Daily Affirmations - Day 5 - Spirit Language - The Language of Encouragement

Day 5: The language of encouragement

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken

[King Hezekiah] appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate and encouraged them with these words: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said (2 Chronicles 32:6-8).

Father in heaven, You are the God who reigns and rules over all. You sit enthroned above the circle of the earth and its people are like grasshoppers... You bring princes to naught, and reduce the rulers of this world to nothing (Isaiah 40:22, 23).

You pay back to the proud what they deserve, those who pour out arrogant words... evildoers... full of boasting— those who crush Your people... oppress Your inheritance... slay the widow and the foreigner... murder the fatherless... (Psalm 94: 4-6). Such was Sennacherib, king of Assyria, confident in the power of his empire— his corrupt throne... a throne that [brought] on misery by its decrees (Psalm 94:20).

But Hezekiah met his taunts and his arrogant, self-aggrandizing words with prayer, and with powerful words of encouragement to remind the officials and the people that they need not fear the puny despot who was attempting to set himself up above the God of the universe (2 Chronicles 32:9-20).

Father, those words of encouragement are ours today. Unlike Hezekiah and his officials we are not fighting a physical battle: The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God… (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

And as we battle the darkness and aggression, evil and corruption that rise up and threaten to consume the world, You guide us, You sustain us, You surround us, You protect us. Teach us to fight on our knees, and to wait for You— for Your wisdom, Your direction, Your help, Your courage— for the prophet reminds us, Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him (Isaiah 64:4).

Help us to gain confidence as we recall the language of encouragement from King Hezekiah, "Do not be afraid or discouraged... for there is a greater power with us than... the arm of flesh... With us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.”

Remind us also of the words of the apostle John, You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

Help us to encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11) with these powerful truths.

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