MEMORISE
Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him (Luke 22:43)
READ:
Luke 22:40-44
[40]. When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
[41]. And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed,
[42]. saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”
[43]. Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.
[44]. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
EXPOSITION
Encouragement is the act of giving hope or support to someone. It is strengthening and motivating others to do what they lack the passion to do again. The problem-laden world necessitates the need for encouragement. As long as we are still in this mortal body, seasons of tests and trials are inevitable, hence the need for encouragement, both in words or action.
On the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah appeared to Jesus in heavenly splendour to strengthen Him as He was inching towards His incomparably traumatic death (Lk. 9: 30-31). The Bible hints that holy angels had to come to minister to Him after He overcame the temptation from Satan (Matt. 4:11). Also, an angel from heaven came to strengthen Him at the great blood-sapping battle in Gethsemane (Lk. 22:39-43).
Jesus was partly God and partly man when He was here on earth physically. If the human in Him couldn't do without encouragement, how shall we, mere mortals, survive without the needed encouragement? Look around you and see lots of people needing your words of encouragement. Be sensitive enough to discover and reach them before it is too late. Many of those committing suicide would be alive had they been blessed with people around them to strengthen them. Take up the challenge, today; look for those who need your encouragement, and don't deny them.
SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY:
CAC GHB 874
1. I have found a Friend in Jesus,
He's the everything to me,
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
The lily of the valley, in Him alone I see
And I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
In sorrow He's my comfort in trouble He's my stay,
He tells me every care on
Him to roll:
He's the lily of the valley,
The Bright and Morning star,
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul
Chorus:
In sorrow he's my comfort,
In trouble He my stay
He tells me every care on him to roll:
He's the lily of the valley,
The Bright and Morning star
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
2. He all my griefs has taken, and all my sorrows borne;
In temptation He's my strong and mighty tower;
I have all for him forsaken, and all my I dols torns
From my heart,and now He keeps me by His power.
Though all the world forsake me,
And satan tempt me sore.
Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal:
He's the lily of the valley, the
Bright and Morning star,
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
3. He will never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here
While I live by faith and do His blessed will;
A wall of fire about me, I've nothing now to fear
With His manna He my hungry soul shall fill.
Then sweeping up to glory, to see his blessed face
Where rivers of delight shall ever roll:
He's the lily of the valley, the
Bright and Morning star,
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul
Amen.
PRAYER POINTS
1. I refuse to be discouraged, no matter the circumstance, in Jesus' name.
2. Lord, equip me with the selflessness to sacrificially serve others all my life.
3. Pray that God should help those in the counselling ministry to be more committed to stemming the tide of suicide in our society.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
Ezekiel 48;
Daniel 1:1-2:30
AUTHOR
CAC Worldwide
Remain blessed
 DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE DATE: Friday, September 22, 2023 TOPIC: POWER OF ENCOURAGEMENT (1)){kind=link}