Thoughts on Thursday...

Growing in Faith -- Encouragement

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come." 2 Cor 5:17 

So New Creature, a few weeks ago we mentioned that God prompts us to grow in prayer, worship, instruction, and encouragement. That refers to being with people as well as by yourself; and we looked at prayer, worship, and instruction. Now let us do the same with the last area on the list… Encouragement. 

What is Encouragement? 

The act of giving courage, or confidence of success; incitement to action or to practice; incentive. (Source: 1828 Webster’s Online Dictionary)

How does God encourage us? Well, He gave us His Word…the entire Bible is full of encouragement. He gave us His Mother…she is always praying for us. He gave us His angels…they are always guarding us. He gave us His Saints…they are always interceding for us. And while we are still here on earth, we are to encourage one another in our walk with Him.

Hebrews 12:1-2 "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore, encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing." Do you realize that this blog is an encouragement to you? When we speak or write in words that build up, motivate, and inspire those around us, we are encouraging them.

Hebrews 3:13 "But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." This verse makes me think that each day we awake should be a day to encourage someone.

Try every day to find someone to encourage: either in your family, your work, your school, or wherever you are. A few simple words of encouragement may be the difference between life and death spiritually, physically or both. How many of us have had unkind words, mean words, said to us only once, for instance: "You are stupid," or "I hate you," that have left a scar on our hearts and souls, and maybe our bodies. Jesus held the importance of words out of our mouths to high standard when He said, "But I tell you this that you must give an account on judgement day for every careless word you speak!" (Matthew 12:36) So be alert and aware and ask God to place an angel at your tongue so that you may always speak with truth, love, and encouragement.

Remember that Fortnight For Freedom, which began June 21st, will end on our Nation's Birthday, July 4th. Please pray every day during this period of time set aside by our Bishops. The Rosary each day is a good way to pray!

Thoughts On Thursday…

Growing in Faith -- Instruction

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come." 2 Cor 5:17 

So New Creature, about two weeks ago we mentioned that God prompts us to grow in prayer, worship, instruction, and encouragement. That refers to being with people as well as by yourself; and we looked at prayer and worship. Now let us do the same with the next area on the list…Instruction. 

What is Instruction? 

1. The act of teaching or informing the understanding in that of which it was before ignorant; information.

2. Precepts conveying knowledge.

3. Direction; order; command; mandate. 

(Source: 1828 Webster’s Online Dictionary)

Hmmm…well the first place I think of to go for instruction in Faith is the Bible. After all, it is God's Word. "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;" 2 Timothy 3:16

"Listen, O my people, to my instruction; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth." Psalm 78:1

"He is on the path of life who heeds instruction, But he who ignores reproof goes astray." Proverbs 9:9

The Ten Commandments: Exodus 20:1-17

Scriptures address every area in our life from prayer, to morality, to finances, to relationships. It's God's (our Father) instruction book for living life to the fullest. Even Jesus quoted scripture to instruct those around Him. One time he quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 where God spoke to Moses: "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4 

Think about that verse that Jesus quoted and ponder it. If we truly want to live life to the fullest, we need to live on the Word of God. "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

See you next week for the fourth, and final, word to define in growing in our faith--encouragement!

Fortnight For Freedom is from June 21 to July 4th. Please pray every day during this period of time set aside by our Bishops. The Rosary each day is a good way to pray!

Thoughts on Thursday...

Growing in Faith -- Worship

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come." 2 Cor 5:17 

One of the new things is building your relationship with Jesus. Last week we mentioned that God prompts us to grow in prayer, worship, instruction, and encouragement. That  refers to being with people as well as by yourself; and we took a peek at the first area, prayer. Now let us do the same with the next area on the list…worship. 

What is Worship? 

Chiefly and eminently, the act of paying divine honors to the Supreme Being; or the reverence and homage paid to him in religious exercises, consisting in adoration, confession, prayer, thanksgiving and the like.
The worship of God is an eminent part of religion.
Prayer is a chief part of religious worship.

(Source: 1828 Webster’s Online Dictionary)

It seems like there are a few more puzzling words thrown in there to describe just one, doesn't it? It may still seem quite daunting. But don't give up!

To me, worship is when my prayer is more about God than about me. As we said last week, prayer is "talking to God," so that could be just like me talking to you about what's going on in my life. But worship is almost like going deeper in your time with God.

One of the ways I use to worship God is to say the characteristics and names of God back to Him, either silently or out loud, but always from my heart. Yes, God certainly knows His own name and characteristics, so that's not why I say them back to Him. It's really for me to hear them and meditate on them.

How can I know if my worship pleases God? Jesus always emphasized the worshiper's heart. He tells us, "When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you." Matt. 6:5, 6

So now you have another aspect to use in growing in this new creature that you are. 

Don't be surprised if 15 minutes becomes not enough!

Thoughts on Thursday...

Last week's blog concluded by asking the question, Will today be the day that you choose Christ?

I am going to believe that you did. "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10

Whether you chose Christ for the first time and and were baptized, or you reaffirmed your calling by making an adult decision to accept Him as Savior, as it says in 2 Cor 5:17 "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come." 

Then you woke up the next morning and looked the same as you did before you chose Christ. And you may have acted the same, too. (But I hope not!) You may be wondering…am I really a new creation? The sun rises and the sun sets, but each day is a new day; and if you are in Christ, you are new!

But now you have to grow in this new creation that is you, or really to allow Jesus, the Christ, to grow in you. How? God never calls any Christian to a solitary life of faith, but He prompts us to grow together in prayer, worship, instruction, and encouragement.

Let's look at those four areas:

Prayer

Worship

Instruction

Encouragement

What is Prayer? 

n. In a general sense, the act of asking for a favor, and particularly with earnestness.
1. In worship, a solemn address to the Supreme Being, consisting of adoration, or an expression of our sense of God's glorious perfections, confession of our sins, supplication for mercy and forgiveness, intercession for blessings on others, and thanksgiving, or an expression of gratitude to God for his mercies and benefits. A prayer however may consist of a single petition, and it may be extemporaneous, written or printed.
2. A formula of church service, or of worship, public or private.
3. Practice of supplication.

(Source: 1828 Webster’s Online Dictionary)

Sounds like a lot of work, doesn't it! Let me give you some encouragement…start small. 

Find 15 minutes in your day to talk (also known as prayer) to God. A solemn address to the Supreme Being who just happens to be your Father! Why not begin with the prayer we call The Our Father (also called The Lord's Prayer).

Say it slowly; think of each portion of this familiar prayer.

Our Father, who art in Heaven,

Hallowed be thy name!

Thy kingdom, come;

Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread

and forgive us our trespasses 

as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours

now and forever.

Amen.

Next week we will look at the second area to help us grow in our faith--worship.