Encouragement builds up and stirs up, edifies, stimulates, and incites constructive action, and is a gift to the ears that hear it. Encouragement pushes, prods, provokes, prompts, and promotes. Encouragement is what wind is to a sailboat – it moves people forward.
Our self-centered culture is so me-centric that few actually make time to encourage other people. Thoughtful encouragement takes time and effort, but inspiring words should be a regular part of our communication. Believers are commanded to encourage one another:
- “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” (1Thessalonians 5:11 NASB)
- “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:5-6 NIV)
- “Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what you say.” (Ephesians 4:29b CEV)
In the appropriately-titled book Encouragement, well-known Christian psychologist Dr. Larry Crabb reminds readers: “Christians are commanded to encourage one another. Because words have the power to affect people deeply, it is appropriate to consider how to encourage fellow Christians through what we say. Words can encourage, discourage, or do nothing. We must learn to speak sincerely with positive impact, using our words to help other Christians pursue the pathway of obedience more zealously.” (Crabb and Dan Allender, 1984, p. 25)
“Words have the power to motivate or destroy. Energize or deflate. Inspire or create despair. Many a successful executive can remember the time his father failed to give affirmation to him as a child. The result was either overachievement to prove his worth or underachievement to prove he was right.
Many a wife has lost her ability to love because of a critical husband. Many a husband has left a marriage because of words of disrespect and ungratefulness. Many an athlete has not performed to his/her ultimate capacity because a coach could not evaluate without attacking the person’s character or self-image. Stories abound to the power of words. There are just as many stories of those that have been encouraged, challenged, and comforted with words that made a difference in their life.” (Jim Grassi, Crunch Time in the Red Zone, p. 134)
Okay, now its time for you do something with this. Find someone you can encourage. Make time. Be thoughtful. Move them forward.
