Rayni Risher

Choosing Encouragement

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Life can be hard, messy, draining, and even devastating, can’t it? Some issues aren’t temporary trials…they can take months or years to resolve, even when you’re actively trying. Ongoing problems with physical health, relationships, emotional health, parenting, work, life purpose…

Have you ever been dealing with so much for so long that you’re desperate for an ounce of joy, peace and encouragement?

Lately I’m reminded again of the power of praise.

How utterly essential it is for our own spiritual and emotional health to daily focus on God. To praise Him, thank Him, worship Him, connect with Him, read His words, listen for His voice and wisdom.

When I’m in a pit of discouragement, it really never fails that when I choose to look to God and worship Him, burdens lift off of my shoulders and peace invades.

Worship is powerful.

Worship is also a choice.

It’s an act of faith; choosing to declare and believe in Goodness, Kindness, Love. God is all of those things, and more.

I’d love to share a word of encouragement with you today that I shared several years ago but it still encourages me today.  It encourages me to keep praising and seeking God; to willingly exchange my discouragement for His encouragement.

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I was feeling discouraged so I decided to go straight to Psalm 93 because it talks about how God is reigning no matter what. God is reigning and He is ruling with strength.

 “God is King, robed and ruling,
God is robed and surging with strength.

And yes, the world is firm, immovable,
Your throne ever firm—you’re Eternal!

Sea storms are up, God,
Sea storms wild and roaring,
Sea storms with thunderous breakers.

Stronger than wild sea storms,
Mightier than sea-storm breakers,
Mighty God rules from High Heaven.

What you say goes—it always has.
“Beauty” and “Holy” mark your palace rule,
God, to the very end of time.”

I love this psalm because it talks about God being in charge. He’s the one ruling and reigning, no matter what. And whether you like the person who’s in charge of your company or country or whatever else, God is ultimately the one reigning and ruling, and He’s stronger than any storm you face.

So, after I read through Psalm 93, I read through psalms 92-99. I kept reading and rereading them. I love them because a lot of them talk about God being sovereign and ruling and reining.

But they also call us to worship!

So, I started worshiping God. I started praising God. I started singing. I started thanking Him for every big and small thing I could think of. Suddenly, I was so filled with joy and encouragement and peace.

It was amazing because just half an hour earlier I had been filled with so much discouragement. But as I worshiped God and thanked Him and meditated on His words, He exchanged my discouragement for encouragement.

As a result, I wanted to jump and dance and shout! All day long I wanted to tell everyone about this joy that God had given me…and I did, and some people thought I was a little weird but that’s ok.

In John 14: 27, Jesus says: “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So, don’t be troubled or afraid.” (NLT)

So…

What’s your storm? What’s the storm you’re walking through right now in your life? I want to encourage you that God is bigger than that storm.

Jesus offers us peace, and even though it seems too good to be true, it’s real and it’s there for us to receive.

And just like we read in Psalm 93, even as big and powerful and overwhelming as the sea storm is—with the breakers that are sweeping over the psalmist in his heart—God’s bigger! And God reigns.

This week I encourage you to read Psalm 93. Think about it, meditate on it. And then worship God; thank Him. Sing praises to Him. Receive His offer of joy and peace.

 

 

 

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God is a Refuge

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Reading through Psalm 9 recently, these verses stood out to me:

“God’s a safe-house for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times. The moment you arrive, you relax; you’re never sorry you knocked.” (Psalm 9: 9-12, The Message)

You’re never sorry you knocked.

Isn’t that beautiful?

I can imagine walking up to God’s door, like walking up to the home of a best friend where you’re fully accepted and always welcome just as you are. Weighed down with problems, the moment you enter His presence you feel utter relief.

Have you ever felt utter relief? I have.

The world can be exhausting, can’t it? Health problems, relationship drama, political divisiveness, disappointment.

What is the mountain you’re facing?

What is the disappointment weighing on you?

What is the grief that’s spilling out of you?

You know, God is always with us. His presence is already here, with you in your day-to-day moments.

Take a moment right now to rest and relax with Him; to leave what is burdening you at His feet.

“You’re never sorry you knocked.”

 

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When Peace Invades the Atmosphere

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It was a race to finish line. I had been out of the country for a number of weeks and was on my last leg, mentally and physically exhausted. I had a connecting flight to catch for the 12 hour flight home…and my first flight was very late arriving. That caused my husband and me to do a full-on 20 minute sprint through a very large airport, baggage in hand, in order to maybe be able to catch our flight home.

