......Words of Encouragement
The declarations below have been chosen to bring encouragement to those who are going through difficult times.
The story at the bottom of the page, "Shake it off and Step Up," is a short story with a message of encouragement for those who are facing tough circumstances.
See also "Restoring Your Relationship with God," a message of encouragement for those who feel distant from God, or who feel they have been gradually drifting further away.
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Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 2 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.
Psalm 34:4-15 I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him from all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.
Taste and see that the LORD is good. How happy is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing. Young lions lack food and go hungry, but those who seek the LORD will not lack any good thing.
Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Who is the man who delights in life, loving a long life to enjoy what is good?
Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech.
Turn away from evil and do what is good; seek peace and pursue it.
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry for help. (hcsb)
(Read these statements in their biblical context as well, for further understanding and application)
Romans 8:31-35 ......If God is on our side, can anyone be against us? God did not keep back his own Son, but freely gave him for us all. If God did this, won't he freely give us everything else we need?
If God says his chosen ones are acceptable to him, can anyone bring charges against them? Or can anyone condemn them? No indeed! Christ died and was raised to life, and now he is at God's right side, interceeding for us.
Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, suffering or hard times, hunger or poverty, danger or death?
38 ..... I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love- "nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable--absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us." (Message)
Philippians 4:6-7 ......... Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. (The Message) Psalm 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You! (nasb) Isaiah 51:12 / I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you should be afraid of a man who will die, and of the son of a man who will be made like grass? 13 And you forget the LORD your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth; You have feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, when he has prepared to destroy. And where is the fury of the oppressor? (nkjv) Matt. 6:25-34 Jesus said, " I tell you not to worry about your life. Don't worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn't life more than food or clothing? Look at the birds in the sky! They don't plant or harvest. They don't even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren't you worth more than birds? Can worry make you live longer? Why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow. They don't work hard to make their clothes. But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn't as well clothed as one of them. God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. He will surely do even more for you! Why do you have such little faith? Don't worry and ask yourselves, "Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?" Only people who don't know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these. But more than anything else, put God's work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well. Don't worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (cev) Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. (nkjv) "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." 1st John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (nasb) John 6:35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. (nasb) Psalm 91:14-16 / The Lord says, "If you love me and truly know who I am, I will rescue you and keep you safe. When you are in trouble, call out to me. I will answer and be there to protect and honor you. You will live a long life and see my saving power." (cev) Matthew 8:26 Jesus said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Romans 10:9-11 If you confess with your mouth that "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, "No one who believes on Him will be put to shame." John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (nasb) Ephesians 3:17 And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18. may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19. and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (niv) Mark 10:27 Looking at them, Jesus *said, "With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God." (nasb) Mark 9:23 "All things are possible for one who believes." Isaiah 43:1-3 But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (niv)
(From Jesus, Matthew 11:28-30 The Message)
Psalm 91:1-6/ Live under the protection of God Most High and stay in the shadow of the All Powerful God. Then you will say to the LORD, "You are my fortress, my place of safety; you are my God, and I trust you."
The Lord will keep you safe from secret traps and deadly diseases. He will spread his protection over you and keep you secure. His faithfulness is like a shield or a city wall. You won't need to worry about dangers at night or arrows during the day. And you won't fear diseases that strike in the dark or sudden disaster at noon. (cev)
Proverbs 3:5,6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. (nasb)
Psalms 46:1 ¶ God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. (nkjv)
Isaiah 43:18-19 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." (niv)
Matthew 7:7-11 "Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks will find, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
Psalms 145:8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy.
Psalm 37:1-7 Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; 2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked plans.
Deuteronomy 31:8 And the LORD, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.
Psalms 27:1 <> The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2 Cor. 5:15 He died for all, so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but only for him who died and was raised to life for their sake.
1st John 5:11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
Revelation 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (nasb)
Psalm23 / A Psalm of David.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (esv)
Psalm 103:10-14 He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our offenses. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His faithful love toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. For He knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust. (hcsb)
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (nkjv)
Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
John 7:37-39 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'" 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (nasb)
Jesus taught us to ask, so that we can be filled with the Holy Spirit:
Luke 11:9-13 "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 "For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. 11 "Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12 "Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? 13 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" (nasb)
Ephesians 5:18-21 Don't destroy yourself by getting drunk, but let the Spirit fill your life. When you meet together, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, as you praise the Lord with all your heart. Always use the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to thank God the Father for everything. Honor Christ and put others first. (cev)
1st John 4:9 God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him.
10 Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (payment) for our sins.
11 Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and His love is perfected in us. 13 This is how we know that we remain in Him and He in us: He has given to us from His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God--God remains in him and he in God. (hcsb)
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude.
Love isn't selfish or quick tempered. It doesn't keep a record of wrongs that others do.
Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil.
Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting.
Love never fails! (cev)
Psalms 36:8 They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. (nkjv)
Isaiah 58:10-11 If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday. The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. (nkjv)
Matthew 22:35-40 And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test Him:
"Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?"
He (Jesus) said to him, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind."
This is the greatest and most important commandment.
The second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself." (hcsb)
Psalms 119:64 The earth, O LORD, is full of Your mercy; Teach me Your statutes.
Psalms 112:4 Light arises in the darkness for the upright; He is gracious and compassionate and righteous. (nasb)
Psalms 86:15 But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth. (nkjv)
Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD. (esv)
Luke 10:19 "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (nkjv)
Matthew 10:29-31 Aren't two sparrows sold for only a penny? But your Father knows when any one of them falls to the ground. Even the hairs on your head are counted. So don't be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows. (cev)
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Psalms 68:35 The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people.
Isaiah 40:29-31 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (esv)
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (nkjv)
Jude 1:24-5 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. (esv)
Numbers 6:24-6 The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. (esv)
(Read the passages above in their original context as well,
for greater understanding.)
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