Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. – Jude 1:21
An article in Psychology Today titled “The Quiet Power of Encouragement” states, “A little boost of encouragement can lift our spirits and keep us moving forward.” You don’t need a psychologist to tell you this truth when the Bible offers many verses on encouragement. “I have overcome the world,” Jesus said in John 16:33. The prophet Isaiah wrote that God “will strengthen you and help you… will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). The Apostle Paul said don’t be anxious but give your anxieties to the Lord (Philippians 4:6-7). God has provided angels to bear you up so that you don’t stumble (Psalm 91:12). The psalmist knew his source of encouragement well: “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2).
The message of encouragement continues. You are to encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 10:25, Proverbs 17:17). You are to be motivated by the mercy of the Lord toward you and for His entire creation, for “The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made” (Psalm 145:9). And, in your encouragement of others, show mercy and compassion. “Put on, then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another… forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you” (Colossians 3:12-13).
Today is the day designated for the inauguration of a new American president. He and his administration, along with the new Congress and the courts, need the quiet encouragement of your prayers for them. Pray that each of them would find the mercies of God’s salvation, and that they would be guided by the Holy Spirit, according to the will of God for the nation. Pray that they would serve in humility, faithful to the dictates of Scripture, even in the face of a divided, ungodly population. Pray as Jude did, “May mercy, peace and love be multiplied to you” (Jude 1:2), for those assuming office today.
Then be encouraged! For God is always working (John 5:17). “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will” (Proverbs 21:1). May God guide the path of the United States by His divine control, and may we remember that the Lord is sovereign, and always works according to His purposes.
Today’s Verse: Jude 1:21
keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
