#encouragement – herbcotton.org

Are You Filled With The Fruit of the Spirit?

Today’s Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton

Bible Text for Today’s Meditation and Application:

Psalm 37:3-6 King James Version (KJV)

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain

My Reflections on the Word of God Today:

Today I changed the heading of my blog from Cup to Bowl. My desire and I pray that you desire to have more of the Fruit of the Spirit in your life. Also, that is why I choose the Bible text for today’s meditation and application of the Word of God. There should be no difference in your heart between God’s desire and your desire. Stay in His presence until they match.

Prepare to pray and receive your blessing that comes from above. The things of the world are insufficient to meet our needs, which are pressing upon us and keeping us from bearing much fruit. It’s time for a change. So open wide your heart, and receive all that the Father and Jesus have for you, receive the fruit of love, joy, and peace.

Matthew 7:7 King James Version (KJV)

7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Galatians 5:22 King James Version (KJV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Prayer Offered to Our Father in Heaven:

Father God, I open wide my heart, and I ask the Holy Spirit of God to fill me with the Fruit of the Spirit that comes from above where You live in a place called heaven.

Lord, fill each of Your praying children with love, joy, and peace. Father, its the prayer of all of Your children who will take the time to say together with all that who are in this House of Prayer that we believe Your promise that You hear and answer prayer, and we thank You, Father, Amen.

—

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God Speaks – Hear The Word of God

The Wisdom of the Proverbs:

Proverbs 28:23 (NLT)

In the end, people appreciate honest criticism far more than flattery.

The Encouragement of the Psalms:

Psalm 119:156 (NLT)

LORD, how great is your mercy; let me be revived by following your regulations.

The Hope of the Old Testament:

Psalm 119:146-149 (NLT)

I cry out to you; rescue me, that I may obey your laws.

I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.

I stay awake through the night, thinking about your promise.

In your faithful love, O LORD, hear my cry; let me be revived by following your regulations.

The Gospel Message:

1 John 1:6-9 (NLT)

So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth.

But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

Observation:

The most remarkable and fantastic thing I find as I read the Bible is how much God loves you and me. It is humbling to know that God notices and cares about His children.

I have lingered in the Psalms today because from them I find the encouragement to face life because in the Psalms I see the weaknesses of the human flesh. However, I also look at the provisions of a loving creator and heavenly Father who loves and cares for human beings that He has created in His image. I am encouraged and empowered by knowing that God takes our weaknesses and gives us His strength.

Prayer:

Psalm 119:169-174 (NLT)

O LORD, listen to my cry; give me the discerning mind you promised.

Listen to my prayer; rescue me as you promised.

Let praise flow from my lips, for you have taught me your decrees.

Let my tongue sing about your word, for all your commands are right.

Give me a helping hand, for I have chosen to follow your commandments.

O LORD, I have longed for your rescue, and your instructions are my delight.

—

1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)
¹⁰ And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

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Have You Experienced the Power of An Encouraging Word?

Text:

2 Chronicles 15:1-7 (ESV)

1 The Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded,

2 and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The LORD is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.

3 For a long time Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest and without law,

4 but when in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them.

5 In those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for great disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands.

6 They were broken in pieces. Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with every sort of distress.

7 But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.”

Observation:

The world that we live in has always had problems. However, there is goodnews from the one who created the world.

John 16:33 (ESV)

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Do you know that you have the power within you to help others overcome the problems that they face in their life?

Each of us who has the Spirit of God living in us has the power to allow the Spirit of God to work through us to encourage others. Those of you who have been through troubles, and found God to be faithful can use those experiences to encourage others when they go through a season of trouble.

Why not make that phone call today, and arrange a face to face meeting with someone you know who needs to hear an encouraging word from a trusted soul.

2 Chronicles 15:7 (ESV)

7 But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.”

Prayer:

Father, thank You for connecting me with this encouraging word, and planting in my heart the desire to share it with others in the hope that many will act upon it as I intend to do today. In the might name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV)
¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

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Let This Word Be An Encouragement to You

Text:
Hebrews 6:9-12 (HCSB)
9 Even though we are speaking this way, dear friends, in your case we are confident of the better things connected with salvation.
10 For God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you showed for His name when you served the saints—and you continue to serve them.
11 Now we want each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the final realization of your hope,
12 so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.

