Thankful Thursday: Encouragement from Other Bloggers

The day didn't start off well.  And honestly, I felt like crying.  Nothing really wrong, and I knew it.  I just felt discouraged--in a spiritual battle.  I reluctantly kept putting one foot in front of the other. Then I read a post by my good blogging friend, Sharon, over at Sharon Sharing God.  It was on the subject of Encouragement.  You have to go over and read it.

She points out quite aptly how we sometimes think we're encouraging someone when we come along and say, "That's alright, everything will be better soon."  That may feel good sometimes, but that would have been inadequate to what I needed today.  In her post today, she not only wrote of the deeper meaning of encouragement, but exemplified it.

She came alongside me where I'd fallen on the muddy battlefield, wiped the mud off of my face (it made it easier as it was mixed with my tears:), helped me to my feet and handed me my sword. Then she lifted me to action beside her, as we charged off to fight the enemy once more.  Wiping tears from my eyes, I got up from the computer and went to my room and knelt by my bed and talked to the Lord.  I, with renewed courage, put on the whole armor of God.  I remembered and recited many verses of truth to myself, wielding my trusty Sword of the Word of God, and could fairly SEE the enemy stagger with the wounds it inflicted!

I went on to win the victory, energized to accomplish and defeat the "to-do list," which had been like a giant standing over me daring me to get up and tackle it at the beginning of the day. I didn't finish everything on the list, but with each new item I crossed off, my courage rose higher.  I was even able to encourage another! I could feel the prayers that were being offered up for me. What might have been defeat for me, and victory for the enemy, was turned around!  And I am thankful for Sharon, and every one of you, my blogging friends, who are doing the work of God out there!  Thank you for being faithful, and using every tool available to you, which is given you by our Mighty God and Loving Father, the King of Kings.
 
Link up and read other thankful posts at Lynn's blog, Spiritually Unequal Marriage. Without even knowing it, the Lord led me to write today about friendship in my online world, which is the subject matter of Thankful Thursday this week! Isn't He amazing?! What are you thankful for today?