A Prayer To Give Encouragement Today

ENCOURAGEMENT

I’ve been thinking about encouragement these days.  It’s been the focus of some new material we’ve been gathering and put into a booklet on our website.  I’ll put the link below if you want to have a look at that.  When our Partners in Hope Board met a few days ago we were looking at some words from the Bible about encouragement and how important it is in each of our lives to both hear encouragement from others and to share the same in ways that uplift those who need a boost.

Encouragement booklet link:  http://www.partnersinhope.ca/files/life-in-recovery/booklets/encouragement_website_booklet.pdf

During these long days and months of the pandemic there are many people who could use a word of encouragement.  Remember all the 7pm times we gathered outside and made noise by banging pot lids or whatever to thank frontline health workers and encourage them. 

Well, we seem to have moved on from that – although I did see a heartwarming video of people giving a handclap in recognition of Captain Sir Thomas from England, that amazing 100 year old who raised so much money for the health system but who sadly passed away this past week from covid-19.

Anyway, it is important that we not just know that it’s good to encourage one another but actually take action.  God’s word instructs us:

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.  1 Thessalonians 5:11

I’ve told the story many times over the decades of a supervisor who came to the classroom where I was teaching in my early years in Taiwan and I was nervous, of course, being observed.  When the time came for the sit-down to discuss what had gone well and what needed improvement, this person handed me a list with the heading, “Ten Good Teaching Practices I Observed In Your Classroom Today.”  Now when I mentioned this story to the PiH Board the other day someone asked me what they were and the truth is that I have no recollection what he put on that list.  What I do know and what has guided me over the years is the fact that that man, observing flaws and some helpful practices, chose to focus on what I did well.  You can bet I did more of what was affirmed and the practice of naming those kinds of positive things became something I practiced when I became a supervisor myself.

The truth is that we are all different; we have a variety of gifts and talents.  One of the ways we all get better is by noticing and affirming the gifts in one another.  The reminds us that there are gifts to be noticed and encouraged in each one of us as we work together to do all that God has given us to do.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. … Romans 12:3-6

And then it goes on to list various gifts.  We would to well to appreciate the talents and efforts of others – both to keep our own efforts in good balance and to improve our common good.

Although it is good to keep in mind that everything we do well together needs to be rooted in God’s way and God’s word and that’s what Romans 15 reminds us:

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. 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 15:4-6

So Loving God, we want to follow along with Your example and teaching and be those who both endure and encourage.  We thank You for encouraging us with Your love and faithfulness even while we struggle.  We know that You are always ready to encourage us towards the fruitful and loving plan You have for our lives and offer to work in us by the power of Your Holy Spirit to actually get us to be successful in the things You have planned for us to do.

Today we want to become encouragers like You are.  We want to have the same attitude of mind toward each other that the Lord Jesus has for us and in this way bring honour and glory to You.  We know some effort is involved if this is to take place so help us to give this work of encouragement our best effort, knowing that You, the God of love and peace will be with us as we do.

Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.  2 Corinthians 13:11

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.  2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

So, in case we weren’t sure how often to be encouragers the Bible spells it out for us. 

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.  Hebrews 3:13

Let’s do that today shall we.