Encouragement Command Dieting - by DianaDee Osborne

MARCH 9
So often I step on a scale in hope... then
step off the scale not only in deep sadness, but fighting fear:
"I was good this week!!  What else can I  DO, Lord?!"
Sometimes I renew my heart to turn to God more as I diet.
And sometimes, for awhile, I angrily blame God that
doctor's aren't 'fixing' my thyroid & 'why can't I have a body
that works right?" And then fervently pray for Help as I spiral down in knowing
I'm guilty & 'it seems I'm always failing You, LORD.'

SO many people are hurting.  So many people are scared...
the financial news for most of us is even more uncertain than ever
these days.  So many of us need ENCOURAGEMENT...
including for us who step onto the scale & feel like just giving up.

I searched BlueLetterBible for the word "ENCOURAGE".
Here are some results in New KJV.  Notice that 
these are       COMMANDS  from God ------        
either direct   or   through someone God told to 
say:   "Tell them TO  encourage someone...."      



GOD'S WORD TO YOU THROUGH HIS WORD ---     encourage  (click on underlined refs for New King James Version LINKs)

"Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, 
he shall go in there.  Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it."  
                                                                                     -- DEUTERONOMY 1: 38
"But command Joshua, and  encourage him and strengthen him; 
for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you will see."                                                                -- DEUTERONOMY 3: 28

"Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, "Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Therefore please let your word be like [the word of] one of them, 
and speak encouragement."- 2 CHRONICLES 18: 12; 1 Kings 22:13
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And then comes OUR turn: 
God calls you and me to encourage each other. 
Even when you and I ourselves are discouraged. 
No matter how "important" the topic. God's example:

No matter if it's   "just"  discouragement about dieting      or  fighting temptations of drinking,  smoking, over-

            spending,  easily-angered,  easily-saddened........
                     drugs,   gossiping,   & of course the S word.

THERE'S   NO   OFF-LIMIT TOPIC
WHEN WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER....
                                      see  2nd Corinthians 1: 4 ....
AND NOTICE THAT ALL OF THESE

ARE ENCOURAGEMENT ***WITH GOD'S WORDS***

      which we have in HIS BIBLE.

(remembering that The GOD of the entire universe
        LOGICALLY has power to keep truth errors from being
                 written by  bitty human beings into the Book.)

Hebrews 10: 25.  Go to church.                    scripture

NOT just for yourself.  This is God's COMMAND. 

A follow-up to Ecclesiastes 4: 10-12                    scripture

to       GO   ENCOURAGE   EACH OTHER.                           

God's example from  FIRST THESSALONIANS 3... MOST OF CHAPTER-----
"...and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, 
and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and 

encourage you concerning your faith, 

that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; 

for you yourselves know that we are  
APPOINTED  [ BY GOD ]   to this. 

For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation,
 just as it happened, and you know. 
For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, 

lest by some means the tempter  [ SATAN -- JESUS CALLED HIM REAL,  
                                                                 SEE John 8:44 as only one example]

had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain....
therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress 
we were comforted concerning you by your faith.  
For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. "

PRAYER

LORD GOD,  I am so very, very discouraged sometimes.  
About so many things.  About this dieting.  
About the tiny successes that seem overwhelmed at times by my failures.  
Help me with Your Holy Spirit's Comfort which Jesus promised.... 
John 14, John 15, and 16, 17..... And show me how to encourage others.  
Give me joy in tribulation, please,  
AND Your wisdom..... James 1:  5-6 to comfort them.
Help me to focus on YOUR Encouraging Truth Word.... in Your Bible.   
To Praise YOU instead of focusing on me.  
I pray this in the blessed NAME of our LORD Jesus Christ. AMEN So be it.

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©2013, 2015 (registered with USCO) by DianaDee Osborne (all material),  
all rights reserved. FREE personal usage; see website.
** But feel free to print with copyright info, & share for nonprofit usage!
With thanks to BlueLetterBible.org  for providing God's Word in easy-to-research format. Earlier format published in 2013. Additional encouraging resources at 
http://DianaDeeSongStories.blogspot.com