Ann Voskamp, author of One Thousand Gifts, often blogs and
then writes “preaching to myself.” She writes encouraging people to be
thankful. But many times it seems she needs the encouragement herself.
Why
is it that we can see someone else’s situation more clearly than we can see our
own? I was walking with a friend
recently and she was explaining her dilemma. It was clear to me what she needed
to hear. I had to bite my tongue so I would not interrupt her story, wanting to
encourage her in a certain direction.
When it was my turn to talk, out came these encouraging words. I praised
her for how she was handling a difficult situation. I thought of a principle
from the Bible that pointed in a certain direction. I agreed with her that doing
nothing and waiting on the Lord seemed like the best course of action.
As
the words were coming out of my mouth, thoughts about my own dilemma were
swirling around in my head. I thought about how my husband had praised me for
working through my dilemma, and that was a huge encouragement. The biblical
principle I told my friend about, applied to my situation as well. Even as the
words were floating out of my mouth, I knew that doing nothing right now and
waiting on the Lord was exactly what I should be doing in my situation too.
In encouraging others, we can grow closer to the Lord.
Encourage is defined as: give support and advise to someone so that
they
will
continue to do something.
We
all need encouragement with our jobs, in our
families, and with our difficult situations. As we encourage
others to seek God, make the godly decisions, and keep on keeping on in
the Christian walk, we grow closer to the Lord and we encourage
ourselves as well.
In the ABC's of growing closer to God, E is to Encourage others.
“So encourage each other and
build each other up, just as you are already doing.”
I Thessalonians 5:11
I Thessalonians 5:11
To read more ABC's of Growing Closer to God, start here.
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