Observation:
When you start on the your walk in the Christian life you start with a lot of hope.

However, along the journey you eventually come to the hard places, to places of difficulty, and to seasons of trials, temptations, and troubles.

How you handle those difficult days will determine how long it will take you to continue to walk in the pathway that God has called you to follow.

It takes diligence, faith, and patience to live the Christian life, and to grow toward the goal of spiritual maturity.

A dear friend and brother in Christ offered this word of encouragement to me a few weeks ago, and today I am passing it forward to you.

Hebrews 6:10 (HCSB)
10 For God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you showed for His name when you served the saints—and you continue to serve them.

On a personal note, I will be out of pocket this week. We are gathered together for the birth of my first great grand-daughter scheduled for tomorrow.

Your prayers are welcomed, and we will rejoice with you in giving glory to God for all His blessings, and His abundant and sufficient grace in every circumstance.

Prayer:
Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I am so grateful for Your lovingkindness, grace, and tender mercies that You give Your children so graciously, and abundantly. Father, thank You that Your grace is sufficient for all our needs.

Father, I praise and thank You that You are a “Good, Good, Father”. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—
Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
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Are You Able to do All Things in Your Life?

Text:

Psalm 37:23 (NLT)

23 The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

Philippians 4:13 (KJV)

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Observation:

The above two verses came together for me this morning in my first appointment of the day; my appointment with my heavenly Father.

I was talking with a friend at church Sunday morning, and the first verse came up, but neither of us could remember the chapter and verse. He came to me later and quoted the verse.

Then, this morning the second verse came up in my reading, and the Holy Spirit connected the two in my mind, and I begin to meditate upon them.

This verse from Philippians has two parts; our part, and God’s part. I notice that the verse from Psalm also has the same two parts.

The light bulb experience for me was the revelation that when God is directing my steps I can do all that He is leading me to do because He supplies the strength to do it.

Our delight comes when we take the next step that the Lord directs us to take. Then I coupled that with the verse from yesterday’s devotional.

Hebrews 13:5 (ESV)

5b For he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

I am encouraged and strengthened to know that God directs my steps, and that He supplies the strength that I need to do all things that He leads and directs me to do.

Additionally, He gives this ironclad guarantee, “I will never leave you nor forsake you”. If God is in it, there is nothing that He directs you to do that will be impossible for you to do.

Luke 1:37 (ESV)

37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I delight to sing Your praises at this good news from Your Word.

Father, I pray that You will open the eyes and ears of our hearts to receive it, and the faith to obey Your calling, and the directions You give us in our daily living.

Father, help us, by Your strength, to walk in faith, and to walk in the Spirit of God. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹ So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

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The Power of the Encouraging Word

Text:

Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)

29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Observation:

I read this quote recently, “People will respond much more to your words of encouragement than words of criticism”.

I’m reminded of a song that goes back to the early years of my life. I looked it up, and found that the earliest version is attributed to Dr. Brewster M. Higley, and written in 1870.

“Oh, give me a home where the Buffalo roam

Where the Deer and the Antelope play;

Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,

And the sky is not cloudy all day.”

There is nothing more effective in personal communications than the power of an encouraging word.

I remember reading this quote from the author of the One Minute Manager. It said, “Catch your employee doing something right, and praise them”.

I am reminded of another english proverb: “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”.

Think about this: It’s easier to persuade others with polite requests and a positive attitude rather than with rude demands and negativity.

Notice these encouraging words from the Apostle Paul to the church at Ephesus.

Ephesians 4:1-3 (ESV)

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, thank You for loving us with an everlasting love that is full of grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

Father, help us to be demonstrations of love for You, and love for others. Father, help us to speak words of love; words of encouragement to build up those who we encounter in our daily walk. Father, help us to walk worthy of our calling as sons and daughters of God. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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