We all need encouragement. Any journey is made lighter through the gift of encouragement.
Encouragement should be considered a weapon in our battles; instilling us with courage to fight for greater victories in the defining issues of life .
We need to also give encouragement to others; an act of our will which also requires courage. Wielding our weapons of encouragement on behalf of the discouraged forces us to confront fears of our words sounding foolish or our actions being misunderstood. The words of Proverbs 25:11 are timely reminder here, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”
Some encouraging words are difficult to hear.
Sometimes encouragement comes in the form of warning us away from bad decisions, or wrong directions. Correcting words, if accepted, are a gift of encouragement pictured as “an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.” (Proverbs 25:12) Proverbs 27: 6 adds weight to the value of correction: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”
I’ve got to confess that when I began writing this post (200-some words ago), I was not thinking of correction as a form of encouragement. But, as the Proverb writer says; “the Lord disciplines (corrects) those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” Loving correction from our friends, from God Himself, is proof that we are, well…loved. And what greater encouragement than to know we are loved!
We may not always receive encouragement in the ways we’d prefer, but we can still choose to be encouraged.
Honestly, I hate making that statement. On the day that I’m writing this, I am longing for the encouragement of words and hugs. But the reality of that happening on this particular day is slim.
King David chose encouragement on a day when everything was going wrong; really, really wrong. “David found strength (encouraged himself) in the Lord.” Read the details in 1 Samuel 30.
Today I’m choosing to be encouraged by two phrases from scripture. The first, “…whose weakness was turned to strength and who became powerful in battle” (Hebrews 11:34), reminds me of God’s ability to transform my weaknesses with His strength.
The second, “Discipline… produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (12:11); helps me to hold on to the assurance that God is using His training (discipline) to produce righteousness and peace in my life.
Let’s be encouraged … to be encouraged! Let’s receive the encouragement we are given today. Let’s use this weapon to face our own battles. Let’s lift our weapon of encouragement for the aid of others, in their battles.
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