Encouragement for the new year

I've been wanting to say something to you to comfort you or inspire you, but the words just haven't been flowing recently. With this being the last day of 2018, I feel like it's important to leave this very difficult year behind and face the new year with words of encouragement and hope. I'm thinking of you, lifting you up in prayer, and holding you in my heart. I empathize with your pain and suffering and understand the depression and anxiety that results from everything you've been through. I also know that it seems like your suffering is compounded daily by many smaller problems, problems that at any other time would be manageable but are now too overwhelming to deal with. Know that you will get through this, that tomorrow will be a little bit easier, and the following day a little easier still. Once you stare down one problem, the next one will be a little more manageable. You will heal. You'll find a new normal.

The above note is addressed to you, my family, friends, acquaintances:
To you who lost a spouse, a parent, a child, a friend.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Matthew 5:4 NIV

To you who are facing divorce.
"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18 NIV

To you who no longer have a place to call home.
“And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Matthew 8:20
“O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear.” Psalm 10:17

To you who live in poverty, including the working poor, the retired, or the disabled.
“I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me” Phil 2:12-13
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:19

To you who know someone in jail.
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

To you who have been abused physically, sexually, verbally, or emotionally.
A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. Isaiah 42:3-4
The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. Psalm 33:5

To you who cannot speak up for yourself, seek advocacy. Advocates:
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:8-9

To you who live in a dysfunctional family.
Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 1 John 4:20

To you who suffer from physical or mental pain/disease.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelation 21:4

To anyone and everyone in need of encouragement.
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8

Sample Prayer for Salvation

This week we're praying for the salvation of a loved one. Below is a sample prayer that you can use for when words aren't coming to you. This prayer should be as passionate as if you were praying for the person's life because that's what this is...a prayer for the loved one's eternal life; we want to be surrounded by our loved ones in Heaven, don't we? We have no idea how long we'll be here in this life, but we do know that the afterlife is forever. Don't let another moment go by without praying for the salvation of your loved ones. Choose one person, or three, or twenty, but pray for each person by name; pray for it like there's no tomorrow.

Sample prayer:
Lord Father, we come together this hour to pray for the salvation of a loved one. I have faith in You, Father, to change the heart of (name). I know that it is not Your will that any should suffer eternity in hell, and I believe that through constant prayer for (name), You will hear my plea, and answer by saving (name).
Please, cast out Satan from their life, the great deceiver who has had control of his/her life for too long now. I pray that You will send forth someone who will speak the gospel to (name) so that he/she will hear it. 
You are a merciful God and I beseech You to shine Your grace on (name); choose them to follow You, Father. Show them the way. Allow them to hear Your Word and repent their sins. Give them the divine gift of Your love. Show them the great sacrifice You made when You sent Jesus into the world to live among us as one of us. Show them the ultimate sacrifice when Jesus died on the cross, and shed His blood that we might have eternal life. Father, please save (name).

In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen

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Pray for the Salvation of a Loved One

George Muller was a devout Christain who lived from 1805 - 1898. He is best known for establishing multiple orphanages in Bristol, England enabling over 10,000 children to be cared for and educated. He did this without once asking for any money from anyone. Every day he spent hours in prayer, asking God to see to their needs and God always came through. George Muller never doubted that there would always be food on the table, repairs would be made, or even that buildings would be built if it was needed and if he prayed fervently for it.
I remember reading a book about Muller that said part of his daily prayer was a plea for the salvation of people in his life. If I remember correctly, every single person he prayed for eventually came to faith. One man took a couple of decades to be saved, but he did come to follow Jesus.
Let's come together this week to pray for at least one person in our life to be saved. I have a handful of people in my life who don't know Jesus and don't want to talk about Him, or even hear His name. I used to be discouraged by that, but have since learned that every encounter is, at the very least, a chance to plant a seed. I remind myself daily that if God could change the heart of Saul, then there's no one in my life who's hopeless.

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