Daily Journal: 11 September

Invest and Encourage

What does encouragement mean to you?

We all need encouragement on different occasions but we don’t always know when another might be needing it.

We can remember when someone said an encouraging word to us at just the right moment. Many times they may not even have been aware of the impact they made.

However, the bible calls us to be aware; to invest in each other and each other’s faith.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (GWT)

Therefore, encourage each other and strengthen one another as you are doing.

In order to strengthen one another, we must first know how another needs strengthening. We must know what is making them feel weak or discouraged. For us to know, we’re already sharing confidences.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (GNT)

Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good. Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer.

We need to choose to be concerned for one another, even those we may not normally be in close relationship with. If we have a conversation with someone and a need of theirs comes to our attention, that is our cue to help them, to show love, to invest in their cause as the Lord does, and do good.

Psalm 140:12 (NIV)

I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.

We all become fainthearted at times. We all believe lies about ourselves or perceive things incorrectly. We all make mistakes. Just as we invest in another’s cause and in the building up of their faith, we need to receive that from others. Sometimes, others can see what we do not.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 (ESV)

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle [the disorderly or undisciplined], encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

To admonish is to warn to 'tell off'. It’s not always easy to warn someone or to receive a warning. It’s not always well received. We are not to be harsh so as not to stir up anger (Proverbs 15:1), but a warning helps in a weakness.

Will you ask God to show you the person He wants you to be His mouthpiece to? Will you ready your heart to be a voice of encouragement, and prepare your mind to willingly invest some time into that person?

Lord, help us to patiently walk alongside each other, to build bridges where we need, to show belief in someone and invest in another's faith. Thank you for calling us to do your work. Help us to do it well.