Greetings to you in the name of the ‘Light of the World’, Jesus Christ – THE Risen Saviour … who, by the way commissioned you and I as lights in the world! What a beautiful September morning! I trust that you had a good weekend and Monday as you wandered through the Kingdom spreading joy and hope and courage. Today I will be praying for you, asking the Father to strengthen your faith and deepen your understanding of who He is and who He can be.
Today is a special day…a day established in 2007. Let me share a verse from the Word: So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you are already doing this; just keep doing it. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 The Message. Ah! you guessed it…it is National Encouragement Day…for the 10th year now…amazing!
Let me give you a definition for ‘encouragement’: to help or stimulate; to give support and advice so that someone will do or continue to do something; to give support, confidence, or hope to someone. Someone has said that ust as there are people hungering for food, there are people starving for encouragement. Encouragement as you note by the definition is more than a flippant word that brings a smile but something that touches the soul. The Good Shepherd wants to use His sheep to ‘restore the souls’ of other sheep who ready to give up, who need confidence, who need some support, who need a little hope.
Another verses says this: When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Romans 1:12 NLT. Today is a day to remind ourselves that someone needs what I can give…and I need what someone can give to me – sometimes when faith is weak we need to let our faith give someone hope. I know what it is like to be at the point of giving up, only to have someone say the right thing or do the right thing or to simply be there … encouragement is a powerful commodity that cannot be stored. Its value is realized only when it is spent.
Look for someone who needs to be encouraged … and do it! You never know what a difference it will make.
Have a great day – be blessed!