Good Reports and Words of Encouragement

Yesterday was a long but yet profitable day for my wife and I.  In mid afternoon we trekked down to San Francisco (about an hour away) for my wife’s Doctor’s appointment with her Specialist.  We have been there enough times now that the trip seems like second nature to us.  We are friends with the office staff, the onsite Social Workers and of course are quite satisfied with the Doctor’s care and concern for the well being of my wife and I.

We proceeded through the routine tests and questions at the beginning of the visit, reviewed the results of recent blood tests and then went over the list of questions, thoughts and research that I had brought with me for the Doctor’s input.  As we discussed my wife’s daily care, her reactions to the holidays and how to continually assure her the best of life, it dawned on me that the Doctor was encouraging me to keep up the good work that I had been doing.

When we left the office over an hour and a half later and began the long drive home, (It was bumper to bumper almost all the way, and took us over twice as long to get home as it did to get there!) I went over with my wife everything that had taken place during the appointment.  I have to admit that it felt great to receive a good report and words of encouragement concerning all the long and sometimes emotionally difficult hours of assistance that I lovingly give to the sweetheart of my life.

Over the last couple of years there have been times where I have tried to second guess different steps that I have taken in the management of her care.  At these times it has been very easy to get down on myself, to question my abilities and then become attentive to the (few) voices of those who have, shall we say, been less than positive in their assessment of my performance.  The words of encouragement from those professionals yesterday definitely bolstered my determination to excel in my physical responsibilities and stirred up my courage “to hold on to our declaration of faith.”  (Hebrews 4:14 Gods Word ©)

Today as I continued my study of I Thessalonians, I stopped at verse four in chapter one where the Apostle Paul is telling the young congregation that “God loves you and has chosen you.”  (Gods Word ©)  I paused here because those words had the same effect that the doctor’s and her staff did for me.  The difference being though, that these words emanate directly from the throne of Grace and are not only for me but also for every Believer!  They are God’s good report and encouraging words for each of us!  The word “love” in that verse meaning that God is well pleased and contented with us!

Proverbs 15:30 says that God’s “good report makes the bones fat.” (KJV)  In other words, His Good News, which is His good report, acts as restorative medicine to our body and mind as well as to our emotions!  Why should we listen to the few voices of the naysayer, who is here today and most likely gone tomorrow, when we have a better, more realistic and definitely more authoritative Word on the subject of the performance of our personal abilities?

So… like Wow!  (Sorry… feel like I was reverting back to my late 1960’s vocabulary!)  If you’re feeling down or maybe trying to second guess your actions or possibly even leaning toward what someone has said in difference to your performance, I would strongly suggest that you go to THE professional, open His testimony of the truth concerning you and receive His Good Reports and Words of Encouragement!  Stay tuned and keep asking yourself… “What Good Report am I expecting today?”