When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside. But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus. His presence was a joy, but so was the news he brought of the encouragement he received from you. When he told us how much you long to see me, and how sorry you are for what happened, and how loyal you are to me, I was filled with joy!
2 Corinthians 7:5-7 (NLT)
Lord, in the midst of my travels, I must confess that often my heart is not only weighed down by the obstacles and challenges You allow to be placed before me, but also by the pressures I place upon myself regarding what I believe to be Your righteous requirements. It is my desire to please You, and oftentimes that desire takes such precedence and I am so focused and tuned in on the activities to fulfill these desires, that I miss You in the midst. This drive then becomes a burden, a sort of works righteousness, where it is about what I am doing versus why I am doing it. To compound matters, I can, in times like those, be faced with adversaries who appear to be attempting to thwart my plans, leaving me in a place of discouragement, wondering whether I can even make it! I thank You this morning for those individuals You have placed in my life who are not only a reminder of Your work in and around me, but who are a source of joy to my soul. I thank You for their words of encouragement as well as their testimony regarding the evidence of Your work in my midst. Thank You sending them to show me that I am not alone, that through You others are being raised up to hold me up. I pray that You would send me that I might be able to do the same for them, that You might be indeed the lifter up of our heads! Thank You for Your touch through them! Amen!