Jim Martin's Encouragement Note #128
Do you need a word of encouragement? . . . A graceful prayer to begin your day . . . Take the next step . . . Ten helpful ways to move forward in 2025 . . . Good books . . .
(unsplash - Dan Myers)
The List of Five
Do You Need a Word of Encouragement?
These moments stand out to me:
A walk in the pasture. I was a young minister, husband, and father. I was working hard and saying “yes” to too many things. I was tired but even more concerning, I was neglecting my soul. One weekend, Dr. Ken Dye was visiting our church. He and I took a walk in a pasture and had a conversation that was significant. I remember his words. “You can’t continue at this pace.”
A word on the stairwell. I was in Abilene, Texas, about to have coffee with another minister and his wife. They were older and had more experience. I probably looked discouraged. Even before the conversation began, while on the stairwell, my friend’s wife turned to me and said, “Jim, our work is too great and too important for Satan to bring us down.” I have never forgotten her words.
A conversation that brought clarity. We were newly married and had just arrived at the church where I would be preaching. Soon, Charlotte and I met with a couple from the church in their home. The conversation was discouraging as they detailed the many, many ways in which this church had failed. I wondered if we had made a huge mistake by moving there. The next morning, I met with my father-in-law who encouraged me with some words that brought clarity.
I want to remember the following. Perhaps this will be helpful to you as well:
God’s faithfulness is greater than any discouragement I might face. He is faithful even when life is hard.
Moments of encouragement in the past can help to provide encouragement and resilience in the present. These memories of past encouragement are deposits that can provide ongoing comfort.
Memories of answered prayer can help provide confidence and courage for today’s mess.
A Graceful Prayer to Begin Your Day
Many years ago, Richard, Bishop of Chichester (1197-1253) wrote a prayer that could help to transform a day. You may find this helpful:
O Most Merciful Redeemer
May I
Know Thee More Clearly
Love Thee More Dearly
Follow Thee More Nearly
Day by Day
This is ancient wisdom - but still relevant in 2025.
This writer understood that personal transformation is a day to day process.
Know. Love. Follow.
This is a simple but profound prayer. It understands that we need to grow each day in our understanding (“know”), our affection (“love”), and our behavior (“follow thee”).
I think about this as it relates to today:
Will my schedule reflect a time in which I will focus on knowing or understanding God?
Will my affection focus on him? Or, will my affection be focused on so many other things I desire to have or buy?
Will my behavior be modeled after Jesus, or will it be bent toward my own self-centeredness?
Take the Next Step
I love this sentence in Chris Bosch’s book, Letters to a Young Athlete (p. 110):
A leader, to me, is just the person who steps up and does what needs to be done - who becomes what the situation requires.
Yes!
By the grace of God, you and I can step up:
We can step up and be the man/woman God calls us to be.
We can step up and be the husband/wife God desires us to be.
We can step up and be the dad/mom God wants for our children.
We don’t abandon our families. We don’t walk out on our children. We don’t discard our mates. We don’t abandon our discipleship.
Instead, we step up.
Ten Helpful Ways to Move Forward in 2025
The following have been particularly helpful to me:
Develop life-enriching, consistent actions and habits. Whether these habits and actions occur in the early morning or in the evening, they build a foundation that can help to sustain you.
Cultivate your mind. Don’t clutter your mind with lots of negativity and complaining. Fill your mind with what nourishes and blesses.
Look for opportunities to say something kind or encouraging to another. Be a person who invests something good in other people.
Be intentional about beginning your day. How you begin your day can shape and frame the remainder of the day.
Invest in the person you want to become. Take care of your mind, your emotions and your body.
Be generous and gracious in expressing your thankfulness to others. Your generosity and graciousness will shape the conversations you have with others.
Listen well. Listen for content and emotion. They both matter deeply. Focus on the person you are with. Glancing at the phone repeatedly while talking/listening to another can really impact a conversation.
Be quick to apologize and admit when you are wrong. Don’t be that person who others say will NEVER apologize to anyone. Your willingness to admit wrong can build trust.
Pay attention to beauty. Yes, there will be people who totally focus on what is broken, what is wrong, and what is not working. Sure, you see these things. At the same time, you and I can intentionally focus on what is good, right, and wholesome.
Refuse to hide behind your excuses. Blaming others, complaining, and griping will harm you more than anyone else. We do not learn, grow, or move ahead when we refuse to take ownership our lives.
Good Books that Nurtured and Resonated with my Soul
The following are books I have read which have been particularly good for the care of my soul. The mention of these books suggests that for whatever the reason, the book spoke to me at a significant time of life.
Mere Christianity - C. S. Lewis
Knowing God - J. I. Packer
A Testament of Devotion - Thomas R. Kelly
Discovering Our Spiritual Identity - Trevor Hudson
The Way of the Heart - Henri Nouwen
The Journal of John Wesley - John Wesley
Working the Angles - Eugene Peterson
Renovation of the Heart - Dallas Willard
Pilgrim Heart - Darryl Tippens
Ordering Your Private World - Gordon MacDonald
Closing with this wonderful quote from Christopher Hall in his book, Learning Theology with the Church Fathers, regarding Gregory of Nazianzus (330-389):
From the very outset of the theological orations, Gregory warns his audience that they are attempting a high and holy task. Theology, while employing the mind, also involves the heart. A pure heart, one grounded in the worship of the church and a life of prayer, will produce clear and fruitful theological reflection. A murky heart and a dark mind, on the other hand, will produce a sick, thorny theology; it will offer no nourishment, only harm.
I formerly served as Vice President of Harding School of Theology, Memphis, Tennessee. Prior to this, I served as a minister in various congregations for 36 years.
I am a husband, father, and grandfather. One of my favorite things to do is to come alongside another person and encourage her or him.
Every other Monday morning, I publish this “Encouragement Note.” You can subscribe at jimmartin.substack.com. You can also find me on Facebook - @jim.martin or Instagram - @jimmartin.jm. My e-mail address is: jmartin9669@gmail.com. Feel free to write. I would love to hear what is encouraging. — Jim Martin
your words are always so uplifting to me. thank you. keep it going.