Encourage One Another: a devotion by Ann Broughton

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:23-24 NIV).

Have you ever been in need of encouragement? This last week my husband and I went on a vacation to Traverse City, Michigan. We visited the Great Bear Dunes and decided to climb this huge hill to see an amazing view of Lake Michigan. It was a sandy bluff with little trees surrounding the trail. Rick asked me if I was sure I could make it, because it was very steep and 1.2 miles. I really wanted to see the view, so we started up the path. Halfway up, I was panting and had to stop every 10 feet just to catch my breath. I was tempted to go back, but my desire to see the view outweighed my fatigue. I grabbed hold of Rick’s hand and with his help I trudged up the hill with my eyes focused on the next curve. I just kept thinking that with Rick’s help I could make it. Other people on the path coming down told me that I could do it and the view was worth it. That made me work harder. When I finally reached the top I sat on a log and was awestruck at the beautiful scene of crystal blue water as far as I could see. It was worth the trouble.

How is this experience like your Christian walk? You see we as Christians need to encourage each other as we try to live as Jesus would want us to live. Without me grabbing onto Rick’s hand, I would not have made it up that hill. We need to come along side a friend in need and let them know we care and will help them. The first Christians, according to Acts 2:44-47, met together and had everything in common. If someone needed money, they would sell their possessions and goods so as to help them. They ate together with glad and sincere hearts. We are to love one another and encourage each other as we strive to live a life that is pleasing to God. There are so many people who need help, and they need to know someone cares about them. You be the one to help them to the top of their steep hill of trouble to see that glorious view of hope in the Lord.

Dear God,

There are so many people who need encouragement. Help me to be the one to come alongside them and to assist them in any way I can. Help me to put other people’s needs above my own, just as Jesus did. Help me to be a living example of how Jesus loved others.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Press On: a devotion by Ann Broughton

“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3: 13-14 NIV).

Are you pressing on in your faith or are you stuck looking in the past and wishing you could have a “do over”? Have you ever watched someone running in a marathon? Did you notice that they are always looking forward to that next mile and finally the finish line? If they kept looking backwards they would most likely bump into someone else and fall down. Not to mention their speed would be compromised a lot. So you see in our lives we need to let go of our past and move ahead with our eyes set on Christ. Give Him all those hurts from your past and let Him carry them. He wants you to move on to be His witness to others so that they will be able to cross the final finish line of life with hope.

Our lives are not like writing on a computer, where we can delete the last sentence we did not like. What is done in our lives is done. If we have hurt someone, we need to say “I am sorry,” and move on. If we have been hurt by someone we need to forgive them or Jesus will not forgive us. “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15 NIV).

The most important thing to remember is that Christ is with you and will help you to move on. Let it go. If you cannot fix it, then give it to God and trust Him. The most important thing you need to remember is that God loves you. He does not want you to wallow in self-pity, but He wants you to be filled with His peace.

If you are noticing that you sit around bemoaning your past, stop it. Pray that God will give you a new vision of what He wants you to be. Look around for opportunities to help others. Read the Bible and let God’s words wash over your soul. He wants you to keep moving forward with faith to His high calling. You have a purpose that nobody else has. It is time for you to let go and let God.

Dear Lord,

Help me to press on with faith knowing that you have forgiven me of all my past sins. I give you my past and surrender all of my hurts onto you. Now help me to run the race for you with your purpose set before me. Help me to keep my eyes on you and not on my past. Help me to keep my eyes on the ultimate goal; heaven.

In Jesus name,

Amen

God Has Given You Today by Ann Broughton

  

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10 NIV).

    Yesterday I got a lot of ambition, and decided to shovel the snow off of our driveway. I didn’t tell my husband because I knew he would insist that he do it with the snow blower. I love to be outside and it wasn’t that cold out, so I put on warm coat, gloves and earmuffs and grabbed the snow shovel. I pushed the snow to the edge and then went the other direction. After about 10 pushes I looked at the end of the driveway and thought to myself that this was going to be a bigger job than I thought. That is when I put up my gigantic hood. You see with that hood up all I could see is the path I was making and not the end of the driveway. I just concentrated on one lap at a time. I eventually got to the end of the driveway and was so proud I had made it. I was going to give up midway, until I put up my hood and only concentrated on one swath at a time.

