Encourage

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead." So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. (Matthew 2:19-21)

Joseph was invited to walk together with God by an angel in a dream.  He was empowered by God to be a father to God's Son, Jesus.  He was equipped by more angelic messages that would keep Jesus safe.  Then, he was encouraged, through those messages, to take Jesus to Egypt.  Joseph now continues to be encouraged by God to move from place to place.  He walked together with God every step of the way.  Because of his faithfulness, Jesus lived through these early years protected by Joseph who was led by God.

But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene. (Matthew 2:22-23)

When you accept invitations, you find yourself in worship of God, fellowship with other believers, and ministry as a part of Christ's Body.  When you are empowered, you believe that Jesus is the Christ and declare him as your Lord.  You repent of your sins and go down into the waters of baptism.  You come up out of those waters with a new life with your sins washed away and the gift of the Holy Spirit. God, and others in Christ's Body, will now encourage you in your walk and ministry for the rest of this life.

So how about you?  Where are you on your path?  Do you need an invitation?  Are you empowered?  Are you being equipped?  Do you need to be encouraged to empower one more?  What's your next step in your walk together with God?