40 Days of Encouragement
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of Encouragement
Day 5 | COMFORT AND ENCOURAGE
40 Days of Encouragement
Day 5 | COMFORT AND ENCOURAGE
COMFORT AND ENCOURAGE
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
“Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts and encourages us in every trouble so that we will be able to comfort and encourage those who are in any kind of trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (AMP)
Stop and think for a moment; is there anyone right now in your circle of family and friends who needs some comfort or encouragement?
I suspect, for most reading this, that the answer will be YES. We all seem to have people around us that we know well, who are struggling with something. It’s been a tough year or two or three for many, and the future – apart from the return of Jesus – doesn’t look much better.
In Paul’s time, when he wrote 2 Corinthians, things were also a bit topsy-turvy. Then, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he wrote these verses.
Paul praises God the Father and calls him the God of all comfort, or paraklesis in the Greek. Scripture tells us the Holy Spirit is our Paraclete and that the Son of God is our Paraclete as well. God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is full of comfort and strength and want to help us where we are.
But then, Paul goes on to tell us God’s Masterful plan: to comfort and strengthen us during our troubles so that we can comfort and strengthen others in their problems. We are to share the same comfort which we receive from God.
So, pause and pray and ask the Lord if there is anyone in your circle that He wants you to comfort today. Then, be still for 30 seconds and see if the Lord brings someone to your mind. Then reach out to them and minister comfort and encouragement.
LORD, I acknowledge that You have strengthened me with your comfort and encouragement. WHO do you want me to share with? I’m listening. Amen.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
“Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts and encourages us in every trouble so that we will be able to comfort and encourage those who are in any kind of trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (AMP)
Stop and think for a moment; is there anyone right now in your circle of family and friends who needs some comfort or encouragement?
I suspect, for most reading this, that the answer will be YES. We all seem to have people around us that we know well, who are struggling with something. It’s been a tough year or two or three for many, and the future – apart from the return of Jesus – doesn’t look much better.
In Paul’s time, when he wrote 2 Corinthians, things were also a bit topsy-turvy. Then, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he wrote these verses.
Paul praises God the Father and calls him the God of all comfort, or paraklesis in the Greek. Scripture tells us the Holy Spirit is our Paraclete and that the Son of God is our Paraclete as well. God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is full of comfort and strength and want to help us where we are.
But then, Paul goes on to tell us God’s Masterful plan: to comfort and strengthen us during our troubles so that we can comfort and strengthen others in their problems. We are to share the same comfort which we receive from God.
So, pause and pray and ask the Lord if there is anyone in your circle that He wants you to comfort today. Then, be still for 30 seconds and see if the Lord brings someone to your mind. Then reach out to them and minister comfort and encouragement.
LORD, I acknowledge that You have strengthened me with your comfort and encouragement. WHO do you want me to share with? I’m listening. Amen.