Rayni Risher

Choosing Encouragement

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Life can be hard, messy, draining, and even devastating, can’t it? Some issues aren’t temporary trials…they can take months or years to resolve, even when you’re actively trying. Ongoing problems with physical health, relationships, emotional health, parenting, work, life purpose…

Have you ever been dealing with so much for so long that you’re desperate for an ounce of joy, peace and encouragement?

Lately I’m reminded again of the power of praise.

How utterly essential it is for our own spiritual and emotional health to daily focus on God. To praise Him, thank Him, worship Him, connect with Him, read His words, listen for His voice and wisdom.

When I’m in a pit of discouragement, it really never fails that when I choose to look to God and worship Him, burdens lift off of my shoulders and peace invades.

Worship is powerful.

Worship is also a choice.

It’s an act of faith; choosing to declare and believe in Goodness, Kindness, Love. God is all of those things, and more.

I’d love to share a word of encouragement with you today that I shared several years ago but it still encourages me today.  It encourages me to keep praising and seeking God; to willingly exchange my discouragement for His encouragement.

+++

I was feeling discouraged so I decided to go straight to Psalm 93 because it talks about how God is reigning no matter what. God is reigning and He is ruling with strength.

 “God is King, robed and ruling,
God is robed and surging with strength.

And yes, the world is firm, immovable,
Your throne ever firm—you’re Eternal!

Sea storms are up, God,
Sea storms wild and roaring,
Sea storms with thunderous breakers.

Stronger than wild sea storms,
Mightier than sea-storm breakers,
Mighty God rules from High Heaven.

What you say goes—it always has.
“Beauty” and “Holy” mark your palace rule,
God, to the very end of time.”

I love this psalm because it talks about God being in charge. He’s the one ruling and reigning, no matter what. And whether you like the person who’s in charge of your company or country or whatever else, God is ultimately the one reigning and ruling, and He’s stronger than any storm you face.

So, after I read through Psalm 93, I read through psalms 92-99. I kept reading and rereading them. I love them because a lot of them talk about God being sovereign and ruling and reining.

But they also call us to worship!

So, I started worshiping God. I started praising God. I started singing. I started thanking Him for every big and small thing I could think of. Suddenly, I was so filled with joy and encouragement and peace.

It was amazing because just half an hour earlier I had been filled with so much discouragement. But as I worshiped God and thanked Him and meditated on His words, He exchanged my discouragement for encouragement.

As a result, I wanted to jump and dance and shout! All day long I wanted to tell everyone about this joy that God had given me…and I did, and some people thought I was a little weird but that’s ok.

In John 14: 27, Jesus says: “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So, don’t be troubled or afraid.” (NLT)

So…

What’s your storm? What’s the storm you’re walking through right now in your life? I want to encourage you that God is bigger than that storm.

Jesus offers us peace, and even though it seems too good to be true, it’s real and it’s there for us to receive.

And just like we read in Psalm 93, even as big and powerful and overwhelming as the sea storm is—with the breakers that are sweeping over the psalmist in his heart—God’s bigger! And God reigns.

This week I encourage you to read Psalm 93. Think about it, meditate on it. And then worship God; thank Him. Sing praises to Him. Receive His offer of joy and peace.

 

 

 

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When You’re Faced With Insurmountable Odds…

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Looking upOne of my favorite chapters in the Old Testament is 2 Chronicles 20. It’s the story of King Jehoshaphat, leader of the people of Judah, seeking God when he was faced with insurmountable odds. War was imminent and Jehoshaphat didn’t know what to do.

In the midst of great pressure, Jehoshaphat shows us an example of the best response to adversity. And watch how God answers him! You can read the entire chapter here.

I’d thought I’d share a few of my favorite parts and hope this encourages you in whatever difficult or confusing situation you are facing.

+After word of the pending invasion (verse 3):

“Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed they came from every town in Judah to seek Him.”

I love that the first thing Jehoshaphat does is resolve to seek the Lord, and then invite everyone to join him. How many times do we first seek our own opinion, or run to our friends or someone we don’t even know for advice, instead of asking God, who has all wisdom? Difficult situations in our life should draw us to God, first and foremost.

