“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11
It is so easy to become discouraged in our everyday lives. We are surrounded by hundreds yet often feel alone in our daily walk. God has called us to encourage each other. Through that encouragement we will also BECOME encouraged ourselves. Recently Michelle wrote an article for Single Matters magazine that talked about the importance of encouraging those around us.
“Today in my busy life it’s easy to make excuses about why I don’t have time to send out a note of encouragement. Schedules, deadlines, kids, church. You name it. But the truth is that my life is full of devices that make sending a note a simple task. Why there are even apps that will send them out on a prearranged schedule. Truthfully I have no excuse other than I just don’t make the time to do it.
Why? Because in the adult world you have to develop a relationship in order to share dreams and feelings. I would have to trust someone with my deepest desires, my hopes, my disappointments. And truth be told, then I would have to listen to their life issues as well. Don’t I have enough to do without carrying the weight of someone else’s issues?
But here is the deal. We are told in Scripture to encourage each other (1 Thessalonians 5:11, Romans 15:4-5, Hebrews 10:25). In the Old Testament there are countless stories of God’s encouragement to His people. When He knew we needed the ultimate in encouragement He sent His Son to teach us how to encourage others. Christ spent much of his time encouraging His disciples as well as all those who followed Him. People traveled days just to sit at His feet to receive those precious words of hope.”
To read the rest of Michelle’s article click HERE.
We pray that you will take time every day to encourage someone.
Blessings,
Jenny, Michelle, Freida, and Ingrid
Scripture from NIV
