Are you an encourager? Do you build others up? Do you give them a word of encouragement to achieve their goals? Do you spur others on to new heights? Do you give them the heart to keep pushing through when things get tough? Do you strengthen their resolve?
Being a person of encouragement comes naturally to some people. Not so much for others. Those who are encouragers boost those around them. They increase the energy of those who are running slow. The encourager restores the belief another has lost.
Encouragement can be the difference between success and failure. I remember running my first marathon. About mile fourteen my legs started cramping. It was my fault. I drank too much water the day before so I would be hydrated and thereby flushed all the electrolytes out of my system. Needless to say, I did not make that mistake the next year.
But there were people along the route who kept encouraging me and the other runners to keep going. It was tough. I had to walk some, massage the muscles, and run again. I finished the twenty-six plus miles. I don’t know if I would have without the encouragement along the way.
We can encourage one another to continue going during our dark times. We can encourage one another to hold on to our faith when we are tempted to walk away. We can encourage others to come to faith in Jesus Christ through both words and actions.
Encouragement is a gift of the spirit. We can all encourage at some level. But there are some who have an extra helping of the gift of encouragement from the Holy Spirit. Those folks are special. They are the energy and motivation factor for those of us running the race.
I pray we all encourage others to hold on to their faith. I pray we encourage others to come to faith in Jesus. I pray each one of us truly appreciate those who are gifted with encouragement. Be an encourager. Appreciate encouragers. Encourage one another. Encourage others to come to faith.
Acts 15:30-33 So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. After spending some time there, they were sent off by the believers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them.
Marty Pressey 