PRAY FOR AND ENCOURAGE THEM

“They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.  So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved.”

Isaiah 41:6,7 KJV

As I was waiting for my ride to take me home from Wal-Mart, I saw a lot of people going in and coming out of Wal-Mart.  The thought came to me that we should pray for and encourage them.  Joyce Landorf Heatherley, a Christian speaker and author said we should encourage the ones we sit next to in church.

Just as we don’t know what is going on in the hearts of people we sit next to in church, we also don’t know what’s going on in the hearts of people we see at the store.  A lot of people, including me sometimes, smile when our heart is breaking.  Only Jesus can see what is happening in our heart and life.

Just as our precious Saviour can see what is in our heart, He is also the Healer of broken hearts.  “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds” (Psalms 147:3).  How can we encourage people we see in the grocery store?  We might only see them for a few minutes but we can smile at them.

Many years ago when I was at Wal-Mart a little girl who was sitting in the seat of the grocery cart that her mother was pushing looked at me and smiled.  That precious little girl’s smile encouraged me and helped me get through my day as I was in the middle of a dark valley.  Thank God for children.

Heavenly Father, please encourage and comfort all those who are discouraged and hurting.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.   

Joanne Lowe

April 2, 2017