Show Up Strong with Encouragement
It always feels good when someone thinks our idea is a winner and we should go for it, or they tell us we look good, but too often, we don’t take the power of encouragement as seriously as we should. The Scripture says, “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:13). To encourage means “to impart courage, to make fearless, to make brave.” God is saying that if we stand together like the defensive line on a football team, we will stand victoriously against the enemy’s deceit and discouragement. That’s powerful!
God has instructed us in His Word on how to operate at our highest potential and performance, namely through encouraging one another. But the enemy constantly works to isolate us, deceive us, and discourage us. He wants to take our courage and subtract from what God is doing in our lives. I’ve seen people get so discouraged, so down, so defeated, that they can’t even think straight, let alone stand against the enemy. You know those times when the enemy has gotten in and is having a heyday in your mind. He tells you that you’re not good enough, you can’t do it, you’ll never get well, and you may as well quit trying. But when you have people around you who take their defensive stand with you and encourage you, you will rise up and defeat the enemy together.
Isn’t it interesting that God said our encouragement can stand against the enemy? We only do it as we stand together. You see, we were never intended to stand alone or be isolated. When God created man, He said, “You need a helpmate. You need someone who’s going to link arms with you and help you move forward.” The Scripture says that two are better than one because when one falls, the other is there to pick him up. That’s why the enemy tries to take away the support that we were designed to receive from one another, and we can’t let that happen.
How different would this world look if we all encouraged someone daily? How strong would we be with our arms linked together in defense? God wants us to show up strong with encouragement for other people. Encourage your family, encourage your children, encourage your coworkers, encourage your boss, encourage your pastor. Ask God to give you someone today to encourage in a meaningful and profound way. Push back the darkness with encouragement every day!
God has instructed us in His Word on how to operate at our highest potential and performance, namely through encouraging one another. But the enemy constantly works to isolate us, deceive us, and discourage us. He wants to take our courage and subtract from what God is doing in our lives. I’ve seen people get so discouraged, so down, so defeated, that they can’t even think straight, let alone stand against the enemy. You know those times when the enemy has gotten in and is having a heyday in your mind. He tells you that you’re not good enough, you can’t do it, you’ll never get well, and you may as well quit trying. But when you have people around you who take their defensive stand with you and encourage you, you will rise up and defeat the enemy together.
Isn’t it interesting that God said our encouragement can stand against the enemy? We only do it as we stand together. You see, we were never intended to stand alone or be isolated. When God created man, He said, “You need a helpmate. You need someone who’s going to link arms with you and help you move forward.” The Scripture says that two are better than one because when one falls, the other is there to pick him up. That’s why the enemy tries to take away the support that we were designed to receive from one another, and we can’t let that happen.
How different would this world look if we all encouraged someone daily? How strong would we be with our arms linked together in defense? God wants us to show up strong with encouragement for other people. Encourage your family, encourage your children, encourage your coworkers, encourage your boss, encourage your pastor. Ask God to give you someone today to encourage in a meaningful and profound way. Push back the darkness with encouragement every day!