Posts Tagged ‘Encouragement’

Clay in the Potter’s Hands

September 18, 2026

Have you ever wondered why God allows certain circumstances to come into your life? Sometimes we do not understand what He is doing. We may even wonder if He is working at all.

But God is the Potter, and we are the clay.

Think about a little child learning to color, cut out shapes, and do things for herself. She is learning lessons that will help shape her life. Then come the teenage years, when there may be some rough edges as a young person tries to discover who they are and where they fit.

Later, a young mother may feel overwhelmed with the responsibility of caring for her children. A father may wonder how he will provide for his family and make the right decisions for them.

Every stage of life brings new experiences, responsibilities, joys, disappointments, and challenges. Yet through them all, the Potter is still at work.

A potter does not shape clay with one touch. He patiently works with it, pressing here, smoothing there, sometimes reshaping it until it becomes what he intends it to be.

God works in our lives in much the same way. The circumstances we do not understand today may be some of the very things He uses to strengthen our faith, teach us patience, give us compassion for others, and make us more like Jesus.

We may see only the pressure of the Potter’s hands. God sees the finished vessel.

So when life does not make sense, we can trust the Potter. We are still in His hands, and He is still working.

Lord, help me to be willing clay in Your hands. Mold me, shape me, and use every experience in my life to make me more like Jesus and into the person You want me to be.

What Are You Thinking About?

September 17, 2026

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” — Proverbs 23:7 KJV

What are you thinking about today?

Our thoughts are important because what we allow into our minds can affect our attitudes, our words, and ultimately our actions. If we constantly think about our problems, fears, disappointments, and worries, those thoughts can easily rob us of our joy and peace.

But God gives us a better place to focus our minds—on Him.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” — Isaiah 26:3 KJV

What a wonderful promise! When our minds are stayed on the Lord, He gives us peace. That does not mean that all our problems suddenly disappear. It means that in the middle of our circumstances, we can trust the One who is greater than anything we are facing.

Philippians 4:8 tells us to think about things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. We have a choice about what we dwell on.

Today, when worry comes into your mind, turn your thoughts to Jesus. When discouragement comes, remember His promises. When you do not know what tomorrow holds, remember that He does.

Keep your mind stayed on Jesus. Trust Him. He will give you the peace you need for today.

A New Week Begins!

September 8, 2026

Monday morning! For many people, it means the beginning of another busy week.

Children are heading back to school, teachers are preparing their classrooms, business people are returning to their offices, and workers everywhere are beginning another week of responsibilities. At home there are meals to prepare, errands to run, appointments to keep, and countless things that need to be done.

Sometimes Monday can feel like just the beginning of another long list of things we have to do. But what if we looked at it differently?

Monday is a new beginning—a new opportunity to serve the Lord wherever He has placed us.

A child can honor God by doing his or her best in school. A teacher can show kindness and patience. A business person can demonstrate honesty and integrity. A parent or grandparent can encourage someone who needs a kind word. Whatever our work may be, we can ask God to bless it and use us for His glory.

Before we rush into this new week, let us take a moment to pray: “Lord, guide me today. Help me to honor You in everything I do, and establish the work of my hands.”

“And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.”
Psalm 90:17 KJV

Have a blessed Monday and a wonderful week serving the Lord!

Seek Him First

September 3, 2026

We all have needs. Sometimes we need financial provision. Other times we need strength, wisdom, encouragement, or an answer to prayer.

Jesus tells us not to make those needs the first thing in our lives. Instead, He says, “seek ye first the kingdom of God.”

God already knows what we need. He knows what we need today, what we will need tomorrow, and even the needs we do not know are coming.

That does not mean He will give us everything we want, or that He will give us everything we need all at once. God provides at the right time and in the right way.

Sometimes we may wonder, Lord, why haven’t You answered yet? But while we are waiting, God is still working. His timing is perfect.

Our responsibility is to put Him first—to love Him, serve Him, trust Him, and seek to do His will. Then we can leave our needs in His hands.

Turn Worry Into Worship

September 2, 2026

Worry has a way of taking our eyes off the Lord and putting them on our problems. Stress can do the same thing. Before long, we can become so focused on what might happen that we forget Who is in control.

Instead of allowing worry to consume our thoughts, turn worry into worship. Praise God for who He is. Thank Him for what He has already done. Remember the prayers He has answered and the many times He has carried you through difficult circumstances.