+From Jehoshaphat’s prayer when Judah was assembled, seeking God (verse 12):

“…For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”

Jehoshaphat leads Judah in humbling themselves before God, declaring they don’t have a clue, but they are watching God, and believing that He will respond. How many times do we think we know the answers, and put our eyes on everything or everyone other than God? Or we don’t believe that God will answer us, even when we ask Him to.

+Then God speaks through a prophet–who had the courage to use the prophetic gift God had given him, speaking in front of everyone–(verse 15):

“This is what the Lord says to you: Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

It’s interesting that the word of the Lord didn’t come directly to Jehoshaphat. It came from someone else who was also seeking God for wisdom in the situation. God often speaks wise advice into our lives through others. Listen for it. Test it, to be sure. But listen for it. Secondly, the battle is never ours. And God doesn’t want it to be. It’s His. He’ll take care of us. I think He always gives us a part to play in it, but He’s the powerful One.

+Going to battle the morning after the Lord promised Judah deliverance by His hand (verse 21):

“After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him for the splendor of His holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying, ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever.’ As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.”

Oh how I love that the singers were placed in the front of the entire army and as they were marching out to victory they were singing praises to God! As they praised, God began the active work of delivering them.

When we praise God we are encouraged! We become focused on Him and His goodness rather than on our circumstances. And God acts on our behalf!

Also note that in this circumstance, Judah’s army was praising God for who He is and for His love for them. They are focusing on God Himself rather than their problem.

+After the victory God had given Judah (verse 29):

“The fear (reverence, awe) of God came upon all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.”

Not only did God bring peace and rest to Judah, but I think the most important thing is that God was glorified. All of Judah was strengthened and encouraged by this miraculous deliverance by the living God, something they could remember in the future when they were feeling discouraged; and something that would be told for generations to come.

But, it didn’t stop there. All the surrounding kingdoms stood in awe of God and revered Him when they heard what He had done for His people. God was glorified big time! And a lot of those people in the other kingdoms probably became followers of the God of Judah after that.

So…

Be encouraged in whatever personal battle you are facing today. Seek God. Expect Him to speak to you. Be open to Him speaking to you in a way you weren’t expecting. Do what He tells you to do. Praise Him in the midst of your difficulty. And let the Lord fight for you.

Prayer

God, in the midst of trying and desperate circumstances, I often do not know what to do. But I resolve to fix my eyes upon You, and trust that You will deliver me. Give me wisdom and a heart of worship. Encourage my heart as I focus on Who You are. You are always good. Amen.

 

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Speak in the Language of Your Future

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Recently I watched the movie Woman in Gold. In part it shares the true story of a young Austrian Jewish woman’s experience escaping Nazis in Austria.

At the point when she realizes she needs to take an opportunity to leave for America, she discusses it with her parents.

Her Austrian father begins speaking to her in English and says, “From now on we will speak English to each other because we are speaking the language of your future.”

In other words, she’ll be spending her future in America so they’re going to speak English, the language of her future.

That beautiful scene made me think about what “language” I’m using to speak about my future. Is it a language of negativity, doubt or fear? Or is it a language of hope, purpose, and destiny?

Do my words build myself and others up? Or do my words tear down and wound?

Do my words speak life, hope and goodness into a situation or do they spread anxiety and fear?

I’m reminded of Ephesians 4:29, “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” (NLT)

Ideally, that’s what words should do. Call out the good things in others. Build up. Speak truth in love. Cut through fear and create hope.

Our words are so important and they’re usually a direct result of our thoughts.

Dr. Caroline Leaf, a cognitive neuroscientist with a PhD in Communication Pathology specializing in Neuropsychology, has studied and researched the Mind-Brain connection since the early 1980s.

Dr. Leaf says, “Frame your world with your words. If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought. Thoughts are real, physical things that occupy mental real estate. Moment by moment, every day, you are changing the structure of your brain through your thinking. When we hope, it is an activity of the mind that changes the structure of our brain in a positive and normal direction.”

Dwelling on negativity is actually physically toxic to our brains and bodies.

So, developing a habit of choosing to think and speak in a positive and hopeful way to ourselves and to others actually changes our brains and causes them to function in a healthier way.

Out of our thought patterns our words are formed and our lives are lived. Having healthy thoughts and speaking out those healthy thoughts makes it easier to live out healthy principles in daily life.

