Women Of Encouragement

By E. Ruth Greiner

 How can you become a woman of encouragement? God can remake you into a woman of encouragement. There can be a "new you."

Romans 12:1,2 holds the secret to a transformed life. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

Would you like to have a brain transplant? Scientists are looking into it (experimenting). Whose brain would you like to have for 24 hours? Einstein's? A newspaper article "Your Brain Is Better Than Any Computer" said, "Your own brain is far more complex and awe-inspiring than any computer - in fact it can hold 280 million times more information than the most sophisticated computer ever built."

It has been estimated that we use less than 10 % of our brain. (Einstein said it was 2 % or less). Psychologists say that 10,000 thoughts go through the human mind in one day.

Does it matter what we think? Think about a pickle. Your mouth waters. (During a student’s speech in college a fellow student stood at the back of the room sucking on lemon. You can imagine what happened.)

A car is headed straight for you! Adrenaline shoots through your body —quick thinking — swerve — miss the car, or panic and faint.

Our thoughts affect our bodies.
Our thoughts affect our words.
Our thoughts affect our actions.

"As he thinketh in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7). Has a rotten thought ever spoiled your day? Emerson said, "Beware of what you set your mind on, for that you will surely become."

 LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO EIGHT INVISIBLE INTRUDERS THAT CAN RUIN YOUR DAY AND KEEP YOU FROM BEING TRANSFORMED INTO WOMEN OF ENCOURAGEMENT.

Let them pass before you as a warning. 

1. Miss Nitty Gritty (more trouble with the "gritty").

You have heard: "Let's get down to the nitty gritty?" The harsh truth. The everyday details of living. Can't cope? Is it the every day things that get you down, that overwhelm you--disturb your thought process? They keep you focused on yourself and all you have to do, instead of helping you to reach out and encourage someone else who may have that problem.

Have you seen the saying; "Dust, sign of success."? Perhaps.  Perhaps not.

Heloise said, "Good housekeeping will not get you to heaven, but too much good housekeeping may get you there sooner, provided that was where you were headed in the first place."

The Nitty Gritty can keep you from spending time with your children. It can keep you from reaching out to others.

2. Miss Hoity Toity - (Highty Tighty)

This visitor is arrogant, pompous, touchy, takes offense easily. "Does it get your goat?" Does that kind of person keep you from becoming the woman God wants you to be? 

3. Miss Namby-Pamby

This person is wishy washy, spineless, and lacking decisiveness. She is afraid to take a stand. This visitor may keep YOU from taking a stand and speaking up when you should, for what you should. 

4 & 5. Twins - Miss Diddle Daddle (Dilly Dally) and Miss Dibble Dabble

Miss Diddle Daddle wastes time, talents, gifts, opportunities, and priorities. She can keep you from becoming a woman of encouragement.  Miss Dibble Dabble undertakes something superficially without serious intent. She is not serious about things that really matter. 

6) Miss La Di Da.

This lady is pretentious. Makes an extravagant outer show. Claims or demands a position of distinction or merit. If she isn't recognized or named first she is out of sorts. 

7) Miss Topsy Turvy

This woman is in a state of utter confusion. She is constantly in a disorderly condition. Her schedule is Helter-Skelter. This can keep a person frustrated and keep one from having time to encourage others. One does not have to be Miss Management Plus to be an effective woman. We are not all the same. 

8) Mr. Harry Scary

This visitor is one of fear, letting his imaginations get out of control. Do you often imagine awful things that might happen? Do you ever let your imagination run away with you? Your husband is late from work, perhaps an accident. Children late from school. Was there an accident or bombing or kidnapping? Your child is sick, and you imagine the worst. Or perhaps you are not feeling well. Is it life threatening? Maybe you won't live to see your children/grandchildren grow up. 

LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO THE GREAT TRANSFORMER, JESUS CHRIST.

He is the one who can transform you into a woman of encouragement. He can make you a new person. He knows how. He is the Creator of the universe. Your Heavenly Father knows best!

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5).

"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

"Casting down imagination and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought unto the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5).

God has given us the answer. We must appropriate it. Romans 12:1,2.

