INTRODUCTION

You will occasionally be remembered for your admonishments. You may be talked about for your victories. Your exploits might even make a history book. But you will never be forgotten by those whom you encouraged!

 

Discouragement never has to be pursued! It is everywhere and it knows where to find you; it knows your address! Sometimes God allows it in our lives to bring us to a place of greater reliance on Him, but most of the time, it comes from 'below' and would like to drag you way down 'below!'

 

Encouragement lifts us up, takes us to the next level and keeps us looking forward. It welcomes an uncertain future, not with fear, dread or apprehension, but with an anticipation and excitement of the adventure ahead.

 

Hope sits in the center of any form of encouragement. They go hand in hand. We cannot endure the harsh realities of this world without hope. It washes away the griminess of despair, giving us a reason to push on, even in the most smothering of circumstances. Hope graduates as faith when we still believe, even though we can't see. It's what we've heard about and believed is around the corner, over the next hill or far away, beyond our natural sight.

 

God's Word encourages us to sow friendliness if we want to reap a harvest of friends. It's no different with encouragement. If you want to be encouraged, you must sow it into other's lives.

 

I have this little potted plant on my kitchen windowsill. It is blooming and growing! However, it doesn't take much effort on my part to encourage it. All I do is take about 10 seconds a couple of times a week to water it. You might say I am a conduit of encouragement to the plant. Likewise, it does not take much to encourage people. A kind word here and there might just make all the difference in them making it... or not!

 

It is difficult for even the hardiest of souls to be all they should be in Christ where they are only tolerated. This kind of environment can be a desert of discouragement, where you have to become adept at 'encouraging yourself in the Lord.' Let us create a culture of celebration in our communities where, despite our own and others' shortcomings, we still show appreciation to those God has given us. People flourish in that kind of environment.

 

So, let me encourage you to be a conduit of encouragement to all you meet today, and every day! They will never forget you for it!