Every person battles something, on a daily basis, and these battles wreak havoc where everyone needs encouraging and understanding. Every one of us desires to have someone in their corner who gets them. In Christ, you have that Someone. He totally gets you. He has time for you, and He helps you.
While living out your faith in a sinful body that has been redeemed by the blood of Christ, the battle is real for you must surrender your sinful inclinations to God and allow Him to change you into His child; holy, righteous, and redeemed. This takes work. This takes discipline. And your flesh fights God’s process of sanctification. Thus, someone needs encouraging.
While God leads you from glory to glory as He helps you to become more like His Son, He is calling you to be His hands and feet and help those around you. You are God’s tangible love to another. Your encouragement will help solidify their faith in God. You help build them up so they will trust God more and more.
To love in this manner takes some effort on your part. You need to be intentional as you pay attention to what another person is going through. I experienced such love on a kayaking trip recently. I hadn’t kayaked in quite a few years. I am not athletic so even paddling a kayak down a narrow stream with twists and turns and branches in the way, I got caught up easily and a hard time maneuvering my boat. In my party, my sister’s friend took the time to stay behind me and coach me in how to paddle and let the current lead me forward. It didn’t take very long, and he didn’t need to help me. I got the hang of it.
We all need people like Mike to encourage us in trying times.
Because he took the time to help, my ability to paddle a kayak improved which caused my confidence to boost. I enjoyed my time on the river, and I became more thankful to Mike and to God. Now, this example is pretty trivial yet it encouraged my heart. Can you imagine when God uses you to encourage another spiritually? The heavens open up my friend, the heavens open up and you partake in Kingdom work!
All it takes is you taking a little time to notice and respond.
Marriages will thrive when you encourage. Parenting will be easier if you encourage. There will be more close-knit relationships with siblings, parents, co-workers, and neighbors if you just the take the time to come alongside another in the little things. Those little things change someone’s life.
You are called to encourage others and build them up; see 1 Thessalonians 5:11. Use words of encouragement to those who hear you. Be kind, tender-hearted, forgiving just as God through Christ forgives you; see Ephesians 4:29,32. Motivate another so they, too, will show love and do good works for the Lord; see Hebrews 10:24. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and let God encourage you with what is going to take place for all believers, then go and encourage others to prepare themselves.
Don’t let the enemy dissuade you from it. He works tirelessly making sure we all live like islands and focus only on ourselves. Break free from this wrong mindset and become beacons of Light to those around you.
Carol J German 