Psalm 119:103-105 CSB
How sweet your word is to my taste- sweeter than honey in my mouth. [104] I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every false way. [105] Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.
Hebrews 10:24-25 CSB
And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, [25] not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.
Encourage Each Other
It is so easy to get caught up in the noise of this world. We are creative, motivated beings, but that drive often comes with a heavy dose of anxiety. From the moment we wake up, we find ourselves bombarded by things to do and worries to carry. Some of these are imposed on us, while others are pressures we put on ourselves.
I remember this rhythm well from my years in the classroom. As I would get up in the morning to teach school, I experienced these things every day. The dog would need to go outside, breakfast would need to be made, and the mental checklist would start: I have to work with that difficult teacher today… I hope my one problem student behaves today. The list went on and on. Without my quiet time to draw strength from the Father, I honestly do not know how I would have made it through all those years. I am retired now, and life is still chaotic—though I’ll admit much of it is now self-imposed!
We’ve all been there, standing in a kitchen or a classroom, feeling that worldly thoughts have become a thick fog that makes it hard to see the light our loving Father intended for us. This is why finding a way to ground our minds before the day starts is so vital. When we spend time in the Word, we aren’t just reading a book; we are letting the Father’s instructions act as a lamp for our feet. It isn’t always easy to wake up an hour earlier to seek God, but those inner rewards—that “sweetness” mentioned in the Psalms—sustain us much longer than an extra hour of sleep ever could.
However, the Christian life was never meant to be a solo journey. We see in Hebrews that we truly need each other. We are encouraged to gather together to “provoke” one another toward love and good works. Ecclesiastes 4:12 reminds us that “a cord of three strands is not easily broken.” We aren’t just navigating the daily stresses of life; we are standing together against spiritual forces that oppose the Father. Alone, it is easy to feel overpowered, but together, we find the strength to resist.
Gathering for worship throughout the week serves as a necessary “reset” for our minds. It helps pull us out of the loop of our own perceived wants and needs and stops the downward spiral caused by the world’s pressure. In the company of other believers, we don’t just find a seat; we find encouragement and the opportunity to serve. We join together to pray with one voice and share the Gospel. We have the promise that when two or more are gathered, Jesus is right there in our midst. That collective strength makes our prayers feel more effective, our lives richer, and our service to our community more abundant.
Reflection Questions
- What are the “morning worries” that most often crowd out the light of the Father in my life?
- How has neglecting to gather with other believers affected my spiritual peace and my ability to handle stress?
- Who in my church or community can I “provoke to love and good works” this week through a simple word of encouragement?
Prayer
Father,
Thank You for the sweetness of Your Word and the lamp it provides for my path. Forgive me for the times I let the worries of this world drown out Your voice. Give me the discipline to seek You early and the humility to realize I cannot walk this path alone. I thank You for my brothers and sisters in Christ. Help us to encourage one another and to stand together as a cord that cannot be easily broken. May our worship together be a light to the world.
Amen.
