Think about someone who believed in you, who encouraged you. How did they help make you feel that you could do “it,” whatever it was? That is the kind of person God wants you to be.
Maybe you never experienced many words of encouragement in your life, but with God’s help, you can become someone does encourage others. Paul gave a good guideline when he wrote that everything we say should build up the one who is listening.
- Ephesians 4:19 – Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. [1]
- Acts 15:32 –Then Judas and Silas, both being prophets, spoke at length to the believers, encouraging and strengthening their faith.[2]
- When Jesus hung on the cross one of the thieves turned from his sin and he spoke to the other thief and to Jesus. 40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.[3] Luke 23:40-43
Ruth’s encouraging words to Naomi came at a low time in her life. They were key to encourage Naomi along her journey.
16 But Ruth replied to her mother-in-law Naomi, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17 Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” 18 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more. [4] Ruth 1:16-18
Who does the Lord want you to encourage? Your words of encouragement can make a significant difference in another person’s journey.
To hear more about Naomi in crisis listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/journey-with-the-divine-intruder/the-divine-intruder-during-crisis
[1, 2, 3, 4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Eph 4:29, Acts 15:32, Luke 23:40-43, Ruth 1:16-10). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.