Encouraging One Another

Hello Ladies,

I would like to introduce you to a friend of mine; Angela McCoun. She is a writer, a mother, a wife, a dear friend, and a woman who loves her Lord. Recently she shared this devotional she had written and I asked her if I could share it with you. I pray you are as blessed and encouraged by her writing as I have been…

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as in the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10: 24-25 (ESV)

Lately I have been helping a friend out by sitting with her mom once a week. During those visits I especially enjoy the days I get to sit outside.

On one of those particular days I noticed how the birds began gathering to eat at the feeder. It was obvious, they knew this was the place to come to find food. It is their routine, they come here daily expecting that the food will be there. Next I watched as a little dog walked up to them and scattered them away. You could tell, he knew this was their gathering spot. I watched as all those birds scattered into the trees, with the dog still sitting below the feeder. Once the dog got bored, he moved on and it wasn’t too long until the birds returned.

God gives us one another to encourage each other. Those birds reminded me of my sisters in Christ. We gather to talk, to text, to share scripture and songs. We know we can reach out that way. We know where to come to receive God’s truth. We pray for one another and speak wisdom to one another. 

1 Peter 5:8-9 (NLT) says: “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him and be strong in your faith. Remember your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.” 

The Message version says it this way, “…the devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times.”

Satan wants us to scatter. He doesn’t want us coming to one another sharing our stories as we feed on His Word. He wants us napping, thinking that no one has the same struggles. He wants us to be quiet. He wants us to do things on our own.

What would happen if we stopped believing this lie? How would our stories be changed if we gathered together and let others into our mess.

I believe we would be like those birds. Coming back to find the food, while at the same time fully aware of the dog nearby. Alert and ready to move if needed, together we could stand watch, ready to receive what only the Lord can bring.