Encouraging Others - A Gift From God

Do you know someone you can call on when things get really rough? When you toss and turn and can't get to sleep - even after you have prayed and read the Bible before going to bed? I think we all experience this at some time - unless you are in grade school. And during your tossing and turning, a face flashes before your eyes, and just thinking about that person causes your worry to ooze away. Why? Because that person is an encourager. He or she may not be aware of it, but that person always manages to say the right thing at the right time. And when there is no need for words he will just put an arm around you or give your hand a squeeze and you begin to feel better.

Without meaning to boast, I believe I have the gift of encouraging others. How do I know? People have told me. They say I have a calm and quiet personality that soothes them and helps them forget their problem. I wish I could encourage myself that way! But we don't often think of encouraging as a spiritual gift, do we? We tend to focus on the more spectacular ones, like healing and prophesying and speaking in tongues, but here's what the apostle Paul says, "We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;

 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously ..." (Romans 12: 8)

 

So who can you encourage today? If you can't think of someone, ask the Holy Spirit to lead you and show you who needs to be encouraged and how you should encourage that person. It might be just through a phone call, a visit, listening or giving them a hug if you are close to them.

I pray that this blog is a source of encouragement to you. If it is, please leave a comment and let me know. And if you would like these posts delivered to your inbox so you don't have to search for this site, then please use the sign-up form to subscribe. 

 

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And speaking of encouraging, we all know someone in our lives who needs encouragement. I'm speaking of those hard- working mothers - your mother, mother-in-law, wife, sister, whoever she might be, give her something this Mother's Day to encourage her and show her what she means to you. Click on the banner below.