   You see sometimes in life, it seems like we will never make it to our goal. The end seems far away, and dwelling on that can seem very daunting. For me it is retirement which is looming in the near future. For others it may be a college degree, paying off a mortgage, or maybe it is the end of chemo. The most important thing to remember is that all you have is today, and you must try with all your heart to use this day to honor God in all you do. It is this day that God has blessed you with, and He has a special plan for you. Make sure you pray and ask Him every morning what He wants you to do, and then act on it. You might have a name come to your mind or you might come in contact with someone who needs cheering up. Every day there are opportunities to make a difference in someone’s life, and it is up to you to recognize this and act on it. Don’t go through life moaning and groaning, but be on the outlook for the blessings God has for you. Everyday there will be some. Ask God to help you be aware of them.

Dear Lord,

All we have is today. Help us not to worry so much about the future, but take each day to do your will. Lead us to people who need to see your love through us, and then help us to be your hands to give them help.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Do It Again by Ann Elaine Broughton

Do It Again by Ann Elaine Broughton

“After the king burned the scroll containing the words that Baruch had written at Jeremiah’s dictation, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: “Take another scroll and write on it all the words that were on the first scroll, which Jehoiakim king of Judah burned up” (Jeremiah 36:28 NIV).

This is the story about a prophet named Jeremiah and his scribe, Baruch. Jeremiah had dictated to Baruch God’s warnings to the people of Israel to repent. The king did not like the words so he had burned them. It had taken twenty years to write those scrolls. Can you imagine how Jeremiah and Baruch felt when they heard the news that their scrolls had been burned up? But God told Jeremiah to take another scroll and write down what was on the first one, and what is most important to remember is that they did. They obeyed God and started all over again and because of their diligence we have their example to follow because we can now read what they wrote in the Bible.
What is God asking you to do again that seems very difficult for you?
Sometimes it is difficult to keep doing a job whether in the workplace or in church that seems tremendously difficult and thankless, but God is trying to teach you a lesson in trusting Him to help you persevere. It is important to learn this lesson so that you can mature as a Christian. God has placed you in your position for a very good reason and you must keep doing it again even when you might be tempted to give up.
Don’t give up, but trust in the Lord and ask Him for wisdom to handle whatever you have to deal with each day. Jeremiah and Baruch started right away to write the scrolls and even added more to them than before, so you see what seemed to be such a big job, ended up being even more beneficial for everyone. God knows your abilities and He knows that you are far more capable than you think. Just believe that God put you where you are for a purpose and that He can reveal to you exactly what you need in order to solve any problem. Just do it again.
Dear Lord,
I know that you have given me all the skills and abilities to do your will. Help me, even when I am discouraged, to keep doing it again, knowing that you will give me the wisdom that I need for every situation.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Persevere by Ann Elaine Broughton

"And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance, and perseverance, proven character, and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5:3-5 NIV).

Now isn't that interesting how tribulation is linked with perseverance? What is even more of a challenge is to exult in our tribulations. I think it is very difficult for most of us to praise God when we are in the middle of tribulation but that is exactly what Paul is telling us. As you read on you will see that if you do your character will be transformed.
To persevere means: steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. I would like to paint a picture of you of perseverance.
Several years ago I was watching a triathalon and was totally amazed at this one woman's desire to go across the finish line no matter how bad she felt. She was at the point of total exhaustion and was literally losing control of her bodily functions as she staggered across the finish line collapsing into the arms of friends. I couldn't believe she had pushed herself that hard just for a race, but something was driving her to get across that line. The picture of her crossing that line was in many papers. She didn't win the race but I think for her just getting across the line was a big achievement. I think I would have quit if I would have been in her shoes. She had endured a tremendous amount of pain and duress, but she had her goal in sight and nothing could stop her. That is perseverance.
Now let's associate that with our Christian walk. When we have tribulation we are to praise God and persevere through it. Just as this lady did, we are to keep our eyes on the goal ahead of us and keep trudging through knowing that with Christ within us we can overcome any obstacle that comes our way. If Jesus could persevere and die on a cross for us, we can persevere through our trials with His help. He understands what we are going through and will give us strength to make it across that finish line and it will be His arms that we will collapse into one day.
Dear Lord,
Help us as we daily meet challenges that test our faith and give us the strength to keep on going when we want to quit. We know that the race in life will be difficult but with your help we can persevere. Help us to keep our eyes on you and not look back. Thank you for the hope of the Holy Spirit within us to guide us.
In Jesus' name,
Amen