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Be Encouraged

Acts 23:11  The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."

Paul was brought to the Sanhedrin the night before, at which he caused a bit of a raucous between the Pharisees and the Sadducees in regards to the resurrection.  After his meeting, Jesus comes to Paul to tell him to take courage.  I'm going to guess that for Paul, this was a fairly important moment when he needed a word of encouragement.  Sometimes we know we are in right in the middle of our calling (even when things are a bit rocky) but we find ourselves in need of a word of encouragement.  The Lord knows when we need these bits of encouragement and provides.  However, he doesn't back down on His calling for us, he gives us a word of hope to keep going.  I love that about God!  How does God give you words of encouragement.  Are they audible from either Him or those around you?  Are they events that are encouraging?  Use your kingdom eyes and ears to recognize encouragement from the Lord today.  Take courage for the Lord your God is with you and around you!

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