THE POWER OF ENCOURAGING EACH OTHER
We live in a world where many of the things that occur have the purpose of discouraging, frustrating, and disillusioning us. People do a better job when they are motivating, stimulated, and encouraged. We all have challenges and battles everyday that we need other’s encouragement and support for.
1. What is encouragement? When the battery on your car is dead, the solution is to wait for a passerby to help jump start it, and your car takes the strong energy from the other car to come back to life. That same thing happens when we give or receive encouragement.
2. Who can you encourage? Your husband who puts a lot of effort into his job, your wife who takes care of the children, your children who get good grades, the teacher or leader of your house of peace, your boss, friends and peers, and anyone else you see looking unmotivated.
3. How can we encourage?
- With words that praise and thank.
- Treating others with respect and dignity.
- Not criticizing, shouting, or ridiculing.
- Listening to others when they speak.
- Taking into account the dreams and wishes of others.
God is a Father that loves us and encourages us all the time. He doesn’t condemn us or criticize us. We should imitate Him and encourage others, in our homes, church, work, etc. We should learn to give words and actions that encourage others.
Think about it:
What difference have you noticed in yourself when someone gives you encouraging words?
Who can you encourage today?
Do you usually use your words to encourage or discourage others?