R - READ THE BIBLE DAILY (and relate it to your life)

Get to know the Author. I read of a lady who thought a certain book was extremely dull until she met the author. She fell in love with him and from that day on loved his book. 

"Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee" (Psalm 119:11).

"Thy words were found and I did eat them and they were to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart" (Jeremiah 15:16).

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost" (Romans 15: 13). 

E - ENJOY GOD

The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

"In Thy presence is fulness of joy and at Thy right hand there are pleasures for ever more" (Psalm 16:11).

"Acquaint thou thyself with Him and be at peace, thereby good shall come to thee" (Job 22:21). 

N - NEVER TRUST IN YOURSELF

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (James. 1:5).

E - EXCHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS

Replace your thoughts with God's Word.

"Whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good ... think on these things" (Philippians 4:8).

"Nevertheless not I but Christ liveth in me" (Galatians 2:20). 

W - WILL TO DO GOD'S WILL

"If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself" (John. 7:17).

God’s will is good, acceptable, perfect.

Life is filled with good and evil. God is good. He is our Deliverer. We need a home at the end of the road to make our journey worthwhile. Then through God we can overcome the obstacles along the way. We can cope with the nitty gritty, hoity toity, namby pamby, diddle daddle, dibble dabble, la di da, topsy turby, harry scary.

We can be made anew — transformed by the power of Christ.

Why then are we still bound? We are still in time, in process, in a story. Deliverance is not instantaneous because our being is not instantaneous. We do not suddenly receive a deliverance pill once for all. We should be in a love affair with God. We can continually take God's prescription for deliverance. And we will be continually made new, transformed to become women of encouragement.

HEART’S CRY

Dear Lord, 

The circumstances I am in
Are ones I would not choose.
I do not wish to hurt this much.
I would not wish this on my worst enemy,
It hurts so much — to the point of numbness.
The waves of apathy are slowly coming closer and closer together.
They overwhelm me, and I cannot keep my stance.
They push me over.
I have lost control.
Oh Lord, where am I?
Where are You?
Am I far from You?
Why can’t I see You?
Why can’t I feel You?
Are you still there?
Don’t You love me?
Do You know how much I hurt?
And most of all, why did You let this happen to me?
Didn’t you know how much it would hurt me?
Couldn’t You have stopped it?
Why, Lord, why?
— From your child.

 My Dearest Child,

I do love you!
I, too, have been hurt.
I know how you feel.
It hurts me to see you hurt.
The pain is in Me, too.
I feel what you feel.
I love you more than My own life.
Don’t you remember?
I gave up My life for you.
I died for you.
I suffered for you.
I did all I could do for you.
Look at My hands.
Look at My feet.
Look at these nails.
Look at My brow.
Look at these thorns.
This blood from these wounds is shed for you, My child.
Would I have done this if My love for you had boundaries?
Would I suffer and die for you and bear the ultimate shame
of My Father’s disdain for the world’s sin 
now placed on My sinless shoulders
if I did not have your best interest at heart?
I took your punishment on Me then, 
and I take your hurt upon Me now.
Yes, my child,
I allowed this circumstance to come into your life.
But it is just that — a circumstance.
You live in a sinful world.
And until I come again sin will have its domain in the world.
But you, My child, are in an unsinkable, impenetrable lifeboat
In a sea of sin and temporal circumstances.
And I, the Master of the sea, am with you in that boat.
Yes, the troublesome circumstances surround you,
But they cannot touch you, unless you let them.
I have complete control over them.
They will not go away.
They will continue to abound in this world.
But you have overcome them.
You have more power through Me than they can ever have.
If you will only let Me have control over them and you.
I cannot steer the boat while you are at the helm.
I know you do not know the way and cannot see what is ahead.
I understand your fears and questions.
And some of them may not be answered 
Until we cross this sea to the other shore.
But you must trust Me because I love you.
You may go through deep waters, but I will be with you.
I know the way.
I know you.
I love you.
Will you take My hand?
Will you still follow Me?
Anything in this world can change.
I never will
Hold onto Me.
I will never leave you, nor forsake you.
I promise!
Because I love you, My child, I love you.
Forever your Friend,
—Jesus Christ

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