Many people are discouraged in life and it’s totally understandable with the way the world is these days. I have been discouraged many times and God has always given me plenty of encouragement in the past. One of the ways he has been an encouragement to me is by giving me a verse that I can cling too. Here is one that he has given to me recently.
Joshua 1:9 says, "Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord, your God is with you wherever you go."
God is a great source of encouragement, but how can we become an encouragement to others.
WE ARE GOD’S AMBASSADORS
Malachi 2: 7 says, "The words of a priest's lips should preserve the knowledge of God, and people should go to him for instruction, for the priest is the messenger of the Lord of Heavens Armies."
You may not be a priest, but you are a child of God, an ambassador for God and you need to keep your words seasoned with salt and with direction and guidance from the Lord.
God's word says, "Let me tell you why you are here. You are here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?"(Matthew 5: 13)
JESUS’S ENCOURAGEMENT
Jesus understood the power of encouragement when he helped people make it through difficult times. He promised his disciples the Holy Spirit who would never leave them and would go where ever they went.
John 4: 16 says, "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF AN ENCOURAGER
God’s desire is that we use the gifts he has given us for his glory and to build his kingdom.
1 Peter 4: 10 says, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms."
Some people have the gift of encouragement. They are just better at it than others. But that’s ok even if you don’t have that gift you can still be a great encourager. Here are some characteristics of an encourager.
1. Encouragers comfort others
2. They help build respect and trust from others
3. They motivate and inspire others
4. They build confidence in others
WAYS YOU CAN ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER
- Give a hug to someone
2. Spend quality time with them
3. Send a card through the mail
4. Send someone flowers
5. Be a good listener
WHY IS ENCOURAGEMENT SO IMPORTANT?
Encouragement is important because words are powerful. Words can uplift our moods, change our lives, build our confidence, and mend our broken hearts. The bible also tells us that we should encourage one another.
1 Thessalonians 5: 11 says, So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
Ephesians 4: 29 says, Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
2 Corinthians 13: 11 says, Finally brothers rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace , and the God of love and peace will be with you.
CONCLUSION
Let us pray and ask the Lord to whom he would like us to encourage today and how he would have us encourage this person.
Prayer,
Holy Spirit teach me to see God’s grace in the brokenness of others. Help me to encourage those you bring into my life. And show me how I am to encourage them at this time. I also ask that you stir up the hearts of others so that I may be encouraged in my brokenness. In Jesus’s name Amen
If you were blessed by this article please subscribe to my email list in the box that says “join the rest” and you will receive my blog posts in your inbox once a week!
