Encouragement

This post is dedicated to a friend who has faced a tremendous loss.  I pray that any encouragement that is given or received as a result of this study may pour down Grace upon you and encourage you in this difficult time.  We love you.

"Death and Life are in the power of the tongue." 

Proverbs 18:21 

For the past four weeks we have studied the tongue's ability to kill, maim and wound through criticism, gossip, complaining, and careless words.  I have been convicted and amazed at the power our words have and vowed to use my words for LIFE and not DEATH.  Never again will I wound with my mouth!  


Then I walk away from my computer.  


It can be so discouraging to fall back into sin, especially when you so clearly see the damage it causes.  It is tempting to think the Lord is sighing, shaking His Head and saying to the saints, "She's never going to get it."  But I read somewhere that the opposite is true.  God is omnipotent.  He is outside of time and already knows the exact number of times you're going to fall before you are truly free from that sin.   Instead of sighing, He's jumping up (figuratively) and shouting, "YES!!!!  Only 168 more times to go!!!!"  


That is encouragement.  To speak a word that infuses courage, hope or confidence and to build up a person for good is to encourage.  Saint Paul calls the Lord "the God of all encouragement" in his second letter to the Corinthians.  

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God.  (2 Cor. 1:3-4)

Did you catch that?  The God of all encouragement encourages US FIRST.  If we are trying to break free of our sinful habits and use our tongue to bring life without FIRST going to the Father, we will fail!  You cannot give what you do not have.  He encourages us- not just in our areas of strength- but in our every affliction.  Whether we are facing external stresses of work, relationships, financial concerns, illness, or loss, or internal challenges such as temptations, struggles of faith, battling pride, greed, or envy, HE WANTS TO ENCOURAGE US IN OUR STRUGGLE.  


If God was our Dad at our little league game, He wouldn't just puff up with pride when we hit the winning home run.  He also wouldn't give false praise and pretend we're the star when we're really the bench warmer.  Instead, He would BELIEVE in us, TEACH us, and HELP us. 


THE PARACLETE:
1 Thessalonians 5:11 instructs us to "encourage one another."  The Greek word for encourage is "PARAKALEO".  Saint John writes, "The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name- he will teach you everything and remind you of all that [I] have told you" (John 14:26).  The Greek word for Advocate is "PARACLETE"!  THE Paraclete is the holy Spirit!  Paraclete is the noun and parakaleo is the verb.  


By receiving the holy Spirit and all of the comfort, strength, and courage He brings, we are able to act as the holy Spirit in our families, neighborhoods, Churches and communities!  When we encourage each other, we are acting with the holy Spirit!  To be a paraclete is to be an advocate, intercessor, teacher, helper and comforter.  To encourage is to walk along side someone in their journey- helping them when they fall or struggle, and cheering them on when they're at their best.  


WE ARE CALLED TO ENCOURAGE:
Scripture is full of commands to encourage and strengthen each other.  Saint Paul write that we should "Encourage one another and build one another up" (1 Thessalonians 5:11).  The letter to the Hebrews instructs us to "consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. We should...encourage one another" Hebrews 10:24-25.


Hebrews also warns of the danger of a lack of encouragement.  "Encourage yourselves daily while it is still 'today,' so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin." (Hebrews 3:13)  Without encouragement, we may begin to believe the enemy's lies.  "You're not good enough.  You don't have what it takes.  You're not really loved.  God doesn't have your best interest at heart."  The day to day grind can reinforce these lies, and as a result we can grow strong in self-defense and self-reliance, and harden ourselves to being vulnerable and trusting.  Instead we must receive encouragement from the Lord and take care to encourage those around us.  


The Old Testament speaks of encouragement, too. The Psalms, historical books and many of the prophets spoke about encouragement.  "The Lord God has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them" Isaiah 50:4a  


Yes, Lord.  Grant us a well-trained tongue.  Guide us as we learn to speak to the weary- not a word that will weigh them down more, but a word that will rouse them!  Teach us how to encourage one another to love and good works.  Let our words of correction and exhortation be authentic and pure, not condemning or discouraging.  Fill us with your Spirit of comfort and flood our hearts with Truth.  Dispel the lies and give us the courage to open our hearts to you.  Let your Spirit overflow in us so that we may pour out your comfort, consolation, and strength to others.  Thank you for letting us participate with you as little paracletes.  

THIS WEEK:

1. Spend time in prayer this week asking the Lord where you need encouragement.  Sit at His feet while He fills you with His courage, strength, and comfort.  Read Psalm 138:3.  "When I cried out, you answered; you strengthened my spirit."
2. Reflect on a time that you have been greatly encouraged.  How was this accomplished?  Who do you turn to when you need encouragement?  How do they encourage you?
3. Write a letter of encouragement this week.  
4. Try to encourage a stranger simply by showing kindness.  Perhaps the checker at the grocery store or the person next to you in line could use a kind word and cheerful smile.  

*I would like to publicly thank my best friend, Emily, for her constant encouragement over the last eleven years.  Emily, you are the model of encouragement to me.  You build up instead of tearing down.  You speak words of life, comfort, and healing.  You find the good in terrible situations and strengthen that, while sharing the burden of hurt and pain.  When I sometimes wonder how to encourage others, I think of you.  Thank you, dear friend.