You are most blessed on this earth if you even have one person who encourages you along the way. Someone who lifts you up when you are down and comes alongside you to keep you from falling. Encouragers are a gift from God.
Everybody needs somebody, so be that somebody to someone else. “…Encourage each other…Then the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11 NLT).
When given the choice to criticize someone or encourage them, choose encouragement, for that is surely what people need the most. Criticism reminds them of where they have been, whereas encouragement lifts them to where they can go.
Stop criticizing people for where they fall short and start encouraging them for all they can be. “Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NASB).
The more you are an encourager, the more people will be drawn to you. Encouragers nourish our lives and help the sun to shine a little brighter. An encourager lifts themselves as they lift others; what they pour out is what they are filled with.
How you make people feel is more important than anything you might teach them. “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).
Make it your heartbeat in life to encourage others. Before you meet with people, choose in advance to be an encourager to them. Encourage people with the hope of God, for surely hope is always in abundance in heaven.
Some of our greatest accomplishments are what we encourage others to do. “We must also consider how to encourage each other to show love and to do good things” (Hebrews 10:24 NOG).
Encouraging people is not only about the big things but also every little thing that stands before us. Speak uplifting words, and your speech will lift others up. Speak words of life, and your speech will bring life. What you say can impact a soul for good or for bad, so choose good.
It’s not how long you live that matters most, but how well you live. “For the Scriptures say, ‘If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil’” (1 Peter 3:10-12 NLT).
An encouraging word must be a genuine word; otherwise, it falls flat as only false flattery and self-serving manipulation. If you don’t mean it, then don’t say it. If your words are not born out of love, then they don’t have much value.
A life well lived encourages others to do the same. “…Be an example to show the believers how they should live. Show them by what you say, by the way you live, by your love, by your faith, and by your pure life. Continue to read the Scriptures to the people, encourage them, and teach them…” (1 Timothy 4:12-13 ERV).
When you’re feeling down, seek an encouraging word from a soul who will help you when it is most needed. You know who encourages you, and so ask them when it is needed. And then, when you are ready, be sure to give them an encouraging word in return.
Spend more time with people who encourage you to be more and don’t always remind you of who you were before. “The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense” (Proverbs 10:21 NLT).
God will send us messengers of encouragement as we go along in our journeys. Never doubt God’s hand in your life. When someone encourages you, thank them. Let people know how much their words mean to you. Thankfulness is godliness.
You’re better off being known well by a few than being well-known to many. “A friend shows his friendship at all times — it is for adversity that [such] a brother is born” (Proverbs 17:17 CJB).
Learn to be silent when people are angry with you, and don’t let their problems become your own. You may not be able to say anything to help them, but we can always pray, and prayer is often what they need the most.
Speak to others such that you won’t regret it if it was the last thing you ever told them. “And never let ugly or hateful words come from your mouth, but instead let your words become beautiful gifts that encourage others; do this by speaking words of grace to help them” (Ephesians 4:29 TPT).
Be the encourager that God wants you to be. Be kind to people. Be a plus in their lives. Lift them with your words and come alongside them with your hugs. Oftentimes, the most encouraging word you can give someone is a warm and gentle hug.
Tell others what God has done for you to encourage them on what He can do for them. After Jesus freed a man from demons, He told him, “…Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you” (Mark 5:19 NKJV).
Blessings to you always,
Paul Balius
Thank you Paul for your kind words of encouragement. God always uses your inspired words to bring awesome inspiration and encouragement from our Heavenly Father. Blessings to you as well!
Thank you so much. That is my greatest desire, that I would be just a pen in His hands and be useful in His kingdom. I pray that He is leading and helping you in all things, as I know He can. Blessings to you!
This post of yours, Paul, beloved brother, is enormously encouraging. Thank you for your helpful, healing encouragement! Very much I appreciate deeply your heart and writings that encourage us with such excellence from the Holy One and the Just, Christ Jesus, our forever first Love and all magnificent Obsession. Burning blessings of Jesus’ beauty in your being and intimate blessings of loving affection from His holy heart as Lord of history and King of heaven. ❤️
Thank you so much my friend. I think all of us could use encouragement because all of us face things that can be discouraging. We need each other in our faith journey, I think more than most of us realize. Thank you for your constant flow of kind words to me.
Thank you so much. This text helped me and because of this I will share it with others. I really appreciate your writings. So pleace continue to publish them. They are really inspire by the Holy Spirit. Thank you again. Shalom.
Thank you so much! I am so blessed by your words and appreciate them more than you know. May His favor be richly upon you!
Thank you Paul for another great article. I have been told I have the gift of exhortation and I love encouraging others. This helps me to realize and appreciate those who have encouraged me over the years. I find you articles very well written and encouraging. God bless you and your gift.
Bonnie, I truly appreciate you for your felicitously encouraging comment to Paul. Paul is indeed a powerfully precious and consistent encouragement to his readers. That you are blessed with the gift of encouragement is very heartening and Christ-giving to the lives He has omnisciently, beneficently, and munificently directed you. Burning blessings of Jesus’ boundless beauty in your being and intimately encouraging blessings of loving affection for you from His holy heart as Lord of history and King of heaven.
Hi Bonnie, what wonderful gifts you have of exhortation and encouragement! God’s treasures come in the form of blessed gifts that He gives to us to work through us to those around us! When we are doing His kingdom work, even the smallest work is both divine and blessed with the favor of God. Thank you for your kind words to me!