So often in our lives we can walk through seasons with people being around us where we are getting encouraged. But too often we can be in environments were we feel that no one is around us to encourage us. The events in our lives can look so dim where we are going nowhere.
God wants to constantly encourage us on the mountaintops and in the valleys low. This article today is written in mind that no matter what season any one of us see ourselves to be in, that we find ourself to be encouraged.
Encouragement is a weapon that the Lord has called us to walk into even in the midst of our pain that destroys the plans of the enemy over our lives. The enemy can’t handle being in the environment where there is encouragement. My purpose is to share about an area in my journey growing up where I was told of three areas in my life that I couldn’t … be but by the encouragement of the Holy Spirit and what a few people told me … then it encouraged me forward in what I could be in Christ.
Disability
When I was born I was born with a disability called Diaper that brought a lot of challenges in my life. One day I was sitting in a prayer meeting at my local church which is the same movement I am under today. The Lord spoke to my heart that I am an Overcomer.
Then a prayer intercessor came up to me after the prayer meeting and she said your name is called “Overcomer”. What a confirmation. Through that moment there were three things I wanted to prove to people who spoke down about me that I wanted to achieve even though I was told I couldn’t do it those things in people’s eyes.
Three areas
Those areas were, first, I wanted to be a drummer. I was told that couldn’t be because of my disability. I remember the day I got on a drum kit and I proved that God had given me a gift and I started to invest into that gift.
It is interesting that I put that gift down for an season as I got discouraged, then the Lord last December opened that door to play the drums at our Wednesday Worship service - it was incredible - a good friend said - you are playing for Wednesday Worship.
How amazing the gift of Encouragement is! Let me encourage us all to get around people in your church community which is your spiritual family to encourage and to speak life and hope over your God calling.
Secondly
I was told I was unable to have any qualification. I left school at the age of fourteen with no NZCA Credits. I know in the world’s eyes there isn’t hope but in God’s eyes, I can restore the former years into My greatness for your life.
It was always a dream ever since I was a child to go to Bible College to get qualifications to help me to become a minister of the Gospel. I now have a Degree behind me in Theology and Pastoral Care. God is good!
Thirdly
I got told I wouldn’t be able to preach and now God has given me the gift and the assignments to preach the Gospel in churches across Wellington and around New Zealand. I don’t say this to puff myself up but I write this article that it was because I allowed the right people to encourage me in my journey that I am were I am today.
Today I want to encourage you to get with a Connect group in your local church and with people around you and build encouragement. If the environments are negative then you have the authority of Heaven over your life to breathe life and encouragement.
I pray that this article encourages you to step into all that God has for you this day and to build a culture of honor and encouragement around you like it has for me in my story which is God’s story!
Brendon Collins is a Press Service International young writer from Wellington NZ.