Encouragement
I enjoy being encouraged. Encouragement inspires and motivates me. I also enjoy dispensing encouragement to others. Encouragement is most often positive and uplifting. The dictionary defines encouragement as “inspire with courage, spirit or confidence”. I love listening to speakers who encourage me in my walk with the Lord. I love listening to business leaders who encourage me to become a strong leader. I love listening to encouragers and speakers who challenging me to grow in my encouragement.
Josiah was a strong king of Judah. He was king at age 8, but when he was 26 years old, he had a Passover celebration that was huge and amazing. I love that he encouraged the people he had appointed to the different roles. Check this out….
1Josiah celebrated the Passover to the Lord in Jerusalem, and the Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month.2 He appointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them in the service of the Lord’s temple. 3 He said to the Levites, who instructed all Israel and who had been consecrated to the Lord: “Put the sacred ark in the temple that Solomon son of David king of Israel built. It is not to be carried about on your shoulders. Now serve the Lord your God and his people Israel. 4 Prepare yourselves by families in your divisions, according to the instructions written by David king of Israel and by his son Solomon. (2 Chronicles 35:1-4 NLT)
Encouragers are positive thinkers.
Encouragers are secure in themselves.
Encouragement should not have a hidden agenda – no strings attached.
Encouragement should be freely given, not solicited.
Encouragement can breathe new life into relationships.
Encouragement can help me get off the “struggle bus”.
I find encouragement from the Word of God. I also find encouragement from the Spirit of God living in me. I find encouragement when I trust the Lord with everything. It is definitely easier said than done. I find encouragement in music that honors the Lord. I find encouragement in the beauty of a sunrise. I find encouragement in the setting of the sun.
I want to be a positive person that looks for encouragement and gives it out freely to others. I have a hope and I have a future because of what Jesus has done for me and is constantly doing in me. I’m free to encourage others to investigate trusting Jesus.
Pressing On!
Dwayne