Tag: Encouragement

Christian

Are You Studying the Book of Revelation Or Avoiding It?

Cindy Dawson

2-Minute Devotion for Monday, 9/7/26

Just the thought of studying the book of Revelation can be daunting. I’ve read it several times, but what does it all mean? I challenge you to tackle this book, take notes, and delve in, expecting God to teach you.

Jesus assured His disciples,

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26

Learn the characteristics of a healthy church according to Jesus. Find out the things Jesus held against them, things which would result in the removal of their lampstand if they did not repent. The lampstands represent all Christian churches. (chapters 2 and 3)

Some of the things prophesied made little sense until recent times. That’s why Revelation is even more interesting and exciting than it ever was!

“It (the beast) also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.” Revelation 13:16-17

In the past, we couldn’t imagine how this would be possible. But today we know that through modern technology, it is possible.  The mark of the beast could be an implanted microchip that allows people to access their digital currency.

Key end-time events involve Israel. But before Israel became an independent nation on May 14, 1948, the Jews had not been living in their land since the first and second centuries.

These are just a few examples of what you can (and should) learn in this timely message from Jesus.

“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” Revelation 1:3

“The angel said to me (John), “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.” Revelation 22:6

“Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.” Revelation 22:7

These are words in red, the very words of Jesus, our Savior and Lord.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, … “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

Scriptures from NIV

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Count It Pure Joy

Cindy Dawson

Quote of the Week for 9/2/26

“God never uses anyone greatly until He tests them deeply.”
― A.W. Tozer

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4 NIV

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

Photo by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash

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Will This Please the Lord?

Cindy Dawson

2-Minute Devotion for Tuesday, 9/1/26

What do we do when we want to do something but aren’t sure we should? Is it a sin?

Do we look for Bible verses that will give us permission to get around the conviction we feel? Perhaps we should ask ourselves: Will this please the Lord? Consider the verses below.

“Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. 1 John 3:21-22

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)  and find out what pleases the Lord.” Ephesians 5:8-10

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God …” Colossians 1:9-10

” … but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not intending to please people, but to please God, who examines our hearts.” 1 Thessalonians 2:4 NASB

I don’t know about you, but whenever I ask myself, Will this please the Lord?, I always know what I should do or not do!

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

Unless noted otherwise, all Scripture verses are from the NIV; emphasis mine.

Photo by Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash

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The Ripple Effect

Cindy Dawson

1-Minute Devotion for Sunday, 8/30/26


“Too often our call is to toss a pebble into the still waters, but we don’t see who gets touched by the ripples.” Grant P. Ferguson, Writing For Eternity

God doesn’t always show us what He is doing. We certainly can’t always see the big picture. But God does. Some of the things you are doing now or will do in obedience to God may someday bless and encourage someone you don’t even know.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Psalm 32:8 NIV

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

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Overcoming Doubts: Trusting God’s Call

Cindy Dawson

1-Minute Devotion for Thursday, 8/27/26

Do you ever question your calling (that which you believe God has called you to do)? If the answer is yes, don’t be surprised, because that is Satan’s attack on your mind. He wants to stop what you are doing. He wants you to give up.

Remember who Satan is: The deceiver (Revelation 12:9) and the father of lies (John 8:44).

Perhaps you have even prayed, Lord, I want to please you. Is this what you want me to do?

This is the answer to your prayer:

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 NIV

Are you earnestly seeking God? If you are, then trust Him to keep His promises.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Psalm 32:8 NIV

Thank you, Lord, my God, for your precious promises. They are more precious than silver and gold.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Now the Lord said to Abram, … I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse.” Genesis 12:1&3

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

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Embracing Unseen Blessings

Cindy Dawson

Quote of the Week for Wednesday, 8/26/26

“God’s blessings are often unfolding right in front of us before we even realise it… Sometimes God is quietly writing the next chapter while we’re simply living the moment.” Steve Rebus, iChristian blog

This quote was a message to me from Steve Rebus. It is profound. God is working His plans, even when we have no earthly idea He is doing it! For more explanation, see my post, Count Your Blessings! Updated.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Let us thank Him not only for what we can see, but also for what He is doing that is unseen!

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6 NASB

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Under His Wings

Cindy Dawson

Meditation for Sunday, 8/23/26

“May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” Ruth 2:12 NIV

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6 NASB

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Believing Without Seeing

Cindy Dawson

1-Minute Devotion for Friday, 8/21/26

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”  After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”  Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:18-19 and 24-29 NIV

I love this passage because it encourages me. We can say, “I haven’t seen, Lord, but I believe!”

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6 NASB

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He Restores My Soul

Cindy Dawson

For too many women, their past has dealt a cruel blow. I know women who have been betrayed, rejected, abused, and/or traumatized in terrible ways. One doesn’t just get over it and move on easily. The abuse may have affected her whole personality. Abuse can do that.

Step Up for Mental Health states, “Women who endure physical or emotional abuse tend to suffer from … post-traumatic stress (PTSD), depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts.” 

Some of the effects of trauma include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and intrusive thoughts.

But let me move on to the good news. The Good Shepherd restores my soul. That’s what Psalm 23:3 tells me.

“He restoreth my soul.”

The Hebrew word for restore is sub. It means to recover, to bring back, to restore.

To restore means to bring back to a former, original, or normal condition; to bring back to a state of health, soundness, or vigor;

Have you ever had a piece of antique furniture restored? When you pick it up, it’s been restored to its original condition. No more scratches, no dull finish. It’s been restored to its original beauty!

The Hebrew word for soul is nepes. It refers to the life, the soul, the seat of emotion and desire.

We are not warped forever because of what may have been done to us in the past. God says He restores our soul. He will restore our soul to what it should be. He will heal our soul from the effects of past hurts, abuse, wrongs, trauma, and pain.

If you have endured abuse of any kind, you have likely read about how it can affect you. You may have read about depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc. You may even think of yourself as damaged goods. So now what?

Now it’s time to let your Father God begin the work of restoring your soul. Trust Him to do it. He loves you. Whether it is in this life or in Heaven, I do not know. I only know He will do it.

In the meantime, He will use those past hurts to help others. You will have a compassionate heart that understands like no one else.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

My prayer is that you will allow God to heal your hurts and pain, and restore your soul. If you have never memorized the 23rd Psalm, consider doing it now. It will be a healing balm to your soul.

Psalm 23 KJV

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

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“Swallowed Up By Life”

Cindy Dawson

Quote of the Week for Wednesday, 8/19/26

“Paul reminded the Corinthians that the physical body is only a temporary abode. In other words, life on earth is like camping out for a few days. Death, when it finally arrives, simply means that the believer leaves behind a leaky, patchwork, travel-worn tent and steps into a wondrous permanent body, designed to last forever. The child of God, then, is not claimed by death, but is swallowed up by life”. From the David Jeremiah Study Bible

“For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.” 2 Corinthians 5:4 NIV (emphasis mine)

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo by Callum Blacoe on Unsplash

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