Running through crowds, up and down escalators, completely winded, muscles burning, we made it onto the plane just before they closed the doors.

By this point I was frustrated, exhausted and annoyed at the airline.

As I found my seat, I told the sweet, 80 year old man sitting next to me that I had just sprinted for 20 minutes to make this flight.

And do you know what happened?

I was met with the most gentle and peaceful response from my seat partner. He was so calm and so filled with peace that it felt like I had walked into an invisible wall of peace.

The presence of peace felt tangible.

Have you ever experienced this? You walk into someone’s home, or start talking with someone and instantly it’s as if peace is surrounding you. It’s undeniably hanging in the atmosphere.

I have experienced it many times. And I’ve also experienced the opposite.

Have you ever been around someone who is so full of worry, fear or anxiety that it’s difficult for you to not start feeling worried, anxious or fearful? It’s as if their anxiety fills the atmosphere, closing in all around you so that you have to make a concerted effort to not become anxious, too, even when you have nothing to be anxious about!

We can be atmosphere-changers for the good or for the bad.

The Bible tells us that Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). So, when the Holy Spirit is living inside of us, just walking into a room changes the atmosphere because we are carrying Peace Himself within us.

Yet, if we allow unchecked negative emotions to rule us, we choke out the peace that is available to us. And as a result we can throw our anxiety onto others without even realizing it.

We have to be careful about the emotions we choose to wear and the attitude we choose to have.

I’m not talking about pretending you are full of peace when you’re not. Being fake doesn’t equal a peaceful atmosphere. And while feeling negative emotions isn’t always a bad thing, I don’t believe that God intends for us to remain in that negativity.

We have the choice to wear negativity like a garment. Or to wear peace.

So…How do you keep your peace when your mind wants to rebel into fear?

Isaiah 26:3 tells us that “You (God) will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”

When you are beginning to feel those negative, nagging fears rise up, make a faith-filled decision to hand them over to Jesus and to trust Him. Peace will be restored. You may have to do that a hundred times, but fight for your peace if you need to.

Remember, Jesus, the Prince of Peace, has told us:

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

His Peace is peace that often passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

This week let’s be cognizant of which emotions we’re letting rule us. Keeping our peace is a choice. Let’s choose peace no matter the circumstance.

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Christmas is Over, Now What?

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Have you ever planned a huge event that you were so excited about and wanted to get just right? Like a birthday or anniversary party? Or a wedding? As the big day approaches you are full of joyful anticipation and even though you’re busy with all the details you try to enjoy as much of it as you can, relishing the moments, taking it all in. Then the wonderful event takes place and you rejoice in the euphoria of it. But the days after can feel like a bit of a let down.

I mean, you planned, prepped, worked toward, looked forward to it for so long that now life feels a little bit emptier when all the fun and busyness is over. So you slowly make your way back into the daily grind and give yourself over to the mundane duties of the day.

The Christmas season can feel that way…can’t it?

Perhaps to a lesser extent than say, your wedding, but nonetheless there can often be the let down after all the joy, shopping and parties. Vacation ends. Work and school start back. You try to follow through on those new resolutions.

But here’s the thing…

The hope, love, joy and peace that were a part of the the Advent season, the lead-up to Christmas day, can be with us all year when Jesus is our focus. And really, these four traits are all related to each other as we remain in Jesus.

So, take heart in these reminders.

Hope
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:3, ESV)

+Without hope our heart can feel dead. Connecting with the God of Hope fills us with hope when we are depleted.

Joy
“You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.” (Psalm 4:7, ESV)

+God brings a greater abundance of true joy than any amount of material wealth.

Peace
Jesus says, “I am leaving you with a gift–peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27, NLT)

+I have learned that peace truly is a choice. No matter what happens in our day, we can choose to hold onto the peace God offers.

But Most of All…

Love
“May you experience the love of Christ…Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” (Ephesians 3:19, NLT)

+When we experience the God of Love, we are transformed. Made new. And then we are able to extend that love to others.

As the new year approaches and the holiday season winds down remember that you can experience hope, joy, peace and love daily as you remain in Jesus.

Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit…” (John 15:5, NIV) 

 

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