For Your Consideration

Encourage Yourself in the Lord

By Garry Lovette, Senior Editor

Each time that we publish “Common Ground Christian News”, I’m astonished as to how God puts it all together each time. I still catch myself looking back as to how all of this started, and can’t help but laugh sometimes (even after 12 years) that God chose me to do this.

I can remember some of those early publications and now know that many, many supporters of the paper were extremely kind and understanding toward this ministry and me. They knew as I knew then and now that this was and never has been about me. The ministry of Common Ground Christian News has always been about being obedient to the calling that God has placed on my life…nothing more, nothing less.

I also remember all the times that I missed God and what He really wanted me to do with particular papers. Many times my faith has wavered to the point that I would question God with the question, “Are you sure you want me to do this?” His gentle reply is and always has been, “Yes, my son, you are on the right track.”

I don’t have to tell you how comforting those words can be from a father. Father God always knows just what to say and when to say it. That’s one of the things that I love most about Him! So we press on with the knowledge that God is on our side, and though all hell stands against us sometimes, we will win!

Let me encourage you today that God always has your best interest in mind, even if it doesn’t quite seem like it. He really, really loves us, just like a Father should.

There are many of you today who are reading this and you feel like the old Brenda Lee song, “My Whole World is Falling Down”. It seems like all Hell has broken loose against you and your family, and it seems like every prayer that you pray bounces off the ceiling, almost as if the skies were made of brass. Take heart, O wounded soldier, because there is a great victory just within arms’ reach. You may not be able to see it just yet, but if you get alone with God, you’ll sense it as I do right now.

Even though I love the modern Praise & Worship, sometimes it’s good to pull out an old hymnal and just read some of the titles. Here are just a few that really minister to me personally: “I Would Not Be Denied”, “He Set Me Free”, “I’d Rather Have Jesus”, “Living by Faith”, and “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow”. The authors who wrote these wonderful songs couldn’t possibly have known that 70 – 100 years later that their very words would minister to so many who would need their encouragement.

Let our words be those of encouragement to others. Let our words be those that will build up The Kingdom of God instead of tearing it down as so many have done.

Many years ago, God gave me a song that every once in awhile I will sing to myself to encourage myself. The words are: “I look to the left, I look to the right, and I don’t see you Lord. I wait through the day, and all through the night, and I don’t hear from you Lord. But none of these things hinder me, ‘for I’ll seek you diligently, and drink from the brook of your holy book, patiently. You know the paths that my feet travel on, and You know the patience in my heart, You know the ways that the tempter has tried, to get me to depart, so strengthen me, Oh Lord, I need your power desperately, Strengthen me, Oh Lord, let Your Spirit flow through me.

Let that be your prayer today. Encourage yourself in the Lord and watch him do wonders in your life!