The word for THIS week is God's response to the up and down and up and down and ... of the game yesterday! The word is "consolation"! 2 Thessalonians 2:16 says this:
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, Who loved us and gave us everlasting consolation and encouragement and well-founded hope through [His] grace (unmerited favor), 17 Comfort and encourage your hearts and strengthen them [make them steadfast and keep them unswerving] in every good work and word. AMP
This is the Greek word "paraklesis". Strong's Concordance says: imploration (an appeal or entreaty), hortation (exhortation), solace. Thayer's Greek Lexicon adds: a calling near; admonition; encouragement; comfort; a persuasive discourse, stirring address - instructive, admonitory, consolatory; a powerful hortatory discourse. This reveals that in order to receive the comfort we need from whatever the situation we face, we MUST spend time in His presence! Then, in Philemon 7, we see that this consolation also comes by spending time listening to anointed ministers and in the presence of like-minded believers!
7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother. NKJV
Next we see, in Hebrews 6:17-18, that it also comes from spending in the Word of God:
17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: KJV
I also like this one in the Amplified Bible:
17 Accordingly God also, in His desire to show more convincingly and beyond doubt to those who were to inherit the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose and plan, intervened (mediated) with an oath. 18 This was so that, by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God ever to prove false or deceive us, we who have fled [to Him] for refuge might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold fast the hope appointed for us and set before [us]. AMP
So, in times like these, the only REAL consolation is found in refocusing out attention on things that really matter, like God, His Word, and your family! And, of course, praying for a better game next week! I am SO looking forward to seeing you and your family and going to the home opener! Here, to refocus and encourage us ALL, is Hillsong London with "Centre Of My Life":
Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!
