Sunday Words of Encouragement August 29, 2021

We attended church online again this morning. After worship, we shared in prayer for Afghanistan, Louisiana (facing Hurricane Ida), Haiti (suffered earthquake earlier this month).
Pastor continued his sermon series with Part 4 of Rising.
1. Rising Champion (the Church)
2. Rising Power (of God in us)
3. Rising Faith
We perceive that we are in a season of hardship but God has planted seeds to deal with hard times. Sometimes we struggle with a race especially if it is uphill. But when we reach the flat straight away before the finish line, we are often motivated to push faster to the end.

Our community suffered through Hurricane Michael in October 2018, with the stunning numbness afterward. Then, as we were beginning to recover, we were hit by the pandemic, shutdowns, quarantines, illness, death, economic concerns, the 2020 election, renewed concerns with the Delta variant, now war issues. It is possible to become weary.

Strength can be in three stages: rising, maintaining or waning. Our strength must be Rising.
Some of us have allowed ourselves to be separated from the vine. We have to get back to our source of strength.

Serving itself is not evidence of rising strength. Our attitude of service grows when spiritual strength grows. Sharing your faith grows when spiritual strength grows.

Where does your strength come from?
From the Lord. Psalm 28:6-8: “The Lord is my strength and my shield.”

We need to draw our strength from God. We can start by entering into His courts with praise.
It is not time to be tired! Get to the finish line --- then you can rest.
Habakkuk prayed in times of trouble, “The Sovereign Lord is my strength”. Habakkuk 3:17-19.

Our strength is in the Lord and comes from the Lord.

We, as church members, are required to bring rising strength to our lives.
Ephesians 6:10-18 tells believers to “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
Resist the evil and stand your ground!

If you want to have rising strength:
      Be in the Word of God (Bible)
      Be in conversation with God (Prayer)

Although I love searching for videos, I love when I have a video that fits: Stand in Faith

Verses for Today:
Psalm 28:6-8 NIV
6 Praise be to the Lord,
for he has heard my cry for mercy.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him.

8 The Lord is the strength of his people,
a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.

I have many prayers today. Lord, help me rise in strength!