encourage each other

1. 2 Corinthians 13:11
   [ Final Greetings ] Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

   2 Corinthians 13:10-12 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 13 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

2. 1 Thessalonians 4:18
   Therefore encourage one another with these words.

   1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 (in Context) 1 Thessalonians 4 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

3. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
   Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

   1 Thessalonians 5:10-12 (in Context) 1 Thessalonians 5 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

4. Hebrews 3:13
   But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

From Biblegateway.com

 

Encourage one another.

How hard is that when you are seen as the encourager and you need the encouragement?  Who encourages us? Who encourages you?

We need to encourage one another!   We need that.  Encouragers, those who encourage, do not run on an endless tank.  God expects us to encourage one another.

When was the last time you were down and struggling  and got the confused look when you asked for encouragement?  Did you get a positive response or was the answer, “But YOU are always so positive, so upbeat, so encouraging!”  like somehow that makes us immune to down days, immune to needing someone to cheer us on.

I challenge you, dare you even, to find a way to encourage the one who encourages you.  Uplift them in prayer, in deed and in word.

That’s right! I said it.

In prayer – pray for them. Be thankful for them. 

In deed – reach out to them in a tangible way. Touch their life if they have touched yours.

In word – SAY IT. Truly. Words have power to build up and to tear down. Build them up.

 

Encourage One Another

Ephesians 6:22
I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.

 

How wonderful would that be?  To have someone send a letter with you, or ahead of you, saying that you are there to encourage someone!  To be a person who, with intent, encourages.

Encourages someone to pray.

Encourages someone to seek stillness.

Encourages someone to let go of guilt that isn’t theirs.

Encouraging someone to act in faith.

Encouraging the difficult people. 

The hurting people.

The angry people.

The walking wounded who may only hear one encouraging word  and it could be your mouth that is speaking God’s love to them. Encouraging them.

 

We can encourage in so many ways, but how many of us seek to encourage intentionally?  Really. Be honest.

 

Like sunshine peeking out from behind a dark storm cloud, your words of encouragement can be a ray of light. Of hope. The one thing that someone needs to keep going.  Godly encouragement seeks to serve.   This is foot washing. This is hope building. This is God living in our words and actions. This is NOT easy.

 

Encouraging someone can be hard. It isn’t easy finding the good. We all know that struggle. How much harder to encourage someone to good.  

 

I encourage you to share. To step out of that comfort zone and encourage someone today.  Someone you don’t know. Someone who can’t pay you back. Someone who needs a kind word. It could be the only one they hear.

 

Just Ask

So often we hear people say, “I’d love to help but I don’t know what they need.” or “I wish I could help but how?”  The answer requires us to move outside our comfort zones and into someplace new.  We need to move into a place where we can ask questions that aren’t easy and listen to answers that may be hard.  We have to be in a place where ‘self’ is put aside to listen to God.

 

Galatians 6:2
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

 

Carry the burden of knowing someone has a need. A real need. For food, for shelter, for a job, for a friend.

 

Carry the burden of hearing the hard stuff.  That someone is healing from abuse. Running away from addiction. They are confused and angry with God.

 

Carry the burden of knowing that the answer to the question, “Shouldn’t someone do something?” is “You are someone, what are you doing?”.

 

But is it a burden at all?

 

John 13:34
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love oneanother.

 

The greatest burden has already been born, on shoulders perfect and holy.  It is our job now, to carry each other, as He carried us.

 

And how is this talk of burdens something that is important to an Encourage Sister?  Because it is everything!  Encouragement is a way to carry the heavy stuff for each other.  When you are close enough to encourage, you are close enough to carry.  When you are open enough to hear, you are open enough to be there.

 

It isn’t easy, this asking, but as someone who has been asked a couple of times – it can change your world!  Knowing some cares enough to ask, to listen, to love, to pray.  Sisters (and brothers) isn’t that something we all need to give and to receive?

 

Did you know only one person in the New Testament is recorded as asking Jesus if He was WILLING to heal him.  Many asked, many begged, many said thanks and quite a few probably didn’t say anything at all.  Only one asked.  And Jesus answered that He was willing.

 

I’m asking you, “Are you willing to ask?”  Are you willing to step out and seek someone in their need?

Lifting a heart

Psalm 10:17, “You, LORD, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry”

These past few weeks God has brought me to a place where I could help someone.  It started out as a small thing.  Giving someone something they needed – a ride.  Just twice week.  For safety.  For peace of mind. For grace.

It has grown. Into a friendship. Into a trust. Into a place where we learn about each other.

I never really thought about what God does when He hears our cries but now I know.  He sends a brother or sister in Christ.  He moves a heart.  He moves wheels.

Yesterday broke my heart, and at the same time built it up.

She needed a ride to town.  With the her grandson.  She had to go to the pawn shop. With his violin.  To buy groceries she’d give up, even for a week, something precious. To care for this child as she promised to do she was willing to sacrifice for him.  Learning anew her love for Jesus she was holding the ends up for Him to tie back together.

I looked at that old, much loved instrument and my heart cried.  I said, put it back.  I’ll take you shopping. Pay me back when you can.

And we did.  And we talked as the boys laughed in the backseat.  We learned about each other.  We ministered to each other.

What we gave each other was sister time, friendship, and respect.  Even in the need we gave each other respect.

I got a chance to be the someone who could help.  The person I wish I had known in my life so many times, I got to be!  God blessed me richly yesterday.

Most importantly though, was the encouragement she and I gave each other.  Intentionally building each other up through sisterhood, through a love of Jesus and of the children we care for.  She was encouraged, and I was too.

In God’s grand scheme of things I’m praying that those encouraging words and bags of groceries, and the violin still on the shelf blesses her and continues to encourage her as she rebuilds from the ruins.  I’m encouraged by her spirit.

Welcome to Encourage Sisters

 

Encourage Sisters is a place for us to nuture encouragement in our walk as children of God. We are told many times and in many ways throughout God’s word to encourage one another. Sadly, this is very lacking in a visible way for many of us.

 

Encourage Sisters is just that – encouragement! You can do this in your virtual world (leave a comment, share a link, praise someone and show support by your words and actions) and in your face-to-face life in the same way.

 

What are some ways to encourage someone? You probably know many, if you think you are stuck, think of what would encourageyou!

 

Sisters we need encouragement! It is the water that can save us from drought! It is the sunshine on a cloudy day. It is the reminder that we dont’ walk alone. It is also a very powerful witness!

 

How often have you been to a faith writing sister or brother’s blog and found no comments? Zero. Not one encouraging word. And yet those faithful brothers and sisters keep writing, even if they believe it is for a holy audience of One! They encourage us, and we should encourage them back!

 

Encouragement is something we can do in our daily walk. We can encourage in so many ways, and we often do, but we need to be intentional about it. We need to make a point of encouraging one another.

 

That is what this group is about, and I’m going to be doing a blog as well. We can, and should, encourage each other. It is one way we can minister to one another and to witness to others.

 

I’m honoured you are here with us and look forward to hearing about who you are encouraging.

 

Feel free to share your pages, links and ideas. We need to encourage each other, and those around us. It may mean the world to someone, and you won’t even know it!

 

Encouragement Sisters are on Facebook with a group, please join us in the ministry of intentional encouragement!  Brothers you are welcome too!

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