Encouraging

Prodigal: I don’t know, today I feel I need a little encouragement.

Me: Yes, sometimes we start the day and we don’t know why we are not as motivated.

Prodigal: That is exactly how I feel.

Me: I hope this will help then.

This is from the book Growing Deep in the Christian Life by Charles Swindoll

Again and again we find that Parakalein is the word of the rallying call; it is the word used of the speeches of leaders and of soldiers who urge each other on. It is the world used of words which send fearful and timorous and hesitant soldiers and sailors courageously into battle. A Parakletos is therefore an Encourager, one who puts courage into the faint-hearted, one who nerves the feeble arm for fight, one who makes a very ordinary man cope gallantly with a perilous and a dangerous situation…..

…The word Parakalein is the word for exhorting others to noble deeds and high thoughts; it is especially the word of courage before battle. Life is always calling us into battle and the one who makes us able to stand up to the opposing forces, to cope with life and to conquer life is the Parakletos, the Holy Spirit, who is none other than the presence and power of the risen Christ.

We are so easily distracted with feelings. We wake up. We notice our mood is off and we forget the promises of God. We have the truth in our spirit and yet, we want to trust in our feelings. Lord you who is always patient with us, we praise you! We always need you and your example of love.

James 5:12

There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *