JUNE THEME – “SEEING UNITY FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE”

BEATS FROM YOUR PASTOR’S HEART

THE FASTEST WAY TO ENCOURAGE YOURSELF

“Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.” — Ecclesiastes 11:1

“The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” — Proverbs 11:25

“Give, and it shall be given unto you…” — Luke 6:38

One of the most remarkable principles in God’s Kingdom is that the quickest way to receive what you need is often to give it away. When we are discouraged, our natural tendency is to focus on our own burdens, disappointments, frustrations, and needs. Yet God frequently points us in the opposite direction. Instead of waiting for someone to encourage us, He calls us to become encouragers. Instead of waiting for someone to bless us, He invites us to become a blessing. Instead of waiting for someone to refresh us, He challenges us to refresh someone else.

Perhaps the very thing you need most today is the very thing God wants you to give away. If you need encouragement, encourage someone. If you need hope, give hope. If you need kindness, show kindness. If you need friendship, be a friend. God’s economy operates differently than the world’s. The world says, “Receive first, then give.” God says, “Give, and it shall be given unto you.”

Every Encouraging Word Is a Seed

When Solomon wrote, “Cast thy bread upon the waters,” he was describing the principle of sowing and reaping. Every encouraging word is a seed. Every text message, phone call, prayer, note, compliment, and act of kindness is bread cast upon the waters. What may seem insignificant to you may be life-changing to someone else.

Barnabas understood this principle. He became known as “the son of encouragement” because he consistently invested in people. When others doubted Saul, Barnabas believed in him. When others gave up on John Mark, Barnabas gave him another chance. Everywhere he went, he planted seeds of hope, faith, and courage.

Many people are praying for encouragement while overlooking opportunities to encourage someone else. Yet every seed planted in faith matters to God. The encouragement you release today may strengthen someone tomorrow, and somewhere down the road God often brings that same encouragement back into your own life.

God Refreshes Those Who Refresh Others

Proverbs 11:25 contains one of the most encouraging promises in all of Scripture: “He that watereth shall be watered also himself.” God has designed His Kingdom so that those who refresh others are often refreshed themselves. Those who strengthen others frequently find their own strength renewed. Those who bless others often discover that God is blessing them.

Many believers become trapped in discouragement because they become consumed with their own struggles. Their vision narrows until all they can see are their problems. Yet something powerful happens when they begin looking outward. As we help carry someone else’s burden, God often lightens our own. As we strengthen others, God strengthens us. As we encourage others, we find our own hearts encouraged.

One of the fastest ways to encourage yourself is to encourage someone else.

Give What You Need Most

One of the most powerful lessons in the Christian life is learning to give away what you need. If you need encouragement, encourage someone. If you need prayer, pray for someone. If you need mercy, show mercy. If you need love, love someone. If you need hope, bring hope to another person.

Jesus said, “Give, and it shall be given unto you.” This principle applies to every area of life. Whatever we sow tends to multiply. Whatever we release tends to return. The farmer who refuses to sow seed never experiences a harvest. The believer who refuses to bless others often misses the joy of seeing God work through this divine principle.

What leaves your hand today may return through God’s hand tomorrow.

A man was going through one of the darkest seasons of his life. Every morning he woke up discouraged and burdened by problems he could not seem to overcome. One day he decided that before focusing on his own struggles, he would intentionally encourage one person each day. Some days he sent a text message. Some days he made a phone call. Other days he simply prayed with someone who was hurting.

Several weeks later he noticed something remarkable. His circumstances had not changed much, but his spirit had changed dramatically. By helping others carry their burdens, God had helped him carry his own. By encouraging others, he found encouragement. By refreshing others, he found himself refreshed. By blessing others, he discovered God blessing him.

The bread he cast upon the waters had begun to return.

If someone has come to your mind while reading this devotional, do not ignore it. That may be the Holy Spirit prompting you. Before you get busy, make the call. Send the text. Write the note. Offer the prayer. Speak the blessing.

Be a Barnabas.

Cast your bread upon the waters.

Give what you need most.

Then trust God with the harvest.

You may discover that while you are busy encouraging someone else, God is already arranging the encouragement that will eventually find its way back to you.

Warfare Prayer

Heavenly Father, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, thank You for the privilege of being a blessing to others. Forgive me for becoming so focused on my own needs that I overlook opportunities to encourage those around me. Today I reject every spirit of discouragement, heaviness, selfishness, hopelessness, self-pity, and isolation.

Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and make me sensitive to Your voice. Show me who needs encouragement today. Show me who needs a prayer, a phone call, a word of hope, or a reminder that they are loved. Make me a Barnabas. Let my words bring life, strength, comfort, and faith to those around me.

As I refresh others, refresh me. As I strengthen others, strengthen me. As I bless others, bless me according to Your perfect will. Help me trust Your promise that the bread cast upon the waters will return in Your timing and through Your provision. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Daily Challenge

Before the next hour passes, encourage someone.

Do not wait until tomorrow.

Do not wait until later.

Call someone.

Text someone.

Pray for someone.

Speak a blessing over someone.

Give what you need most.

Cast your bread upon the waters.

Then watch what God does as He uses your encouragement to strengthen them—and strengthen you.

THURSDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS

Ann Stanley    

Aston Savage

Britany Smith ~ Breast Cancer

Christopher & Yting Kelley

Danny Jarrard 

David Franklin

Dinay Rodriguez

Ellen Boyd 

Jean Muehlfelt

Kim’s Sisters – Ann & Brenda & Mateen

Kim McClain’s Daughter, Amanda

Mary Williams

Nancy Riley

Phillip Roach

Susan Bankston

Wes Knight

Amy Garner’s Dad

Andrea Nix– Friend of the Shelnutt’s

Angela Bryan’s Sisters

Annette Ford

Brando Echarte

Carol Lawhead – Riverside in Conyers

Darlene Kelley – Cancer Treatment

Darlene Wiggins

Debbie Foskey 

Deon Lotter

Don And Karelle Franklin – Mae’s Cousins

Doris Loyd

Dr. and Mrs. Davis

Ed Adkins – Friend of Brian Edwards

Ed Franklin’s Son In Law – Heart Surgery

Eric Magnusson’s Mother

Eric Ward

Friend of Linda Hodge

Gayle Sparks

Gloria Young

James Burnette

Jean Partee

Jean Partee’s Sister

Jessica Headrick  

John McClain’s Mother

Joni Oberhage

June Cronan’s Sister

June Davis

Kailey Bateman

Kim McClain’s Mother 

Lillianna Magnusson’s Mom

Linda Mays

Lonzo Christian 

Lori Blount’s Mother

Mary Williamson – Dana Jackson’s Mom

Mrs. Franklin 

Nancy Brown

Nora Allison

Paul Bateman

Ron And Johnnie Barry – Friends Of Ashton & Glenda Bateman

Rose Fuller – Pruitt-Monroe Nursing Home, Forsyth GA

Roy Roach

Scott Lanier 

Scotty Nix

Stephanie Seivers – Friend of the Shelnutt’s

Steve Michaels

Tammy Shelnutt

Tom Witcher