shortlady
Member
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2005
- Messages
- 2,696
Attitude of Encouragement
EVERYONE needs encouragement. No matter how secure and confident someonemay appear, everyone needs to be reassured, built up, and comforted. We areall called to minister to one another, every day, with encouragement; "Butencourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none ofyou may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness" (Hebrews 3:13).
True encouragement requires us to be "others" oriented: "Consider othersbetter than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your owninterests, but also to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:3-4). Wewill never effectively encourage until we begin to look outside our ownneeds and intentionally examine the needs of others. And our encouragementof others will always be hindered if we become threatened when they begin toheal and grow.
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12"For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his ownchildren, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy ofGod, who calls you into His Kingdom and glory."
I was excited when each of my children learned to roll over, and I cheeredwhen they began to crawl. When they started to walk I clapped my hands andbeamed with pride, as if my kids were the first in the world to ever moveabout on two feet. Each small accomplishment was encouraged...and mymanhood was never threatened by their progress. I wasn't worried aboutlosing my position within the family, and I had no desire to be the onlywalker in the house. Every time my children fell, I picked them up andencouraged them with full confidence of their future success.
Our journey with the Lord actually begins long before our day of Salvationas He calls us and draws us to the cross - we would never even seek if Hedidn't first call and soften our heart. This part of the journey (the partthat leads us to His secure arms of Salvation) may last MANY years andrequire encouragement from many different people. But as we place our faithin Jesus for the forgiveness of sin and continue our journey (with all themany hills and valleys), our walk is definitely much easier and enjoyable ifwe join with others and walk together. Let's encourage one another with each wonderful step toward Heavenly glory.Let's be proud and excited for the accomplishments of others no matter howgreat or small. And let's refuse to become threatened when we witnessothers mature and grow - we are absolutely secure in the love of God (and wereally don't want to be the only walker in His Family!).
Let's turn ourhearts outward and begin to minister with a compassionate, loving, andsecure attitude of encouragement.
Have a Christ Centered Day! Steve TroxelGod's Daily Word Ministries
EVERYONE needs encouragement. No matter how secure and confident someonemay appear, everyone needs to be reassured, built up, and comforted. We areall called to minister to one another, every day, with encouragement; "Butencourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none ofyou may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness" (Hebrews 3:13).
True encouragement requires us to be "others" oriented: "Consider othersbetter than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your owninterests, but also to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:3-4). Wewill never effectively encourage until we begin to look outside our ownneeds and intentionally examine the needs of others. And our encouragementof others will always be hindered if we become threatened when they begin toheal and grow.
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12"For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his ownchildren, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy ofGod, who calls you into His Kingdom and glory."
I was excited when each of my children learned to roll over, and I cheeredwhen they began to crawl. When they started to walk I clapped my hands andbeamed with pride, as if my kids were the first in the world to ever moveabout on two feet. Each small accomplishment was encouraged...and mymanhood was never threatened by their progress. I wasn't worried aboutlosing my position within the family, and I had no desire to be the onlywalker in the house. Every time my children fell, I picked them up andencouraged them with full confidence of their future success.
Our journey with the Lord actually begins long before our day of Salvationas He calls us and draws us to the cross - we would never even seek if Hedidn't first call and soften our heart. This part of the journey (the partthat leads us to His secure arms of Salvation) may last MANY years andrequire encouragement from many different people. But as we place our faithin Jesus for the forgiveness of sin and continue our journey (with all themany hills and valleys), our walk is definitely much easier and enjoyable ifwe join with others and walk together. Let's encourage one another with each wonderful step toward Heavenly glory.Let's be proud and excited for the accomplishments of others no matter howgreat or small. And let's refuse to become threatened when we witnessothers mature and grow - we are absolutely secure in the love of God (and wereally don't want to be the only walker in His Family!).
Let's turn ourhearts outward and begin to minister with a compassionate, loving, andsecure attitude of encouragement.
Have a Christ Centered Day! Steve TroxelGod's Daily Word Ministries
