Let me start today's blog off with a question....Are you an encourager? Now let me explain what I mean by that, and then ask you this question again. Are you the type of person who would tell someone that God has no limits, and neither should their faith? Or are you the type of person who has to bring everything down to a realistic, and sometimes discouraging level? When or if someone brings something to you that they are trusting God to do in their life, are you one of the first people who will say "absolutely, let me join you in praying for that"? ....Are you an encourager?
God's Word tells us that we are to encourage one another, but it doesn't just stop there. It also tells us not to do the opposite. We are NOT to tear each other down. Ephesians 4: 29 tell us "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs...". And then it goes on it verses 31-32 to say "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." You see God knew that as Christians we would need each other. We would need our brothers and sisters in Christ to lift each other up. He knew we would face rejection from the world, and sometimes even those that are close to us. So He expects us to lift each other up...to encourage one another. But He also knew that if we allow the things in verse 31 to settle into our hearts, then there is no way we can be the encourager that He wants us to be.
Envy is one of the tools that satan uses the most to stop us from encouraging someone else. I mean, if we pray for that person and their faith is strengthened and their blessing comes before ours, the how will that affect us. Well, it should affect us by being happy for them. We should be so full of joy that they are drawing close to God and seeing the evidence of that in their life. But this is often when the enemy begins to speak the lies into our mind that prevent us from truly being joyful for them, or towards them. And if you want to know what God thinks of envy, then just do a word search on it and see all the scriptures that come back. Bottom line is, God expects us to be happy for one another. Be encouraging to one another. And NOT to compare our lives, our blessings, and our walk to one another. He knows when we can get past those things, then our hearts can be the at place He needs them to be. And with that He can build us up to be encouragers!
When you choose to walk with Jesus you will already have enough people not understand "the new you" that God transforms you into. And some of them may not want to accept who God is changing you into, or have anything encouraging to say about it. So let's take the time and the effort to lift each other up. Find someone today that needs to hear that God loves them, God hears their prayers, God sees their struggles....but most of all...God cares, and so do you! And if you are that person that needs to hear a word of encouragement, then let me end with this. God loves you enough to never quit on you, so don't quit on Him. Keep praying about that thing. Keep praying for that friend or family member. Keep letting Him correct you and direct you. And keep drawing closer to Him. And on the days when this just seems harder, keep drawing from His strength. You are not alone, You have Him and millions of brothers and sisters who stand with you.
God, thank You for the love You have for us. Help us to take Your love and Your joy and spread it! Help us to step out of ourselves and encourage others. Holy Spirit, teach us how to be encouragers and show us how much it can change and impact our way of thinking and the condition of our heart when we truly show encouragement for one another. In Jesus name, Amen
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