“Stan,” I said, “you spend a lot of time trying to help other people on the road to spiritual maturity. Do you ever get discouraged and think what you are doing is not accomplishing anything?”
“There was a time,” Stan replied, “when that was the case, but the Holy Spirit showed me that discouragement is from Satan who wants me to be so discouraged that I quit doing what God has for me to do in being what He has for me to be.”
“In addition,” he continued, “the Holy Spirit gave me a solution for when I start to be discouraged about anything that comes into my life.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Encourage someone else,” Stan replied.
“Discouragement is really being self-focused, as in ‘Poor me’.” The best way for me to get rid of any feelings of discouragement is to deliberately find someone who needs encouragement and do my best to encourage that person.”
“And,” he added, “as we talked about before, to find someone who needs encouragement is simple. Just find someone who is breathing!” [Note to Reader, see Posting Number 137, “Encouragement”.]
“I have found,” Stan concluded, “that if I will focus on someone else who needs encouragement, rather than on myself, I receive as much or more than I give.”
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Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your peace and encouragement. I confess that too often I allow myself to be discouraged by focusing on what Satan wants me to focus on, rather than what you have for me. Please forgive me. And please help me in knowing and exercising the truth that if I will spend the time encouraging the people you bring before me, rather than focusing on myself, you will and do provide all I need. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Waiting for the Train 