The Importance of Encouragement

 

Encouragement is one of the most important things in the world! Truly. Think about it. If you never received any encouragement from friends, any "you can do it", or "you're so good at that". how do you think you would feel? Our best friends are those who see our weaknesses, see our abilities, and encourage us like crazy! Encouragement is to our souls what gasoline is to a fire!

The same is true in parenting. Our five year old barely has hands big enough or strong enough to hold an ice cream cone, much less play the violin. But when she asked (with those excited "I can do it" eyes) we said yes, of course. And as we listened to the screeching we said, "You are SO good at that. You're going to be an incredible player someday!" (Now we're looking for an instructor if you know of any in Jackson.) But every little word we spoke in the important time of her exploring this new thing was of vital importance. One wrong word and it could damage her heart and her confidence for a very long time, if not for the rest of her life.

The same is true in the Body of Christ, esp. in regards to the gifts of the Spirit which God gives to "each and every one." We have to see with God's eyes the potential in each other. We must work with God's Spirit to draw out a gift, even if the person barely has hands big enough or strong enough to use the new gift. Every little word we speak to one another in the time of discovering one's gift is of vital importance. One wrong word, and I would even add one word of encouragement left unspoken, can damage a person's confidence in the Lord for a very long time, if not forever. One of the primary jobs of any and every church leadership is to draw out the giftedness in the Body through encouragement! Those with the God-given Spiritual ability to lead have to set the pace for encouragement.

But all of us, every one of us, need to encourage one another, or build each other up as Paul put it, on a regular basis. Words are powerful! And encouragement is one of the most important things in the world! Encouragement is to our souls what gasoline is to a fire! Flame on!