The Comfort of Forgiveness

SCRIPTURE

 

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Matthew 5:4 (NASB)

 

 

PRAYER

 

Lord, I have felt the weight of my sin. I have seen the intensity of pain that I have caused by it. Those I love have been hurt beyond words. Those who trusted me have been disappointed. Words I have spoken, thoughts I have harbored, attitudes I have held, motives I have felt; all sins that have grieved you, and now grieve me as well. Not a day goes by that I do not mourn my sin and the disappointment it brings you Lord. Thank you that in the midst of mourning my sin, you lavish upon me the comfort of forgiveness. Thank you for your sacrifice on the cross and the grace and comfort it brings me Lord. Thank you. Amen.                         

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

When you mourn the pain of sin, God gives the comfort of forgiveness. Be comforted today.

 

Poor In Spirit

SCRIPTURE

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:3 (NASB)


PRAYER
[Pray this prayer for yourself]

Lord, I know without a doubt that I can do nothing without you. I am poor in spirit. Without you, I cannot walk the path you have set before me. Without your wisdom, I would not see the path to follow. Without your enablement, I could not resist the temptations that would lure me off that path. Without your protection I would be devoured by the enemy of my soul. Without your care and nurture, my heart would still be wounded and bleeding. And without your forgiveness, my soul would be consumed with the guilt of my sin. I want to surrender myself to you completely. I desire to relax in that place of complete dependence upon you for all that I am and need. I present myself to you, poor in spirit, fully aware of my neediness before you, and willing to receive whatever you give. Amen

ENCOURAGEMENT

(__________), that sweet spot of relaxed submission to your Lord is always safe. Stay in that place at all costs.

Hear His Voice

SCRIPTURE

 

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

John 10:27-28 (NASB)

 

 

PRAYER

 

I ask Lord, that through the constant drone of voices around him, (__________) will hear your voice. I pray that his heart would be so attune to you, that no other will matter. He is your child. You are his shepherd. He knows you Lord, and has come to know you even better in recent days. His spirit is accustomed to listening to your Spirit, and moving at your prompting. Do not let him loose that now Lord. Keep his heart and ears open. May he hear you whisper in his ear, and may he follow you in faith. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

God has given you a unique strength in your deep heart. Listen to what he has put there.

 

Blessings

SCRIPTURE

 

“If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you the seasonal rains. The land will then yield its crops, and the trees of the field will produce their fruit. Your threshing season will overlap with the grape harvest, and your grape harvest will overlap with the season of planting grain. You will eat your fill and live securely in your own land.

“I will give you peace in the land, and you will be able to sleep with no cause for fear.

Leviticus 26:3-6a

 

 

PRAYER

 

Lord, I ask that you would honor (__________)’s obedience to you. He has repented with action, not just intent. The sincerity of his heart is seen in his deeds, not just his words. He has forsaken his sin and followed you. He has given up his pursuit of self, and has honored you with his life. I ask that you would give him the fruit of his obedience by lavishing your blessing on him. Surprise him with your grace. Cause blessing to overflow onto blessing to overflow onto further blessing. Fill his life with good things Lord, the very things he longs for. And as he receives them, give him peace in his deepest parts, and make him rest with no fear. Give him today the harvest of his faithful obedience I pray. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGMENT

 

He is pleased with you friend, and will bless you beyond measure.

 

Savor His Blessings

SCRIPTURE

You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done.
Psalm 92:4


PRAYER
[Pray this for yourself]

Lord, it seems I always find myself longing for more than I have. So, I purpose now to pause, and sing for joy because of what you have done. You have answered me. You have not yet given me all of what I have asked, but you have given me much. Thank you. You have held back the forces of evil, and given protection. You have reached into the deep places and touched those I love. You have seen the secret places of my heart, and spared me from my most terrifying fears. I stand before your throne, and lift my heart in praise to you. You alone know me. You alone understand fully. You alone can give me the desires of my heart. You alone I trust. You. Alone. Amen.


ENCOURAGEMENT

The measure of your meditation on his past and present blessings will equal the measure of your hope for the future. Take time to enjoy the blessings he HAS given. And let tomorrow care for itself.

