Sermon Notes

April 8, 2016

Three Ways To Stay Encouraged


Need some encouragement today? Well you, my friend, are doing better than you think you are. Your life matters a whole lot in this big world, and if you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a deep breath and know God has it under control.

So often we want to do great things for God, but we get swept-up in the riptide of comparison and our own feelings of insignificance. But you are doing better than you think you are!

2 Peter 1:5-8 (ESV) says:

“Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Did you catch that? Simply living a life reflective of Gods goodness, promises effectiveness and fruitfulness. Your effectiveness is not because of your works, but your character. You being you is enough! Dont let your feelings be the voice that validates you. You can rest in Gods motives for you: always for your good, always for His Glory. If you are reading this, you are doing better than you think you are!  Hang on, and dont quit!

Its hard in this social-media-driven world to maintain perspective. But perspective is EVERYTHING. Behind every highlight reel, is a dirty, dusty, rusty, background story just like yours and mine. People are people; no one is perfect. Being constantly engulfed with the facade-lives of others will do nothing but deflate our self-worth—exactly where the enemy would love you to stay. But the next time he taunts you with thoughts of not mattering, you remind him of the price that was paid for your life. God sent His only son because you deeply matter.

And finally, if you are battling the feelings of “not quite enough,” feeling like no matter what you do its just missing the mark, rest in this freeing encouragement: it is less about you than you often think. God is bigger than you and me. He wants His plans fulfilled in your life more than you do. Sometimes it takes stepping back, taking a deep breath and surrendering to God that which consumes you. I promise you He can handle it.

You are the head, not the tail. You’re part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood and a holy nation! You have been purchased by His blood, which makes you a joint-heir with Jesus Christ. You are His beautiful workmanship with good purposes to fulfill on this earth. You are able to do all things through His power, and He that is within you is greater than the feelings attacking you. You are an overcomer. Dont quit and dont grow weary of well doing. Your time is coming and Satan knows it. So hang on, you matter! God knit you together in your mothers womb for a purpose—a purpose no one else will ever be able to fulfill.

Now live like you believe it!

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