The Power of Encouragement

In the school that I work in, we have Chapel for Christian students on Thursdays mornings. Today, the speaker spoke on the popular story of David and Goliath. The speaker used the message to encourage the students to do great things even if people have said things over the years that have put them down. David had that same problem. His brothers, King Saul and David’s enemy looked down on him. If David listened to their negative remarks, felt discouraged or offended, he would have never defeated Goliath and he will never be the great man of God that the Bible tells us about. That message was an amazing inspiration to my students. That encouragement spoke to all of us in that hall that opened our heart to the Word. My students walked into class still talking about how blessed they were by that message.

I’ve had people in my life that have encouraged me so much and helped me become who I am today….at the same time, I have had many that tried to put me down. The great thing about the way God created me is that, most of the time, I do not remember the negative words. Or perhaps I forget a lot! Haha. It’s the best thing cause I forget most bad things so fast. I believe it’s the Lord who heals me from those words. Most of all, reading and meditating on His Word has been the reason for my healing. Someone told me today that as Christians, we never should be offended. That is true, we should never be offended. But here is the truth, we do! So instead of pretending that we do not get offended, we must find the root of that offence. Offence stem from anger and bitterness that escalate and are expressed through words that can kill and destroy. Choose your words wisely. Definitely much easier said than done! Sometimes I find myself saying things I regret. As soon as it leaves my lips or after I let all my frustrations out, I know I caused damage. By then, its too late cause I have spoken without a thought or regard of how the other person would take it. The more I look back at my own words, I realize I tend to be so busy pointing another’s mistake when I am speaking from my own hurt. A person that is hurt always complains and reacts harshly to another with hurtful words. There is a difference between wit and plain-old-mean sarcasm.

If we keep saying negative things, we are exercising that bad attitude until it becomes a difficult habit to breakaway from. If we ask God to heal our heart from the hurts (dealing with our past) that causes us to say words that tear down and begin to train ourselves to edify another, we will find that it is easier giving compliments and encouraging. People will enjoy being around us. This week make it a point to focus on other people, encouraging and building them. We will be blessed.