Stay the Course

SCRIPTURE

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:3-5 (NASB)



But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NASB)


PRAYER

Lord, that you can actually take hardships and transform them into hope is nothing short of genius. I take pause for a moment, and lift my heart in gratitude for the way you have worked in (__________)’s heart and life. Thank you for taking the events of his life… all the events of his life… and adding the seasoning of your grace that was needed to produce the fruit of strength. Thank you that fhe had the perseverance to endure when he thought that he could not. Thank you that he did not give up. Thank you that as he endured, the hardship produced a depth of character that has been proved in the fire of life. And thank you that this proven character has given birth to new hope in his life, the hope of both delighting in you, and the hope of receiving the desires of his heart. Thank you that he clings to you, and you alone. Thank you that he sees all other gifts as simply an extension of your love and grace to him. Thank you that he leans on you alone. Thank you that he hopes in you alone. Thank you that he longs for you most. Thank you for his strength, and sufficiency… for his health and wholeness. Thank you Lord, thank you. Amen.

ENCOURAGEMENT

What got you here will get you there. Stay on the same course.

Direction

SCRIPTURE

 

1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him judge whether they are right or wrong. And with the Lord’s help, they will do what is right and will receive his approval.

Romans 14:1-4

 

4 Show me the path where I should walk, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.
5 Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.
6 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love,
which you have shown from long ages past.
7 Forgive the rebellious sins of my youth.
look instead through the eyes of your unfailing love,
for you are merciful, O Lord.

Psalm 25:4-7

 

PRAYER

[Pray this for yourself]

 

Lord, thank you for your mercy, your compassion, and your forgiveness. Without these, I would be a shipwrecked on the rocks of life. Instead, you have lifted me in my weakness and set the feet of my soul on solid ground. Thank you, Lord. I cast myself upon your strong Fatherly wisdom and love, and ask that you would give your direction to me now. I am responsible to you Lord, to do what is right. I need your wisdom. I pray that you would release me from the confusion that comes from the pressure and opinions of others, and give me a clean clarity that comes to my heart by your Spirit within me. Make clear the path I should walk. Point clearly to the road for me follow. Help me to see truth, not through the eyes of others, but through the eyes of your Spirit within me. Speak to me in my heart, and give me ears to hear. I have put my hope in you, and you alone. I trust that you are a heavenly Father who delights in giving me good gifts. And so I promise to go where you lead, and only where you lead. Please lead me Lord, clearly and with a deep peace, that I may bask in your approval. Amen.

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

Do not sacrifice your conscience before God for anything, or anyone. Do not. But neither allow others to rule your conscience with their opinions. Your heart is wholly devoted to your Lord… trust it, and trust him.

 

You Will Sing Again

SCRIPTURE

 

13        But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.

14        For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

15        For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

16        For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

17        Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

18         Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NASB)

 

 

PRAYER

 

Oh Lord, grief and loss are an ever-present reality of this life. Those we love go away, never to be seen in this life again, and the pain of loss seems unbearable. There is no shame in the grief we feel, nor in the reality that this grief never seems to completely go away, no matter how long it's been. That the sense of loss lingers for years is simply a testimony to the beauty and power of the life that was lived. Lord, come to (__________) on this day, and mingle with his grief a powerful sense of hope. May he have the hope of a joyous reunion. May he have the hope of eternal fellowship with them and you. And between now and then, may you give him a new song of love and life. And may his heart hear it's growing melody even today. But most of all, Lord, most of all, may he have a deep and full sense of your comfort today. Please Lord. Overwhelm him with the full sweep of your comfort. Amen.

 

 

ENCOURAGEMENT

 

One day you will sing with them again friend. And even before that day, God will bless you with a new song. Listen for its distant melody.

 

Rescue and Gratitude

SCRIPTURE

29 I am suffering and in pain.
Rescue me, O God, by your saving power.
30 Then I will praise God’s name with singing,
and I will honor him with thanksgiving.
31 For this will please the Lord more than sacrificing cattle,
more than presenting a bull with its horns and hooves.
32 The humble will see their God at work and be glad.
Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.
33 For the Lord hears the cries of the needy;
he does not despise his imprisoned people.
Psalm 69:29-33

PRAYER

Lord, you are at work in (__________)’s life, circumstances, and future. You are rescuing him by your saving power. You have seen the suffering and pain, and have heard the cries of this needy child of yours. And Lord, you already know that a wash of incredible gratitude will flow from him as you unfold your work. You know, because you have seen this gratitude flow even in his suffering. He will praise you with the song of his heart. He will see the work you are doing, and his heart will leap with gladness. He has sought your help during these difficult days Lord, and as a result has lived in joy, despite the pain. Bring your answer quickly I pray. Bring it quickly. Amen.

ENGOURAGEMENT

He is already rescuing you friend. Brace yourself and watch his saving power unfold with masterful design.