Tag Archives: finding encouragement

June 5, 2024 · 5:28 AM

The Power Of Encouragement

One of the things we have to be aware of are people who will deter us from accomplishing our God given dreams and calling. When you share the vision God has given you, there will be those who tell you that you aren’t qualified, you misheard God or will try to talk you out of it. You must protect the seed from people like this. Their words often sink in and echo in our minds causing doubt and inactivity. It’s important to keep moving beyond their discouragement so that you do what God called you to. On the other side of the coin, we must make sure we aren’t discouraging others from their God given plans. We must use discernment and wisdom in both scenarios.

In 1 Samuel 16, David was anointed to be the next king in front of his dad and brothers. In the next chapter, he was watching sheep while his older brothers were off to war. His dad gave him some food to take to them. When he showed up, God stirred something in him regarding Goliath. Verse 28 says, “But when David’s oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. ‘What are you doing around here anyway?’ he demanded. ‘What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!’” (NLT) His own brother, who knew his calling as king, stood in the way of his destiny and discouraged him. However, David persisted and continued despite it. He led Israel to a great victory that day because he gave more weight to God’s words than someone else’s.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” Be an encourager when someone shares what God has called them to do. Build them up instead of trying to tear them down. Be a person who helps them on their way rather than the person who stand in their way. Also, look for people who will encourage you on your mission. Find people who will pray for you and lift you up. If you don’t find them right away, be like David and keep looking around until you do. Not everyone needs to know what God has planted in your heart. The encouragement you find from other believers will be like water for the seed. Be a person who waters the seeds in others and find those who will water yours with their words. If you’ve been discouraged and quit moving towards it, make today the day you decide to move past the discouragement and begin moving forward again.

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Overcoming Discouragement

Has anyone ever tried to discourage you from doing something before? It makes it worse when it’s an authority figure and it is something you feel God has put on your heart to do. I’ve had that happen. I allowed those words of discouragement to hold me back for years. I’ve ignored the discouragement from others. I went with the conviction in my gut to not allow anyone to stand in my way when I’ve felt called to do something. In both cases I had to manufacture the encouragement I needed to move forward or receive encouragement from another person. It’s crazy how words can stop all of our momentum or push us full speed ahead. It’s also important to think about how we respond to others when they’re trying to move forward with something they feel called to do. Are our words encouraging or discouraging?

In Mark 10 Jesus went to Jericho. On His way out of the city, a large crowd was following Him. There was a blind man who had begged there for years who heard the commotion. When he asked what was going on, they told him Jesus was passing by. He began to call out and try to get Jesus’ attention, but the people around him began to discourage him. They told him to be quiet. Maybe they told him Jesus didn’t have time for him or didn’t care about him. Either way, he yelled louder until Jesus heard him and called for him. The people told him to take courage. He threw off his beggars coat and made his way to Jesus who healed him by giving him his sight back. If he had let the crowd discourage him, he may have missed his opportunity for healing.

Psalm 43:5 says, “Then I will say to my soul, ‘Don’t be discouraged; don’t be disturbed, for I fully expect my Savior-God to break through for me. Then I’ll have plenty of reasons to praise him all over again’” (TPT). Sometimes you have to speak to your own soul above the discouragement from others. Sometimes you have to remind yourself to keep the faith when all other reports and words are discouraging. Discouragement is one of the enemy’s greatest tools to keep us inactive, to prevent us from praying or from seeking a breakthrough. He also knows that the power of life and death are in the tongue. We must combat discouragement with the encouraging truth from God’s Word. We must combat it with words of life. If you don’t have the strength or are too beat down by discouragement, then find someone who will speak life and encouragement to you until you can. I believe your breakthrough is coming.

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May 24, 2022 · 5:36 AM

Symbiotic Encouragement

There are at least three types of relationships we need to have in our lives. If you don’t have these, you need to make them. The first one is where I’m the encourager. There are certain people in my life that need encouragement when they call or want to meet. Then there are the people who encourage me when I need it. Finally, the most important one is the one where you mutually encourage each other. These relationships are symbiotic and benefit both parties involved. It’s important that you identify who fit into these categories in your life. We all need to both encourage others and to be encouraged.

David and Jonathan had the symbiotic type relationship. They loved each other dearly, looked out for each other and encouraged one another. They learned to put the other’s needs ahead of their own, thereby bringing value to each other. In 1 Samuel 23, Jonathan’s father Saul was chasing David to kill him. Saul wanted Jonathan to succeed him as king, nut Jonathan valued David more than the position. In verse 16 it says, “Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God” (NLT). They then renewed their pact of encouragement to each other and Jonathan went home.

Who is that person in your life? Who is the one who comes running in your time of need? Who is it that when you both walk away from conversations you feel better? Chances are the two of you are intentional about your conversations and meetings. In Romans 1:12, Paul was looking forward to going to Rome to meet with the believers. He wrote, “When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.” Encouragement is born from intentionality. It doesn’t just happen. Be praying that you would be an encourager, that there would be someone in your life who encourages you and most importantly that you would find a person to share symbiotic encouragement with.

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