Encouragement

Encouragement

2Corinthians 7: ⁵ Even after we arrived in Macedonia, we did not have any rest. There were troubles everywhere, quarrels with others, fears in our hearts. ⁶ But God, who encourages the downhearted, encouraged us with the coming of Titus. ⁷ It was not only his coming that cheered us, but also his report of how you encouraged him. He told us how much you want to see me, how sorry you are, how ready you are to defend me; and so I am even happier now.

 

============

 

When bad news came, it seemed to arrive in waves. People were dying or getting sick, arguments were popping up over little things and a feeling of being unsettled was in the air. “What is going on!?” I wondered to myself.

 

• I have felt unsettled many times.
• I have seen troubled people in many places.
• I have been worried, scared and full of fear on many occasions.

 

Paul spoke about unrest. He wrote about troubles, quarrels and the biggest problem, fear that goes all the way down into the heart. There seemed like no relief was in site. The he wrote something amazing… “BUT GOD.”

 

My Observations

• GOD sees the calamities I go through and encourages me during the problem.
• GOD knows I will get downhearted and sends the right people at the right time to encourage me.
• GOD feels my pain and anguish and wants me to be encouraged to keep going.

 

Serving GOD ain’t easy. I did say “ain’t.” I mean, when I believed that JESUS was and is the Savior who was raised from the dead, I became eter5nally saved. I wanted to tell other people. But I did not know there would be an adversary who wanted me to remain silent. Each victory of overcoming fear felt like it was met with a larger problem or a bigger fear.

 

At times I felt like giving up and conforming to the world. BUT GOD sent me people who encouraged me to keep going. HE wanted HIS SON to be spoken of by me and many others. HE lifted me up like a surefooted deer. I am grateful GOD thinks enough about me to encourage me when I am downhearted.

 

Challenge

• Do you feel the pain the writer was going through?
• What pain have you felt, or are feeling, that has or is bringing you down?
• Do you know you are special and GOD wants you to remain encouraged because only you can reach the people HE wants you to reach?
• Will you encourage someone today?

Provide a Recommendation

Provide a Recommendation

Romans 16: I recommend to you our sister Phoebe, who serves the church at Cenchreae. ² Receive her in the Lord's name, as God's people should, and give her any help she may need from you; for she herself has been a good friend to many people and also to me.

 

============

 

“Do you know someone who can fill this position?” someone asked me. I was out of work and wanted someone to ask me that very question. A name popped into my head. I told him about the position and he got the job. I remained out of work. “What about me?” I said.

 

• There have been times when I wanted a recommendation, but had to give one.
• There have been times when I knew a person who was a good fit, but I was too caught up in myself to recommend him or her.
• There have been times when I wanted a recommendation but it seemed elusive.

 

Paul highly recommends Phoebe because of her service to the LORD. Paul still needed help, but wanted to help someone who helped him. He was dedicated to ensuring her success because she was dedicated to serving the LORD.

 

• GOD wants me to recommend others especially when I am in need.
• GOD wants me to help those who have helped me.
• GOD wants me to reserve my recommendation to those who can and will do HIS will.

 

Recommendations should not be thrown around lightly. I mean, my reputation is tied to the person I recommend. Yes, this will be an imperfect person, but I can count on this person to do what they have done with others and me.

 

Recommending people feels weird at first, but feeds the HOLY SPIRIT. When I cheer someone on, the HOLY SPIRIT gets a meal and makes me realize, it is not always about me. I gladly give my recommendation to those who serve the LORD.

 

• Are you too caught up in your problems to recommend someone you know is a great fit for a job or situation?
• Does jealousy win each time you are “overlooked”, causing you to withhold a recommendation GOD told you to make?
• Will you feed the HOLY SPIRIT today by being thankful for people and recommending “that” person for the job or situation?

Mentor’s Role

Mentor’s Role

Acts 13: ⁴² As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. ⁴³ When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.

============

Excited about being asked to be a mentor, I went to a peer and asked, “What should I say?” I mean I had never mentored anyone before. Or at least I did not knowingly mentor anyone. He said “Pull them up, just like you are being pulled up.” I did this for a while but I learned a new twist.

• There were times when I thought I was higher than someone.
• There were times when I believed in levels.
• There were times when I compared my abilities to other people.

Paul and Barnabas finished speaking about JESUS to a group who had been attending church regularly. They were so intrigued, that they invited Paul and Barnabas to speak the next week. From that day, they became mentors.

• GOD wants me to point people upward.
• GOD wants me to grow people to believe in HIM.
• GOD wants me to take the focus off of me and place it on HIM.

The new twist I learned in mentoring was not to “pull someone up”, rather point “people upward.” GOD is the only One who is “up.” HE is the Most High. Encouraging people to follow HIM is the best mentoring I can ever do. I am grateful I can point people to the grace of GOD.

• Are you being followed by people?
• Do people take your advice?
• Will you provide people with encouragement to follow GOD and urge them to surrender their lives to JESUS today?

Words of Encouragement

Daniel 10: ¹⁸ Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength. ¹⁹ “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.”

When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”

============

Worried that a patch would fall off I shrunk in embarrassment. Moments later a gentleman from another country approached me. I could not help but think of the shoddy sewing job I had done placing the patches randomly on my garment. “I like your sash, you must be very important!” the man said to me. “Did you hear what he said?” I exclaimed. My countenance changed to bright and cheery and I could no longer see the dangling patches.

• Sometimes I worry about the little things.
• Sometimes I think someone is looking at me the wrong way.
• Sometimes I wondered if yet another person was talking about me.

“Sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me” was a saying someone tried to teach me, but words do hurt if said in a poisonous way. Words can also heal in an amazing way.  Strangers have walked up to me with encouraging words that absolutely made my day turn from grey and gloomy to bright and sunny.

• GOD wants me to encourage people.
• GOD wants me to tell people they “can” do it instead of listing all the reasons they can’t.
• GOD wants me to enable “Peace” and “Strength” with encouraging words.

When the angel spoke to Daniel he only said a few words, but they were words of encouragement. Immediately Daniel received the words and felt at “Peace” while getting “Stronger” and “Stronger” each second. People can zap my energy with their words of worry and doubt while others can fill me up with encouragement to reach new heights.

I choose to encourage people through their most difficult times, knowing that GOD can do anything HE desires. I put my trust in the LORD.

• Are you down?
• Do you feel bad about yourself?
• Can you hear these important words that you are “Wonderfully” made by GOD and no one can do what HE has you doing?
• Will you place your trust in GOD so HE can fulfill HIS mighty purpose through you today?