QUOTE OF THE DAY: “AT THE BRINK OF DEPRESSION, THE RIGHT WORD AT THE RIGHT TIME ELEVATES THE MIND”

Memory Verse: “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up”. Proverbs 12:25.

When we are too tired or discouraged to keep going, an act of compassion can give us new strength. When we are at the brink of failure, hearing the right word at the right time can keep us in the game. Encouragement is one of the central themes of the Bible – Isaiah 35:3. Encouragement does not deny the problem; it enables us to overcome it.

It does not validate stubbornness or stupidity; it simply corrects and guides us in the right path. It does not leave us alone to carry the burden, it lets us know that God is present to help and strengthen us. The nineteenth-century writer Walt Whitman struggled for years to get anyone interested in his poetry. In the midst of his discouragement he received a life-changing note from an admirer of his work.

[pullquote]Encouragement does not deny the problem; it enables us to overcome it. [/pullquote]The note read; ‘Dear sir, I am not blind to the worth of the wonderful gift of leaves of Grass. I find it the most extra ordinary piece of wit and wisdom that America has yet contributed. I greet you at the beginning of a great career’. It was signed by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Interestingly, Whitman enjoyed a long career and is now considered one of the giants of American Literature. But when times were tough, he needed encouragement to keep going. Sir Isaac Newton is best known for his theory of Gravitation and description of the Three Laws of Motion. But Newton might never have published his work had it not been for Edmond Halley.

A well respected scientist in his own right. Halley visited Newton at Cambridge to discuss a problem he was working on, only to discover that Newton had already solved it. Halley encouraged Newton to publish his work and even offered to do it at his own expense. The result was the publication of ‘Philosophica Naturalis Principia Mathematica in 1867, which laid the ground work for the study of mathematics and changed the way people see the world.

My question to you is, who can you encourage to do great things? Who has God put into your life to cheer up, rise up or assist on their journey? It could be in words, action or material things. Remember, when you help others to do the things God created them to do, you share in their achievement. Locate someone today and be a source of inspiration or encouragement. It is well!

DIVINE INSTRUCTION FOR THE DAY: LESS THAN TWO DAYS TO GO IN THE MONTH, PRAY AND ASK GOD FOR A 24-HOUR MIRACLE.

PROPHETIC PRAYERS:

• Holy Spirit, inspire me to say the right word at the right time that will brighten someone’s day.
• From today, sweeten my words with grace; let it be edifying.
• Use me as a motivator to someone; through me, let hope be restored to the hopeless.
• Through me, the greatness in the life of people around me shall find expression in Jesus name.

FURTHER STUDY: Luke 14:1-14.

Read the Bible through in one year: Mark Chapters 13 – 16.

Remember to further prophesy on yourself!