I remember my grandfather once telling me an old joke, "How do you know if a politician is lying? His lips are moving." A serious twist on it would be this, "How do you know if someone needs encouragement? They are breathing."
The apostle Paul said in Ephesians 4:29, "Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them." In this letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul shared the importance of encouragement among the believers among them and in the world they had been called to reach. He encourages them to remember this major responsibility of their faith in Christ.
His letter to Ephesus is so relevant in today's world. The people of the world both inside the church and outside is vast and growing. Day to day living is tougher than ever and shows no signs of letting up. The economy always seems to be one bad day away from trouble. The number of people who need a solid word of encouragement and simply a lift in their lives has not quit growing. It is mine and your duty to be that voice of encouragement. We should be ready at a moment's notice to give someone an encouraging word.
You might ask, "How do I know who needs encouragement and who doesn't?" Simple...EVERYONE! But to simplify it a little for those who don't know where to start, try writing a list of ten names, friends, family, or coworkers that you haven't really talked to in a while. Then in the next couple of days to a week try and reach out to them through either a text, email, or a quick phone call and let them know you are thinking about them and praying for them. Try and catch up on where they are at in their lives, in particular, try and find out how they are doing. Ask them if there is anything that you can do for them or if there is anything you can pray about for them.
You have to become intentional about doing this. If you are bold enough to reach out to them they quite possibly may be bold enough to mention something. Be ready to meet that need. Then after that try checking back with them in a month.
It is hard to start but I promise that once you do it with those close to you, you will begin to reach out to those outside of your circle. You will want to start to get to know people you run into on a regular basis but don't truly know. All it takes is a friendly smile and a little small talk, but be prepared to allow God to use you in whatever way He deems necessary.
Everyone, everywhere needs some form of encouragement on a regular basis. You never know when God may open a door and have a divine appointment that may save someone's life and ultimately change their life or yours forever.
The apostle Paul said in Ephesians 4:29, "Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them." In this letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul shared the importance of encouragement among the believers among them and in the world they had been called to reach. He encourages them to remember this major responsibility of their faith in Christ.
His letter to Ephesus is so relevant in today's world. The people of the world both inside the church and outside is vast and growing. Day to day living is tougher than ever and shows no signs of letting up. The economy always seems to be one bad day away from trouble. The number of people who need a solid word of encouragement and simply a lift in their lives has not quit growing. It is mine and your duty to be that voice of encouragement. We should be ready at a moment's notice to give someone an encouraging word.
You might ask, "How do I know who needs encouragement and who doesn't?" Simple...EVERYONE! But to simplify it a little for those who don't know where to start, try writing a list of ten names, friends, family, or coworkers that you haven't really talked to in a while. Then in the next couple of days to a week try and reach out to them through either a text, email, or a quick phone call and let them know you are thinking about them and praying for them. Try and catch up on where they are at in their lives, in particular, try and find out how they are doing. Ask them if there is anything that you can do for them or if there is anything you can pray about for them.
You have to become intentional about doing this. If you are bold enough to reach out to them they quite possibly may be bold enough to mention something. Be ready to meet that need. Then after that try checking back with them in a month.
It is hard to start but I promise that once you do it with those close to you, you will begin to reach out to those outside of your circle. You will want to start to get to know people you run into on a regular basis but don't truly know. All it takes is a friendly smile and a little small talk, but be prepared to allow God to use you in whatever way He deems necessary.
Everyone, everywhere needs some form of encouragement on a regular basis. You never know when God may open a door and have a divine appointment that may save someone's life and ultimately change their life or yours forever.
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