Encourage One Another!

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you have been doing." 1 Thess 5:11

I decided to type the word "encouragement" into google images and see what came up. I had to have a bit of a chuckle when this image came up

Please meet, the "encouragement gong". The sound of this gong is meant to encourage you to do great things... Without being disrespectful to those who do believe in these kind of instruments, it just sounds a little crazy to me.

I've been thinking a bit lately about what role encouragement has in relationships that i maintain. Do I encourage enough?, Am I myself being encouraged enough in what I do. I've come to the conclusion that along with love, encouragement is another thing that is necessary for change to really happen. The people who do great things in this world have been encouraged to do so.

I've been amazingly blessed to have had people in my life who have encouraged me to be all that I can be. People who have encouraged me to seek God with all of my heart and trust in his ways. People who have encouraged me to believe in myself, and in God. I wouldn't be the person I am today if people hadn't encouraged me.

Yet, when encouragement has such good repercussions, why are we so quick to do the complete opposite and discourage people? We say harsh words, we gossip, we tear people down, we make a sarcastic comment or two. What does this really achieve? Nothing. It causes hurt and pain. It has no place in this world. It's made me think about the way I talk to and about other people. Does even that sarcastic (although seemingly funny) comment I make about someone build them up at all? no.. it tears them down. You and I know how much it hurts when we are discouraged by others, yet why are we so quick to do it ourselves?

We don't need a gong to encourage each other. God has given us the gift of communication (thank goodness, i think i' d die if i couldn't talk! lol) It's time to use it! Tell people you think they're doing a good job, write someone a note telling them you really value their friendship, send a text message to let someone know you're praying for them... just do something!

God can do great things if we encourage one another as we're commanded! Last night at Youth Church, a guy whose been coming for a while told of how he's been clean from a $400 a day heroin addiction for a week now, and he spoke of how one of the workers has really really encouraged him to give up his habit and turn to God. Praise God! See, the power of encouragement at it's best!

Seek to encourage, and slow to discourage.. it really does no good hey.

It's about now i have to eat humble pie, because I am speaking to myself as much as anyone else!

For Him Alone

Ness :-)