(NIV): “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
(KJV): “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”
(NASB): “Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing.”
Sources & Inspirations:
Why Encouragement?
Generosity, loyalty, consideration, mercy, leadership, kindness, mentorship, and faithfulness are qualities that should be celebrated.
These qualities should be celebrated & encouraged.
These qualities should be celebrated & encouraged when we find them in ourselves & others.
Encouragement helps build God’s Kingdom.1 We should acknowledge those who are diligent & provide effective instruction.
Encouragement demonstrates love for others.
Bringing Out Who God Made Us To Be
Encouragement facilitates peace and can even strengthen the weak & fainthearted.2
While we should practice self-encouragement, there is great power in the encouragement of others.
When we offer encouragement based on character qualities, we affirm the parts of ourselves God created us to be. When we repeat this encouragement over time, consistently, we reaffirm God’s qualities in our neighbor.
Does that co-worker display joy, cheer, endurance/perseverance, tenacity, or a willingness to grow & learn? Do they handle conflict well? Are they detail-oriented?
Honest & consistent encouragement is a way to love others as we love ourselves.
Encouragement Based On Truth
Encouragement should always be true; otherwise, it is an act of manipulation & deceit. A cheap psychological trick of manifesting destiny. Encouragement that builds up one another should be built upon a foundation of truth.
This foundation of truth will provide structure against storms of doubt, fear, and discouragement. These storms are guaranteed to come because the Devil roars like a prowling lion looking for someone to devour.3 Our minds are either reflecting on light or darkness.
When we encourage others in truth, we are helping to spread light. The act of spreading light helps dissipate any impact of darkness in our lives & the lives of others.4
A Proper Amount of Communication
When we speak truthful, encouraging words to ourselves & others, we are giving them their due.5 Don’t withhold good from others when we have the power to do good.6
You are less likely to over-communicate encouraging words than you may think; most of us under-communicate our encouragement.7 I speak from personal testimony also, it is very difficult for a person to encourage me too much.
Most days of my life, I feel starved for honest encouragement and I feel overwhelmed with too many criticisms and harsh words spoken.
Godly encouragement becomes life-giving water, staving off my thirst.
Most of us require repetition before we are able to store compliments within our hearts.8 The Bible recognizes the power of repetition by asking us to meditate day & night on God’s Truths.9 While Romans 10:14 primarily discusses the responsibility of spreading the Gospel orally, the responsibility of speaking life to others is still reflected.10 In reality, we should be encouraging one another daily.11
(NASB): “But encourage one another every day, as long as it is still called ‘today,’ so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
(HCSB): “But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception.”
(NIV): “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
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