Christian Fellowship Church
Women's Ministry

 

What is Encouragement?

My heart aches to be an encouraging person. With everything in me, I desire to be that person who can lift another up, and cheer them on to great things in the Lord. There are times I believe that God has used me in this area…and for that I am honoured and eternally grateful to Him. But I must admit, I am not certain that I have used each opportunity afforded me. As Christian believers, we must confidently walk the pathway of encouragement knowing that expressing positive encouragement must put a smile on the face of our heavenly father!

Some time ago psychologists conducted an experiment to measure the time a barefooted person could stand in ice water. Some persons made it a longer period of time than others….actually some made it twice as long. Why? The persons who could stand the ice water twice as long as others had a cheerleader present, giving encouragement. Words like, you can do it…..hang in there….you are doing an amazing job can propel someone to heights they have not yet achieved!

Encouragement helps people. A quote by William A. Ward couldn’t put it better! He states:

Flatter me, and I may not believe you.
Criticize me, and I may not like you.
Ignore me, and I may not forgive you.
Encourage me, and I will not forget you.

There is NO doubt in my heart that we all need encouragement …sometimes we even need it desperately. No matter who or what we are or our status in life, we need encouragement. We need someone to come along side and infuse us with a confident word. We all face those moments hours or even days – self inflicted or not - when our hearts take a nosedive and our world looks bleak and even the most simple tasks appear like the Rocky Mountains looming around us.

A word or an act of encouragement has the ability to lift our hearts and our spirits. Encouragement is like a lifeline on days we feel we are sinking.

It has been said of a congregation that there is a lonely heart in need of encouragement in every pew. Imagine, even within our family of believers, we can be an encourager!

 

HOW TO: There is an Art of Encouragement

Giving Support. Look for ways to come alongside those in your life and affirm them. Become a cheerleader for those you love as they move through life stretching to meet new opportunities. A phone call or card can say you notice them.

Showing Honor. Take note of character qualities in people. Watch for courage, strength, wisdom, patience, cheerfulness, honesty, compassion, kindness and gentleness. In His word God asks us to honour those who labour among us.

1 Thessalonians 5:11-13 (Amp.) says:

Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing. No also we beseech you, brethren, get to know those who labor among you [recognize them for what they are, acknowledge and appreciate and respect them all] – your leaders who are over you in the Lord and those who warn and kindly reprove and exhort you. And hold them in very high and most affectionate esteem in [intelligent and sympathetic] appreciation of their work.

Be a Bearer of Hope.  When hard times come and discouragement settles over the heart, a word of hope can keep me moving forward. It’s simple! A word of hope says, "You’ll make it through." A word of hope says, "I believe in you." A word of hope says, "God is with you and will help you".

God NEVER intended us to be a ‘Lone Ranger’ in life. We need others to reflect back to us the love of God, to speak into our lives when we need it, and to use whatever it takes to encourage us to do and to be what God wants us to do and be. How many times has God placed an idea in your heart? Yet true to our human nature, we wonder if it’s really God speaking and ask Him to prove it! Then, remember what happens? God sends someone into our life with that word of encouragement that sends us onward and upward to following that voice of the Lord. Hope in God and in His power and strength to meet our needs, is true encouragement for the soul. Hope in God is the anchor that holds us in the storms of life.

It has been said that we all influence at least 250 people in our lifetime.  Each of us has a responsibility to be faithful to be an influential encourager! Every woman can be a leader/encourager, yet surveys often show that most women greatly underestimate their influence. I want to exhort you to be an encourager and make a difference in the world around you! God created you to do what ONLY you can do.
DO IT!!!!

In God’s Guidebook for Life, The Bible, He says, "Encourage one another daily" (Hebrews 3:13).  He knows how much we need it. Ask Him to help you develop the Heart of an ENCOURAGER and in turn be encouraged yourself. Find someone today who you can encourage with a word of blessing!

I love you!

Laurilyn

Remember…..there is hope and help with God!

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