That doesn’t mean that we ignore problems or conflict. It’s important to seek healthy ways to resolve issues. But it does mean that dwelling in negativity and constantly speaking negativity can actually makes us unwell.

So…

▪What’s coming out of your mouth and what thoughts are you regularly dwelling on?

▪Are they toxic or healthy? Fearful or hopeful? Building up or tearing down?

I want to be intentional about choosing to speak hope, peace, truth and grace to myself and others.

Will you join me this week in being more intentional about speaking a healthier language that will lead you into your future?

 

 

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Recovering Your “Muchness”

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AliceLast week I re-watched Alice in Wonderland, the 2010 film based on Lewis Carroll’s books.

I find this movie inspiring because it is about a young woman with a calling.

A calling to rise up and find courage deep within; to confront fear and doubt as she comes against the biggest obstacle of her life….setting an entire land of people free by killing the evil Jabberwocky (a fierce & enormous dragon).

But backing up a bit in the story, we find that Alice isn’t all that courageous at first. She highly doubts herself and doesn’t believe that she’s capable of such bravery and greatness. For quite a while she thinks her friends who speak of this pending greatness are confusing her with a different Alice.

At one point her friend The Hatter says to her a wonderful and thought-provoking line, “‎You’re not the same as you were before. You were much more… muchier… you’ve lost your muchness.”

You’ve lost your muchness.

He had known Alice as a girl when I imagine she was much more plucky; full of curiosity and free of fear. Somewhere along the way she lost that a bit.

But as she gets to know and love the people around her more, she realizes she must summon every drop of courage she has to fight for them and protect them.

So…even though she’s rather terrified, she enters into battle with resolve.

As the Jabberwocky draws near with designs to kill her, Alice–clad in armor and wielding a giant sword–has this short conversation with her friend, the Hatter:

Alice: “This is impossible.”

The Hatter: “Only if you believe it is.”

Alice: “Sometimes I believe as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”

The Hatter: “That is an excellent practice.”

As Alice walks into seemingly certain doom to confront the fierce Jabberwocky, she tells herself to count six impossible things, in an attempt to stir up her courage.

She starts to list them off one by one, the first five being things that seemed absolutely impossible…but they already happened…which proves they were not impossible at all.

The sixth item she lists off? Slay the Jabberwocky.

Which she accomplishes as the beast flings her up into the air, allowing her to descend with great force upon it, cutting off its head. The evil is gone and the people are free…thanks to one courageous girl who believed the impossible.

It is quite reminiscent of David and Goliath. And afterward I have a feeling that Alice had completely recovered her “muchness”.

Why am I sharing this? Because with God even something that seems impossible is possible. And not only is God able to do the impossible in your life, He wants to accomplish these impossible things with you, through you, so He will be glorified.

One of the most powerful verses in the Bible talks about the God of the impossible triumphing while partnering with us:

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever” (Ephesians 3:20-21, NIV).

I also like how The Message says it:

“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit deeply and gently within us.”

God can do anything on His own. But isn’t it amazing that He usually doesn’t want to do it that way? He would rather partner with us to accomplish something for His glory.

The Bible says that, as followers of Jesus, the same Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead is living in us. (Romans 8:11) Imagine that awesome, all-powerful resurrection power living inside of us!

Working within us to accomplish the impossible!

So…

+ What in your life seems impossible to overcome today?

+ What does God want you to believe is possible? Because it is possible with Him.

+ What are you waiting for?

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God is a Refuge

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Reading through Psalm 9 recently, these verses stood out to me:

“God’s a safe-house for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times. The moment you arrive, you relax; you’re never sorry you knocked.” (Psalm 9: 9-12, The Message)

You’re never sorry you knocked.

Isn’t that beautiful?

I can imagine walking up to God’s door, like walking up to the home of a best friend where you’re fully accepted and always welcome just as you are. Weighed down with problems, the moment you enter His presence you feel utter relief.

Have you ever felt utter relief? I have.

The world can be exhausting, can’t it? Health problems, relationship drama, political divisiveness, disappointment.

What is the mountain you’re facing?

What is the disappointment weighing on you?

What is the grief that’s spilling out of you?

You know, God is always with us. His presence is already here, with you in your day-to-day moments.

Take a moment right now to rest and relax with Him; to leave what is burdening you at His feet.

“You’re never sorry you knocked.”

 

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