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“Encourager” - Week 1
“. . . A word spoken in due season, how good is it!” (Proverbs 15:23).
To encourage someone brings such a wonderful feeling. I remember one time when my granddaughters had come to visit us. The girls and I were lying on the bed just talking, laughing and relaxing. The phone rang and the individual calling stated up front that she would only take but a few minutes; she was just calling to encourage me. I thanked her and told her that her call meant a lot to me. The conversation then took a turn and she wanted to share with me some of the things she was going through. I was hearing a total story of gloom, doom and despair. The conversation turned out to be rather lengthy, and in the end I was almost depressed from the call that was supposed to encourage me. When I hung up the phone, I told the girls that it seemed like every time someone called to encourage me, I ended up encouraging them. The youngest granddaughter Alyssa (probably age 6 at that time) said, “Well, Gooma, when they are finished encouraging you, why don’t you just hang up the phone real quick!” Wow! Why didn’t I think of that? Encouragement is so important to those in this world that are in desperate need of help from a Savior they are not yet acquainted with. Encouragement is also important to the body of Christ. In fact, a man whose main talent was that of encouraging others had a key part in the development of the early Christian church. It was Barnabas, “the son of encouragement,” who first accepted Paul as a brother in Christ. Barnabas also encouraged John Mark when Paul gave up on the young man. Have no position in the church? Feel like you have no ministry? Try being an “encourager”! It is a wonderful ministry and it brings with it a fulfillment of happiness and joy. Indeed, when you encourage others, you yourself will become encouraged. Prayer: This day Lord, please help me to speak an encouraging word to just the right person at the right time. Amen.
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The gift of encouragement is a wonderful gift to possess. To the person who possesses it and uses it to help others, comes happy moments. At times the gift of encouragement requires effort. It seems in today’s world that it is easier to tear others down than to build them up.