One of the most encouraging things in my ministry (and in the ministries of most of my preacher friends) is the verbal encouragement I get from the brethren with whom I serve. That encouragement comes from statements made directly to us (my preacher friends and me) by appreciative brethren and it comes from our names and families being mentioned in public prayers.
I could not possibly know each one who reads this personally. That’s all right, though. God knows you and even if I only know you indirectly through someone else, I still want to encourage you. As I write this note, I have prayed for you. I want you to know that I do not consider this just a good writing exercise, but a truly encouraging note to help you get started in your week.
I am constantly amazed at how many times someone has been encouraged by one of these notes or in something else I said that was not planned. What I mean by that is that I may have intended to encourage someone one way, and God worked it so that someone (maybe someone else) was encouraged in a way I could never have anticipated.
In an earlier note, we spent time discussing Ephesians 4:29 and Paul’s command to speak encouraging words according to the need of the moment. All of us should take that command to heart. However, sometimes we don’t know all the needs of the moment. I’ve found that if you keep trying to bless instead of curse with your speech (Romans 12:14), you can encourage and not even know it. In those times I spoke of in the previous paragraph, the only way I know someone has been encouraged was that they told me so.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person” (Colossians 4:6). I know you have relationships where even what would normally be considered a cutting remark, spoken in a joking manner, serves to strengthen a relationship rather than weaken it. Those kinds of relationships are good and healthy. However, even then we need to be sensitive to the need of the moment. There are times that even with my best friends, I need to weep with them and not try to make them laugh right this minute.
I want to encourage you to encourage others. Say a prayer for someone right now. Let him know you have prayed for him (or her). Tell her how much you appreciate her. That may not come naturally to you. It’s true that some people find this easier to do than others. I feel confident, though, that if you will try it, you’ll find that the initial discomfort will change to a pretty good feeling. There is very little that satisfies more than making someone smile or feel better. And it doesn’t really take any more effort to bless than to curse.
I pray that God will bless each one of you as you read this. I know He loves you and I want you to know that I love you, too!
Donnie Bates