Encouragement: Urging others to persist and persevere in their efforts to attain their goals; stimulating others toward love and good deeds.
(1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 10:24)
The ability to give encouragement comes from a grateful heart. A heart of love and a heart to bless others. Encouragement is a selfless activity because you are not looking for anything in return.
God can use you greatly to be an encourager to those around you.
Who doesn’t need encouragement? Have you ever felt in such a dark place that you felt hopeless and then someone spoke words of life into you? It is life changing for sure!
At times all we may need is someone to speak life giving words into a dark moment of our lives to completely turn our heart from grief to joy, from failure to hope, from lost to found! Words have the power to change a heart especially if those words are filled with the love that God provides!
THREE SOURCES OF LIGHT – Help Us Experience Encouragement
Light Source #1: Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8:12)
Walking in the Light: Having a fresh encounter with Jesus.
Our God is the great Encourager. He takes the weak and makes them strong. He takes the hopeless and transforms them. He takes the broken and heals them, and He takes the fearful and fills them with powerful courage.
Jesus encouraged the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11) by letting her know her life would be new, different, and uncondemned. She, as most of us, wanted a happy life that was fulfilling but had been led away by the enemy of our soul into a life marked by sin and joyless wandering. Jesus not only accepted her as important and uncondemned but encouraged a new path for her. Her past lifestyle would not lead her to joy or meaningful purpose. Jesus intervened with His encouragement and love.
Are women in the first century who are caught in adultery the only ones Jesus encourages? Since He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, I believe Jesus wants to encourage you too?
How has God been your Encourager? How has He taken your despair and breathed life into it? How has His intervention changed the direction of your life and brought encouragement when you were discouraged.
Would you take time this week to search scripture for words of encouragement from God? How do you think the verses you find apply to you? How do they apply to others? How can you use these verses to encourage others?
Here are a few to get you started:
Proverbs 30:5: E very word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Romans 15:13: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Light Source #2: God’s Word is a lamp and a light, so walk in the light of frequent experiences of doing His Word. Psalm 119: 105
Let’s do:
Proverbs 16:24: Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
1 Thessalonians 5:11: Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
There is so much more scripture about being an encourager. Our words can be as sweet as honey to someone needing encouragement – health to their body!! That is pretty powerful!
Would you ask God to give you a heart of an encourager? To speak words to those around you that build up and not tear down? Would you look for moments to encourage others?
Light Source #3: God’s people are sources of light so walk in real fellowship with Belivers and Others: “the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14
Below is a list of ways you can practically be an encouragement to those around you! Please add your own!!! 🙂
- Whom do you love? Tell them! We all need to hear we are loved!
- If someone is discouraged, cheer them up with a hug, a small gift or a loving word!
- Help your neighbors! Bring in their trash can. Mow their lawn. Walk their dog.
- Leave post it notes with encouraging words for your family members to find.
- Love your church leadership! Take them to lunch or send them cards.
- Do random acts of kindness for total strangers!
- Pray for someone on the spot when they share a burden with you.
- Do a task normally done by your spouse, just because!
- Bring a handmade gift to your neighbor if you are a “crafty” person.
- Know someone in need? Send them an encouraging note with a grocery gift card, anonymously!
- Tell your boss you appreciate him/her.
- Thank your parents for ……..
- Treat your co-worker with a small gift. (Candy bar, note pad etc)
- Praying for a friend? Send them a text and let them know.Be encouraging to all you meet. You never know if someone is having a hard day.
- Offer to babysit for a young family at church.