At the beginning of the year, I agreed with a friend to follow the ‘Bible in a Year’ reading plan by Nicky Gumbel. We agreed to encourage each other, but it was that sense of accountability that kept me going in the tough times. We’d agreed to share some of the things that God really spoke to us about and I can honestly say that it was often in the passages that I was really struggling with, that I then received a WhatsApp message from Dave bubbling over with excitement at what God had revealed to him through that very same passage.
Today, we’ve just completed day 320 and we’re both on track to complete the Bible in a Year! I’m not saying this to boast, but as an encouragement to you, to keep on encouraging others!
I’m reminded that while we were at ngm, we had 2 Bible passages that we were encouraged to meditate on and to share what God was saying to us through them (Isaiah 43 & Hebrews 10). We kept doing it for over a year and each time we met, we would speak these passages out as a family of believers. It was where I was really challenged and encouraged to build others up through my words, my prayers and my actions. Hebrews 10:22-25 in the Message version says:
“So let’s do it - full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.”
So, let’s keep spurring each other on! We need to be loving and encouraging each other, not just those who we’re naturally drawn to, but to everyone we come into contact with. How inventive can I be in encouraging others?
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