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Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.

Proverbs 12:25 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.12.25.NLT

A common unwanted guest in life is worry.

Worry is habit forming and addictive. We devote entire patterns of communication to the art of worrying. Worry wakes us up at night. Our thinking escalates from one hill of anxiety to another creating an anxious mountain range of the soul. Worry takes life away one inch at a time.

Worry weighs a person down.

A welcome guest in life is encouragement. We are drawn to people and places where we are encouraged. Hope is nurtured. Optimism increases in the presence of encouragement. Joy blooms like a beautiful flower. Food tastes better and people seem nicer in a place of encouragement. Encouragement is contagious. People tend to want to pass it on.

Encouragement cheers a person up.

Encouragement: Give and receive words of encouragement to others today. Turn worry into prayer. Prayer is the great converter of worry into positive action in the presence of God. Cheer up.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for this proverb filled with truth. May we share in prayer the concerns that keep us awake at night. Help us to turn our worry to prayer. Thank you, Jesus, for your incredible encouragement in life. May we cheer someone up with words of encouragement today.

In Jesus name, Amen

-Ed McDowell, Executive Director
Warm Beach Camp and Conference Center