Word, Warren Wiersbe; Thomas Nelson Publishers