Promise for Today - Be Encouraged

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5

Today marks the 5th anniversary of my eldest brother's death. You know we prayed, but Ron died anyway. We didn't understand, and still don't. However, there is much in this lifetime that we will never understand. The only hope we have is found in God's written Word, the Bible. It is the only Truth that does not change.

Our Promise for Today speaks to what everyone who chooses to follow God faces at some point - trust and choices. We all have decisions to make, and yet this particular proverb clearly states that we should not trust our own thinking or reasoning. Remember, we are to trust God's Truth OVER the facts!

Here are a couple of Truths we DO know.
1. God promised to NEVER leave us or forsake us. Deuteronomy 31
2. The gift of God is eternal life. Romans 6:23

The Bible also tells us that we live in a fallen world and we will all die. When we know Christ, we don't have to be afraid, for we have the assurance of heaven because of what Jesus Christ did for us. 1st Thessalonians 4:15-18, NIV, reads, "15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."

And then he says, "Therefore, encourage one another with these words." 

Be encouraged.

Prayer:

Father,
          Build a hedge of protection around our minds and hearts so that satan cannot defeat or discourage those who pray for healing. Anoint us with fresh fire! Let the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead, rise up in us with renewed fervor to make us passionate, fervent prayer warriors! Help us to realize the end result is not up to us, but trusting You in it is. Help us, O God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen