Be Encouraged – Dec. 27th, 2016

BeEncouraged13

2017 IS ALMOST HERE!!  As the new year approaches I usually make a list of all the things I would like to accomplish.  Yeah, I am one of those people.  I love to set goals and go for it.  And no, I am usually not one of those people who say they are going to go to the gym, go for a week and then give up.  I like to finish.  I don’t like to give up and I don’t like to ask for help.  And because of this attitude, going to the LORD and asking for help can be difficult.  Going to God and saying, “I can’t,” does a number on my pride.  And sometimes I convince myself that the results of doing this are just going to make things worse.  But today in the book of Psalms I found one line at the end of Psalm 2 that was encouraging.  It was the last line of verse 12, “Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.”  The “Him” in this verse is the Son, Jesus Christ.  When we finally get the nerve to set aside our pride and ask for the help we really can’t live without, the result is always blessing.  And to that one might say, “Really, always blessing?”  Yes.  When we come to the Lord as servants with request, not demands or ultimatums, and leave the situation in His hands, trusting as Romans 8:28 says that he indeed works all things together for good, there is divine surpassing peace to be found.  Peace despite loss or gain. Peace despite sorrow or happiness.  Peace in Christ.  Today, be encouraged.  There is blessed peace on the other side of taking refuge in God.

Pastor John Wright

Pastor John is married to his beautiful wife Kimberly and has 6 young children. John holds a Master’s of Theology (ThM.) from Dallas Theological Seminary and has been serving in full-time pastoral ministry for 11 years. John is passionate about declaring the truth of the Gospel and leading people in their knowledge, understanding and application of God's Word.