Proverbs 31:12 AMPC
She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 AMPC
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of sympathy (pity and mercy) and the God [Who is the Source] of every comfort (consolation and encouragement), [4] Who comforts (consoles and encourages) us in every trouble (calamity and affliction), so that we may also be able to comfort (console and encourage) those who are in any kind of trouble or distress, with the comfort (consolation and encouragement) with which we ourselves are comforted (consoled and encouraged) by God.
Did you know that when you encourage someone when they're down and out, you are following in God's footsteps - because that's His Nature.
One act each one of us can do, no matter how talentless we feel, is to be an encourager.
It's a really simple, but vital "ministry" to voice your support, understanding and appreciation.
Who knows, but that someone might be about to give up? Your words could inspire them to keep going and encourage their efforts?
With suicide rates rising, this, perhaps, is the ingredient missing in society.
People are quick to post hateful words on social media, but so slow to encourage.
Think back over your life and recall words of encouragement that you have received. Perhaps they provided the impetus to carry on, when life seemed too hard.
Even our Precious Lord Jesus needed an angel to come and strengthen Him in Gethsemane, when all His disciples could do was to fall asleep.
Luke 22:43 AMPC
And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him in spirit.
One incident that sticks in my memory was when I was about to take my exams. My dad was very ill and my mum and I had been trying to cope under a lot of distress with sleepless nights. So I must have looked worn out waiting in the exam hall.
My form teacher, who was aware of the situation, came to me with words of encouragement. It gave me new strength & energy to approach that exam in a positive frame of mind.
A simple "you can do it" is sometimes all a person needs to set them back on their feet.
We can all do that, can't we?
The verse at the start talks about the attributes of a good wife, but could rightly be addressed to every Christian in all situations.
Join me in examining the words we speak and type and see if we need to cut out the criticism and be more encouraging!
2 Corinthians 7:6 AMPC
But God, Who comforts and encourages and refreshes and cheers the depressed and the sinking, comforted and encouraged and refreshed and cheered us by the arrival of Titus.
Perhaps Jesus wants us to be a source of encouragement to someone today?
Prayer
Father God, place people in my heart that need Your encouragement. Please give me "God-words" and actions to lift their spirits, in Jesus' name.
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