Strengthening Others

Wednesday, September 9th, 2026

4:26 am

Good morning! Today I am in Acts 14:21-28. After Paul and Barnabas went to Derbe and preached the Good News, making many disciples, they went back to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia. While they were in these towns they strengthened the believers that were there, encouraging them to continue in the faith, reminding them that they must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God. Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With fasting and prayer they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. Then they traveled back to Pamphylia, preaching the Word in Perga, then in Attalia. Then they returned to Antioch of Syria by ship, where their journey had begun. The believers there had entrusted them to the grace of God to do the work they had completed. When they had gotten to Antioch, they called the church together and told them everything that God had done through them and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. And they stayed there for a long time.

Paul and Barnabas knew the dangers they faced in returning to the towns, but they trusted God, and went back to strengthen the believers there. He encouraged them to remain faithful to God, continuing in the faith, even through the hardships that they would face. Then they picked leaders in each area, praying and fasting over them, asking God to take care of them, before they left to go back to where they started.

Just like Paul and Barnabas did for these new believers in these towns, we are to encourage new believers. When we are new believers, the enemy will do whatever he can to discourage us and pull us back into the life we once lived. But God reminds us to remain faithful to Him, especially in those hardships. He is the only one who can help us, and He is the one that sends people to help us. God wants to use each of us to encourage others to stick with Him. Using our testimonies of what God has done in our lives to help others understand how He works in our lives. And the more we walk with God, praying to Him, worshiping Him, and getting into His Word, the more He strengthens us to be able to overcome the temptations that come out way. But we need other believers to help encourage us. To help us feel like we are not alone in this walk with God. God will send the right people at the right time in our lives to encourage us.

Seek Him, and allow Him to strengthen you through His Word. And allow Him to use you to bless other people. Seek Him and He will guide you, just like He guided Paul and Barnabas.