LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL By Pastor Mensa Otabil
 
Tuesday 13th January 2026
 
ENCOURAGE YOURSELF
 
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 12
 
Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Hebrews 12:12-13
 
Encouragement enables us to persevere in the face of life's challenges and setbacks. At some point in our lives, all of us get tired and discouraged by the many issues we deal with.
 
Any peace that we experience, any comfort that we find, any hope that we have, and any encouragement we get during our time of suffering, is a direct provision from God. When we begin to realise that, then even the smallest amount of encouragement will cause us to offer praise to God.
 
In our verse for today, God gives three instructions related to three parts of our body.
 
Strengthen the hands.

Hands usually refer to our involvement in work or battle. The phrase, hands which hang down’ implies tiredness and discouragement because of the battles we fight in the course of our work. God wants our hands to be strong in work and in battle.
 
Strengthen the knees.

 The knees refer to our ability to keep our lives together and to stand strong. When faced by threats and crises, God does not want us to have wobbly knees. We have to do what Moses said to the Israelites when they were caught between Pharaoh’s army and the Red Sea, ‘stand still and see the salvation of the Lord’.
 
Make straight paths for your feet.

The feet refer to movement and direction. God wants us to live our lives with a clear sense of direction concerning where He wants us to go. The primary way we achieve this is to remain in God’s word. When we place our trust in the truth of scripture and endeavour to practice it, regardless of the tough challenges surrounding us, we keep our paths straight.
 
Focus on God’s goodness and stand on the firm foundation of His word as you run your race and face your battles this year and you will win.
 
Prayer:

Heavenly Father, you are my Victory. I strengthen myself by your Spirit for every assignment this year. In Jesus’ name, Amen.