Encouragement News Issue 3.

Welcome, I hope to encourage you...

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    Welcome back readers, after such a long time. I'm afraid that somebody flagged this as 'abusive'. Hopefully - if you read the prior issues - you shall find that it is not. This is a Christian news letter and whilst we respect other peoples views we also have a right to express our own.We hope to be respectful of other people's views, so long as it does not compromise our own and so long as we are also able to provide you with encouragement, through God's Word. Encouragingly though, the very fact that we are back shows that God has a hand to play in what is truly kept from us and what isn't. May the Lord Jesus bless you and keep you always.
    
     Today, I felt good. My work was fun and I tried what I felt to be my hardest to do a good job. It went well, I got a lot of work done, by my standards and kept free from stress and dwelt on God's promises - It is possible to lose your peace if you don't. (It was fun because I decided to enjoy it - others may not find it so). 
    
    I got to the end of the day and found that a friend of mine did not feel that I had tried my hardest. This was unusual for him. He usually had a positive attitude, I'd say that I'd worked just as hard as I had on any other day, if not harder - in fact, definitely harder for some days when no work can be found for me to do. I decided that I should keep a positive attitude, evaluating his feedback all the same - difficult though it was, as he was not around me during the workday, in fact, he rarely sees the work that I manage to do or not do. Therefore, how can I take on board what he says if I believe it to be misinformed? I kept my peace, choosing to forgive him and definitely to try to get as much done as possible tomorrow, but not being too hasty - as I found that hasty carelessness leads to accidents in the past. I'm sure he meant no harm - perhaps something had caused misery in him. 
    
    I made a parallel between him and King Saul of the Bible. I knew to respect my supervisors as well as my friends. (All this would not have been possible without Jesus, so please do not think of these as any boasts of my own strength - I have seen His work in me, and without Him and His work so far, I would be lost, miserable, depressed, unsaved, etc - or anything along this route). 
    
    I remembered the story of how well King David had done in his youth - slaying a giant for the armies of Israel who quaked whilst he trusted God and did the work that he was called to. He did well. He trusted God. I, of course, did not do any such task - but, and I hope that you would agree, that I trusted God with the small task that I was given. 
     
     Now, I remember that after a while of being favoured by King Saul, King David (in his youth) gained much favour from the people also. King Saul became envious and tried to remove King David - by sending him away or attempting to kill him, at times. Now, don't get me wrong - I doubt that my friend is jealous of me - why would he be? He is married and perhaps has children. He also seems to have a decent job with others under him, although, I appreciate that stresses can take their toll on him - perhaps this was the case instead of envy (and of course, I would be dramatising things to huge proportions if I were to suggest that attempted murder equals a disappointed remark and lack of confidence in me as not being lazy). 
    
    But the point that I am trying to make is that, in the same way that King Saul was used by the devil to try to destroy King David, who by the way, was only doing God's will, my friend was used to put me down, to make me doubt. If we do God's will, no matter how great or small it may seem in the task, we will please God and displease the devil. The devil does not want us to prosper, God does. So, the best thing to do is to say 'May the Lord rebuke Satan', resist the devil and submit to God - whatever it costs. (For me it has not cost much, but the devil would certainly not want me working in a school where there are many to be saved - and that will be saved, i'm sure, if I allow God to use me there - amongst using others too, of course).
    
   If you want to look up the validity of the story of King David and King Saul, here are some Bible passages: 
1 Samuel 16:21, 1 Samuel 17:22-24, 1 Samuel 17:50, 1 Samuel 19:1 - 20:33. 
    
    I want you to be particularly encouraged by 1 Samuel 19:1, because even though that King Saul was determined to kill King David, the favour that God had gained King David paid off - his friend helped him out and disobeyed his father, King Saul, for the sake of King David's innocence and their friendship. Be encouraged! Even though Satan moves against you, he cannot conquer the plans of God. He cannot and will not because Jesus has defeated him - that is why he tries to take us down with him. 

    Of course, there are things that we can do ourselves, so as not to give him ammunition - look after your health and fitness, for example. I would also suggest that you refrain from such things a ouji boards, astrology (horoscopes or just believing that people are only split into about 144 personality types - we are far more unique than that, and believing that we are stuck with a certain personality would be wrong - God can and does change us, if we let Him). Also make time for God and do not be so busy so as not to read your Bible and DO NOT trust any thought that God would not agree with. God is Truth so read His promises and dwell on them - do not trust your own thoughts and feelings, especially not if they are negative. Also, ask for God's wisdom in situations, so as not to get frustrated.
    
    I hope that these passages also encourage you: Genesis 21:22 and Joshua 1:5.
    
    Thanks for reading, be encouraged!
God bless, Jason :)  

Bibliography...

Thanks to: http://www.biblegateway.com/, date accessed: 23/03/2011.