Then, turn stress into serving. Sometimes the best thing we can do when we feel overwhelmed is to stop focusing on ourselves and look for someone else who needs encouragement. Make a phone call, send a card, pray for a friend, help a neighbor, or find some way to serve the Lord.

When our minds are filled with worship and our hands are busy serving, there is much less room for worry.

Philippians 4:6–7 KJV

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Today, when worry comes—worship.

When stress comes—serve.

And trust God to give you His peace.

God Supplies Our Needs

September 1, 2026

Many years ago, I made a faith promise to the Lord. I had promised to give a certain amount of money, but when the time came, I had no idea where that money was going to come from.

I prayed and trusted the Lord to provide.

One day, I pulled into the parking lot of a grocery store. When I got out of my car, there beside the wheel was a jar filled with money!

I immediately went into the store and told them that I had found some money in the parking lot. I left my information and told them that if anyone came looking for it, they could contact me. I would return it if the person could tell me the amount of money and describe the container it was in.

I waited about a week. No one ever called.

Then came the amazing part—the money in that jar was the exact amount I needed to fulfill my faith promise to the Lord.

Some may call that a coincidence. I call it an answer to prayer.

God knew the promise I had made. He knew I did not have the money to fulfill it. And He supplied exactly what I needed, right down to the amount.

Maybe you have a need today and you cannot see how it will be met. Pray. Trust God. His answer may come in a way you would never expect.

God is faithful. He knows our needs even before we ask, and He is able to provide.

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19 KJV

A Day to Worship

August 30, 2026

In the midst of life’s busyness, God lovingly invites us to pause and turn our hearts toward Him. For many Christians, Sunday offers a special opportunity to gather with fellow believers, listen to His Word, pray, sing praises, and remember the goodness of our Lord.

Worship is not limited to one day. Each morning and throughout every ordinary moment, we can honor God and give Him thanks. Yet there is something deeply meaningful about setting aside time to step away from our usual routines and worship together. In the presence of God’s people, we are reminded that we are not walking alone and that our Savior is worthy of all our praise.

As you go to church today, come with an open and grateful heart. Don’t simply attend—worship! Take time to thank Jesus for His unfailing love, abundant mercy, saving grace, and the countless blessings He has placed in your life. Let your worship be more than words or songs; let it rise from a heart that is resting in Him.

“O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.” — Psalm 95:6 KJV

May you experience the nearness of the Lord and have a truly blessed Sunday as you worship Him.

God Answers Prayer

August 26, 2026

And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. Isaiah 65:24

Do you ever feel like God will not hear or answer a prayer that you think He would not care about?

Wrong! God cares about the smallest detail in our lives. He knows the number of hairs on your head, so don’t you think He cares about your “little” prayers or desires.

There was a time when I wanted some grapes. I was in a city that I knew nothing about. I had no way of going to a grocery store. A knock came on door. There was a man with a bag of groceries. On the top was a cluster of the most beautiful grapes.

I had not even prayed about grapes. It was a want, and God knew my desire.

Whatever you need, God hears and answers no matter how small that need or desire is.

Don’t Give Up

August 11, 2026

Sometimes we get tired. We pray, serve, give, encourage others, and try to do what God wants us to do, but we may not see the results we hoped for.

God reminds us in Galatians 6:9—don’t give up!

Every prayer matters. Every kind word can make a difference. Every time the Gospel is shared, a seed is planted. We may not always see what God is doing, but He is working.

This is especially true in ministry. There may be days when we become discouraged, but then one person accepts Jesus as Savior, and we are reminded why we keep going.

Keep praying. Keep serving. Keep sharing Jesus.

God promises that “in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Today, if you are weary, ask the Lord for renewed strength. Your labor for Him is never in vain.

Blessed Are Those Who Trust in the Lord

August 5, 2026

One of the greatest blessings in the Christian life is learning to trust the Lord completely. We often face situations we cannot understand or control, but God never asks us to carry those burdens alone. Instead, He invites us to place our confidence in Him.

Jeremiah 17:7 reminds us, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.” What a beautiful promise! True blessing is not found in wealth, success, or an easy life. It is found in a heart that rests securely in the Lord.

There have been many times in my own life when I did not know what the next step would be. Yet God has always proven Himself faithful. Looking back, I can honestly say that trusting Him has never been a mistake. His timing is perfect, His wisdom is beyond our understanding, and His love never fails.

Whatever challenge you may be facing today, place it in God’s hands. Trust Him even when you cannot see the outcome. Make Him your hope, and you will discover the peace and blessing that only He can give.

Trust the Lord today—He has never failed and He never will.