5 Verses & Prayers When You Need Encouragement

Sharing is caring!

Where do you turn when you need encouragement?

I think we all need an extra dose of optimism and encouragement toward the end of January. We’ve had a month of winter and those cold gray skies are getting old. The hope of Spring still seems further away than we want making it easy to feel as gray and gloomy as … well, a winter day.

Then there are those pesky resolutions that we intended to keep but it’s the end of January and our good intentions are you know, less intentional.

So, where DO you go when you need encouragement with a dash of hope?

My goal this year is to turn to the Lord when I need encouragement. And by His grace, I’ve found five verses to pray that I believe will help me get started…

5 Verses and Prayer When You Need Encouragement

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Matthew 6:33–34

Father, I want to SEEK You above everything else in my life. You are Lord of lords and King of kings. You are my hope—the One who encourages me. You fill my life with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and so much more. When I have Your blessings I have everything I need.

So, with Your Spirit’s help, I will not worry about the future but live in the present entrusting my tomorrows to Your love and care. I will depend on Your all-sufficient grace to help me overcome my weaknesses and struggles. And I will lean on You confident that You will give me peace and hope. Amen.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:2

Lord, this world is full of distractions. The enemy uses the views and opinions of people and noisy diversions to tempt us to sin. In fact, in recent years, it seems that many things You call sin are being promoted and applauded. I’ll admit, it can all be disheartening and discouraging.

Please help me keep my heart and mind focused on You. Please transform my thoughts to align with Yours through Your Word and Spirit. Teach me Your will and give me everything I need to TRUST and OBEY You. Amen.

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
    Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
    I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

Father, I don’t know what this year will bring. If we listen to the news it’s hard not to be discouraged and afraid. But I believe that You are with me. I believe that You will strengthen and help me. I believe that You have defeated sin, death, and the power of satan. You are and always will be victorious.

With Your help, I will not be afraid. When I need encouragement … I will run to You and I will TRUST You to strengthen me, help me, and give me victory over temptation and anything else that attempts to defeat me. You are the Lord of my life and I praise You. Amen.

I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Philippians 1:6

Father, thank you for this Word of encouragement. Jesus is the One who made the good in my life possible when He died on the cross in my place. The Spirit began that good work in my life when He gave me faith. And I am encouraged by Your promise to continue Your work within me until it is completed and my Lord and Savior returns.

When I am weak and discouraged, please help me cling to Your promises and remember that You are with me willing to give me everything I need. I give myself to You. Please work in me and use me for Your glory. Amen.

I will bless the Lord who guides me;
    even at night my heart instructs me.
I know the Lord is always with me.
    I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.

Psalm 16:7–8

Lord, You are the One who guides me and gives me what I need each day. You are the One who never has and never will leave me or forsake me. You promise that You are always with me and I know it is true because I can name countless times when Your presence has carried me as I struggled through difficult seasons.

So, I am confident that I will never be shaken when You are right beside me. I will have courage because Your Spirit is with me and within me. I will praise and thank You today, tomorrow, and always. I will trust You with all my heart. And I will glorify You for You alone are worthy. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Let me ask once more…

Where do you turn when you need encouragement?

Many of us have friends who encourage us. And for some, It is tempting to look for encouragement through attention-seeking popularity…

But nothing in the world can encourage us like the loving Spirit of our Heavenly Father. He reminds us of God’s unfailing love and faithfulness. He reminds us that when we SEEK the Lord above everything and anything else … He will give us everything we need.

And He promises that through His grace we can have encouraging faith that He will complete the word He has started within us. He will give us the encouragement we need to accomplish His will and rest in His care forever and always.

May the Lord bless you and fill your life with His beautiful encouragement.

We would love to pray for you.
You can leave your prayer requests here…

and even take a few minutes to pray over the list left by our friends.

Never Miss an Update

Leave your email address and I’ll send you a short email every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to alert you to each new devotion. Plus you’ll receive a copy of 30 Ways to Bless Your Marriage and Keep the Spark Burning

I always enjoy hearing from you! Please take a minute to say ‘hi” and share your thoughts in the comments below.

And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Maybe a friend, family member, coworker, or through the links below…

Thanks again for visiting! Don’t forget to check out the links below to find additional posts that will bless you…

Sharing is caring!