When was the last time we remembered to encourage and build some one up? Has it become a way of life for us? Not yet? Why not?
Become encouragers and exhorters and watch the people around us rise up to every challenge.
We are in a long race, sometimes our legs ache, our throats burn and our whole body cries out for us to stop! Encouragement helps us to push through the pain to the finish line each time. So let us be sensitive to the needs of others and offer supportive words or actions of encouragement.
The command to ‘encourage’ others is found throughout the Bible. In 1 Thessalonians 5: 11 – 23, Paul gives us many specific examples of how we can encourage each other. It is good to be reminded to encourage because it is so easy to forget to do this in the midst of the loud noise of everyday living!
So:
1. Build each other up. Think of ways to encourage.
2. Cooperate with leaders. And in this way, honour them.
3. Thank our leaders. Stop criticising. Show them great respect.
4. Live in peace. Search for ways to live in harmony and unity.
5. Encourage the shy and timid. Keep reminding them of God’s promises. Encourage boldness.
6. Support the weak by encouraging, loving and praying for and with them.
Paul modelled six important principles to help us encourage others:
1. Begin with encouragement. People will then be happy to work with us.
2. Expect of others only what we expect of ourselves.
3. Develop expectations of others with consideration of their skills, maturity and experience.
4. Monitor expectations of others. Changing circumstances sometimes require revised or reduces expectations. Be sensitive.
5. Clarify our expectations with others. People are not likely to hit a target that we have not identified.
6. Always end with encouragement. People love to be thanked for a job well done.
So train ourselves to be encouragers!
And encourage each other along this path we are on together!
Start today. Make it a habit.
SO ENCOURAGE!
BE ENCOURAGERS WHEREVER WE GO! (SOURCE UNKNOWN)