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With the many discouragements that people face each day, we should never
underestimate the power that our positive words can have on them. A word
of encouragement to someone who is feeling down and depressed can mean the
world to them and in effect change their outlook on their situation. The
Bible tells us to comfort the feebleminded and support those who are weak
as we read in 1 Thessalonians 5:14 "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them
that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient
toward all men." We are called to comfort, support and lift up those who
are weak and their spirits and show them the love of God through our
intervention so that they may be able to stand up and continue on.
I hope you are encouraged and challenged by today's message to be an
encourager when the opportunity arises so that others may be lifted up by
your positive reinforcements.
THE POWER OF PRAISE
In the early 19th century, a young man in London aspired to be a writer.
But everything seemed to be against him. He had never been able to attend
school more than four years. His father had been thrown in jail because he
couldn't pay his debts, and this young man often knew the pangs of hunger.
Finally he got a job pasting labels on bottles in a rat-infested warehouse,
and he slept at night in a dismal attic room with two other boys -
guttersnipes from the slums of London.
He had so little confidence in his ability to write that he sneaked out and
mailed his first manuscript in the dead of night so nobody would laugh at
him. Story after story was refused. Finally the great day came when one was
accepted. True, he wasn't paid for it, but one editor had praised him. One
editor had given him recognition. He was so thrilled that he wandered
aimlessly around the streets with tears rolling down his cheeks.
The praise, the recognition that he received through getting one story in
print changed his whole life. If it hadn't been for that encouragement, he
might have spent his entire life working in rat-infested factories. You
may have heard of that boy. His name is Charles Dickens.
Author Unknown
We never really know what someone else is going through and this fact alone
should cause us to take the initiative to say a good word of encouragement
when the opportunity presents itself. The Bible declares in Galatians 6:2-4
"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a
man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth
himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have
rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another."
Be encouraged to be an encourager and know that your simple uplifting words
will cause a change that will greatly outlast and outweigh the sacrifice
that you made in your intervention.
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
1 John 4:7-11 "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and
every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not
knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God
toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that
we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that
He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved,
if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."
Hebrews 13:1-3 "Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain
strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember them
that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as
being yourselves also in the body."
Philippians 2:3-7 "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in
lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not
every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the
form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself
of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in
the likeness of men."
1 Peter 3:8-11 "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of
another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil
for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that
ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that
will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil,
and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good;
let him seek peace, and ensue it."
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today's Selected Poem: CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem137.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: THE FACE OF HYPOCRISY
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony139.htm
In Christ's Service,
Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry |
