Daily Devotional
Encouragement and Discouragement
June 11, 2018
I love to be encouraged and I need encouragement. And I will be honest with you – I don’t like to be around discouraging people, but sometimes I have to. It comes with the territory. The fleas come with the dog.
Discouragement opens the door for other sins and failures. Second Corinthians 1:2-4 says, “Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
Comfort is the same word for consolation or encouragement. God is the God of all encouragement. The devil is the sinister minister of discouragement. Discouragement is a major cause of failure.
Former pro-football player Bill Glass was preaching to one thousand inmates one day and he said, “I want to ask you a question. How many of you had a father who told you, ‘One of these days, you’re going to end up in prison’?” Almost every one of them lifted his hand. Oh, how these men needed encouragement. How about you? God is the God of all encouragement.
"FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
