Love God. Love Others.

HELLO FROM THE DEVO!

/2022/03/03/encouraged-in-god

[{"status":"publish","site_id":"1","date":1646265600000,"title":"Encouraged in God","author":"797605","bible_in_a_year":"<a href=\"https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+28%E2%80%9330%3B+Mark+8%3A22%E2%80%9338\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"scripture reference verse\" class=\"scripture-link\" data-category=\"scripture-link\" data-action=\"bible-in-a-year\" data-label=\"Bible in a Year\">Numbers 28–30; Mark 8:22–38</a>","bible_in_a_year_references":"Numbers 28–30; Mark 8:22–38","bible_in_a_year_url":"https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+28%E2%80%9330%3B+Mark+8%3A22%E2%80%9338","categories":[1424875,1424886],"tags":[],"content":"In 1925, Langston Hughes, an aspiring writer working as a busboy at a hotel, discovered that a poet he admired (Vachel Lindsey) was staying there as a guest. Hughes shyly slipped Lindsey some of his own poetry, which Lindsey later praised enthusiastically at a public reading. Lindsey’s encouragement resulted in Hughes receiving a university scholarship, furthering him on his way to his own successful writing career.\nA little encouragement can go a long way, especially when God is in it. Scripture tells of an incident when David was on the run from King Saul, who was trying “to take his life.” Saul’s son Jonathan sought David out “and helped him find strength in God. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ he said. ‘My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel’ ” (1 Samuel 23:15–17).\nJonathan was right. David would be king. The key to the effective encouragement Jonathan offered is found in the simple phrase “in God” (v. 16). Through Jesus, God gives us “eternal encouragement and good hope” (2 Thessalonians 2:16). As we humble ourselves before Him, He lifts us as no other can.\nAll around us are people who need the encouragement God gives. If we seek them out as Jonathan sought David and gently point them to God through a kind word or action, He’ll do the rest. Regardless of what this life may hold, a bright future in eternity awaits those who trust in Him.\n","excerpt":"In 1925 Langston Hughes, an aspiring writer working as a busboy at a hotel in Washington D.C., discovered that a poet he admired (Vachel Lindsey) was staying as a guest at the hotel. Hughes shyly slipped Lindsey some of his own poetry, which Lindsey later praised enthusiastically at a public reading. Lindsey’s encouragement resulted in Hughes receiving a university scholarship, furthering him on his way to his own successful writing career.  \nA little encouragement can go a long way, especially when God is in it. Scripture tells of an incident when David was on the run from King Saul, who was trying “to take his life.” Saul’s son Jonathan sought David out “and helped him find strength in God. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ he said. ‘My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel’ ” (1 Samuel 23:15–17).\nJonathan was right. David would be king. The key to the effective encouragement Jonathan offered is found in the simple phrase, “in God.” God, through Jesus, gives us “eternal encouragement and good hope” (2 Thessalonians 2:16). As we humble ourselves before Him, He lifts us as no other can.\nAll around us are people who need the encouragement God gives. If we seek them out as Jonathan did David and gently point them to God through a kind word or action, He will do the rest. Regardless of what this life may hold, a bright future in eternity awaits those who trust in Him.\n","insights":"The relationship between David and Jonathan was truly remarkable. Jonathan was the son of King Saul and heir to the throne that David had been anointed to occupy. Jonathan believed so strongly in God’s selection and anointing of David as king, however, that he helped and encouraged his friend, at great personal cost. In a sense, Jonathan was doing what Jesus described as the mark of a true friend when He said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). Jonathan was laying aside much of what his life might have been to be a friend to David.","passage":"<a href=\"https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+23%3A15%E2%80%9324\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"scripture reference verse\" class=\"scripture-link\" data-category=\"scripture-link\" data-action=\"passage\" data-label=\"Scripture Passage\">1 Samuel 23:15–24</a>","passage_url":"https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+23%3A15%E2%80%9324","passage_reference":"1 Samuel 23:15–24","response":"How did someone provide special encouragement to you in your faith journey? What can you do to strengthen someone’s faith today?","thought":"Loving God, there’s nothing like the encouragement You give. Please give me opportunities to help others find new strength in You.","verse":"Saul’s son Jonathan went to David . . . and helped him find strength in God. <a href=\"https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+23%3A16\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"scripture reference verse\" class=\"scripture-link\" data-category=\"scripture-link\" data-action=\"verse\" data-label=\"Key Verse\">1 Samuel 23:16</a>\r\n","meta":"[object Object]","insight_question":"","author_name":"James Banks","slug":"encouraged-in-god","insights_author":"31","insights_author_id":"31","email_image_url":"https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/ebread/dailyimages/odbdevo_20220303e.jpg","preheader_text":"In 1925, Langston Hughes, an aspiring writer working as a busboy at a hotel, disco...","brand_logo_url":"https://odb.org/wp-content/themes/odbm-base-ourdailybread/images/odb_logo.svg","language":"","date_id":1646265600000}]