Encouragement

Encouragement

1 Thessalonians 5:11 – “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

Encourage – a word our Lord uses.  So, what does it mean to encourage and what happens when you don’t encourage one another?  How do you encourage one another?

It is another simple word, another simple act that seems to disappear from our daily lives.  Having said that, it is important to take a look at what encourage means and how we can incorporate it back into our daily married lives.  The “technical” definition of encourage is…

1.        Inspire with courage, spirit, and confidence

2.        To stimulate by assistance, approval

3.       To promote, advance, or foster (dictionary.com)

There is not one part of this definition that would take away from our marriages.  In fact, the definition works well with how Christ talks about encouragement.  Encourage one another and build one another up.  If we inspire with courage, spirit and confidence we build up our spouse.  If we give approval we build up our spouse.  If we promote and foster we build up our spouse.  Therefore, when we encourage our spouse we build them up. 

However, as noted above, encouragement is a simple word that requires simple actions and it is seems to be lost within the daily marriage routine.  We can run the risk of taking each other for granted.  So what are some ways to encourage our spouse?

One very powerful way to encourage is through prayer.  It brings about a peace and comfort to know your spouse is praying for you.  My husband texts or emails when he knows there is something big, tough, or exciting going on in my life.  When he sends a text or email he simply says “praying for you”.  Those words let me know he cares enough about me to take time to pray and it encourages me in whatever situation I am in.  Isaiah 35:4 goes along with this concept.  “Say to those who have an anxious heart, Be strong; fear not!  Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God.  He will come and save you.”  Encourage through the words of Christ!

Other ways to encourage…

·         Say Thank You

·         Take time to listen

·         Write them a note

·         Ask for advice

·         Be genuine

This is a short list of things to do.  You have to do what works for you and your spouse.  Whatever encouragement looks like for the two of you should be what you focus on this week.  As you encourage one another, you build one another up.  When you build one another up, you develop a deeper relationship.  When you develop that deeper relationship you both win!

Cheryl