"Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety." Proverbs 11:14
"Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed." Proverbs 15:20
The wisest man that ever lived, other than Jesus, was Solomon. Solomon asked God for wisdom above all else. (1 Kings 3:9-13; 1 Kings 4:29-31)
I believe so much of what is offered in the Word of Encouragement is deeply rooted in the Word of God and it is so eloquently expressed through lives devoted to our Lord Jesus Christ. Lives that freely tell of the joy, contentment, satisfaction, as well as the sorrows, struggles, disappointments and failures each of us faced.
Jesus told us we would experience all these things as we lived our daily lives here on earth (John 16:33). He also told us that His children are a family, His family, a family meant to share with one another (Romans 12:5). So, we are encouraged to share our life experiences with each other and also how He impacts our life. All of which can and does help each of us grow both in Christ and in wisdom.
Our Church began publishing the daily Word of Encouragement on March 20, 2020, in part to provide support and encouragement as we struggled through the Covid-19 virus and the uncertain impacts it was and is having on our Church and its members. Impacts that continue to this day. So, for me, being able to receive and read Word of Encouragement each morning has been and continues to be a wonderful blessing of ministry (1 Peter 4:10), a ministry offered by others in the body of Christ that provides helpful and meaningful support and direction in my life.
It seems each Word of Encouragement is written in a way that touches me, helping me remember I’m not alone in this situation, someone else is feeling the same way, or is going through the same or similar situation, and found a way to address it. A way that always comes from or leads to the Word of God.
So, to all who have expressed your faith in our Lord and have opened our hearts through the Word of Encouragement by revealing your triumphs, joys, challenges, fears and doubts I say, Thank You! What you so willingly shared has touched me and helped strengthen my faith. At other times it causes me to laugh…mostly as I think to myself and consider the immortal words of Dr. Phil, “What were you thinkin’?”
It is my prayer that we all continue to find strength and blessing in the supportive words found in the Christ centered Word of Encouragement. Words that so graciously flow from the Word of God through the God given wisdom of our Church body.
"My son, if you receive My words and treasure up My commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of His saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness." Proverbs 2:1-12