I hope everyone had a great Sunday!! Sunday is always one of my favorite days of the week because it's the time I get to spend fellowship with my Christian brothers and sisters, which is so important!
Why is it important though? It's important because our Christian friends are the ones who are supposed to be building you up, helping you, teaching you, correcting you, and most importantly encouraging you!
Encouragement..... we all need encouraging, right?
What is the opposite of encouragement? Don't think to hard (;
I know! Discouragement! It is so, so, so easy to become discouraged!
Think back to the last time you became discouraged, how did you react?
It happens to me all the time! I will be trying so hard to do something and when the first thing goes wrong I become discouraged. Before I put my faith, my hope, and my trust in God I would usually quit after the first sign of becoming sad. BUT then I figured out, if I just let God do this then everything will be fine! Discouragement is of the devil! He is always looking for ways to get you down. So here's what you do, when the first sign of discouragement comes along just stop and pray! Tell the devil to go away!! Demand him to leave; you have the power to do so! Its that easy if you believe.
In life I have found encouraging people and then some people who discourage, those are the ones always saying what's wrong and nagging about something, just trying to get you upset. Friends, its not supposed to be that way!! If we discourage fellow Christians then what good are we doing for God? Followers of Jesus live a life that isn't easy, and its not meant to be easy! It is so rewarding though, so don't give up!
Question 1: How does it make you feel to be encouraged?
Question 2: How does it make you feel to be discouraged? Take it a little deeper: How does it feel to be discouraged when you are already having a bad day?
It doesn't feel good to be having a bad day and someone who you don't know or you do know to come and say something rude or discouraging does it? That is why its so important to always encourage one another, whether we know them or not.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
So why is it so important to encourage people? Simply because it's what we are supposed to do! If we don't encourage one another life will become sad and feel pointless. Being a follower of Jesus means that encouragement is necessary. If it wasn't for the encouragement that God has gave me through others I wouldn't be writing this right now. As Christians we all should have one goal and that is saving others through Christ, which can be difficult. That's when we step in and tell people not to give up and to have hope just like Jesus did. He was always telling people do not be afraid, peace be with you, etc. So if we are to live as Christ did then shouldn't we encourage everybody?
I know it can be hard because I fail at this all the time, but through God we can ask for forgiveness and for help! It all comes down to one thing, and that is love! Encouraging someone shows them love Gods love!
Think into your life for a moment, when was the last time you encouraged somebody or was simply nice to someone? If you can't think of anything then ask God to help you start showing his love to everyone, the stranger in the store, or the waitress at the restaurant, encourage them to keep up the good work, even if it isn't good. We have no idea what kind of day others may be having, and it only takes one hurtful action to cause them to become depressed or even harm themselves! As Christians this is our job, it is as important as them all! We must encourage!!
If you are awesome at this then that is great!! I am so happy for you because it can be very hard for others! Don't stop the good work though! You can never do enough encouraging! Pray and ask God to help you show someone how to encourage others through your walk.
God loves you so much! Show him love back and start living a life for him! Start encouraging others to come to church and to keep up the good work. It's the simple things that mean the most, I believe we all can relate to that.
Tomorrow is a new day, lets start it with encouraging words to others!
you are loved, you are forgiven, you are encouraged
His daughter,
Starla Conroy
Sweet happy kids in El Salvador!
Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement allow you to live in harmony with one another, according to the command of Jesus Christ, so that you may glorify the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with a united mind an voice. Romans 15:5-6
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