Finish this… Two all-beef patties, special…

How about this… The night-time sniffling, sneezing…

I bet you could quote lyrics to songs from 20 years ago just as easy as finishing those jingles.

Now, can you tell me any of the Beatitudes found in Matthew chapter 5?

Can you quote anything from the book of Proverbs?

Can you remember the exact encouraging words from a teacher, coach, or Pastor?

There are many reasons we remember songs, there are scientific reasons commercial jingles stick with us, and there may even be reasons you remember harsh words said to you. What we remember shapes us, what we replay in our minds shape us. The saying “garbage in, garbage out” has a lot of truth to it. We should be careful about what we allow to be replayed in our minds.

I suggest we fill our minds with encouraging words. Not just positive words, those are fine but you can’t live on positivity alone. I can be positive that I am a marathon runner, but somewhere around mile 2 I’d be in trouble. Positivity is great but realistic encouragement is more powerful. We should seek out encouraging material, be around encouraging people, memorize encouraging words.

The Old Testament understanding of encourage was to “give courage” or to “fill with courage.”

Make sure that you are filling your mind with encouraging words. I suggest Proverbs, the Gospel of John, and Philippians from the Bible. But there are other places to find or hear encouraging words. Certain people naturally encourage you. Certain songs or movies may encourage you. Be grateful for these scriptures, people, or songs. You are being filled with courage.

I will always remember songs from the 80’s, I will always remember commercials or movie quotes. That’s all fine, and honestly quite fun. But most importantly God has encouraging words for all of us. I need to make sure those words have priority in my mind. Here are just a few encouraging words I will always remember from scripture.

… the peace of God will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

… you are fearfully and wonderfully made.

… come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest for your souls.

… Father forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing.

… I know the plane I have for you, says the Lord.

… my thoughts of you are like the sand on the ocean’s shore.

Be encouraged, be grateful.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________