A Prayer for Us to Deliberately Encourage Others - Your Each day Prayer - October 19

A Prayer for Us to Deliberately Encourage Others
By Maggie Meadows Cooper

“So encourage one another and construct one another up, simply as you’re already doing.” 1 Thess.5:11

Stephanos, Fortunatus, Achaicus, Tychicus, Barnabus, Timothy, and Onesimus. Whenever you hear these names, what does it make you consider? For many people, most of those names wouldn’t “ring any bells” in any respect. So who have been they? And why have been they talked about in Scripture?

The reality is that these names, these males, are among the unsung heroes of the early Christian church. Not due to any daring, brave acts that we all know of however due to their on a regular basis acts of religion and kindness. Though their point out is transient, it’s highly effective, and right here’s why: these males have been deliberately despatched by Paul as encouragers of the early church.

Now, lots of chances are you’ll be pondering that “encourager” doesn’t sound like a vital job, however how very flawed you’d be, my candy buddies! An encourager is outlined as “one who offers help, confidence, and hope or one who offers help or recommendation in order that one other will proceed to do one thing.” Hearken to the mentions of those males:

“When the church at Jerusalem heard what had occurred, they despatched Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and noticed this proof of God’s blessing, he was stuffed with pleasure, and he inspired the believers to remain true to the Lord.” Acts 11:22-23

“I’m very glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come right here…They’ve been a beautiful encouragement to me, as they’ve been to you…” 1 Corinthians 16:17-18

“Tychicus, the beloved brother and devoted servant within the Lord, will inform you every thing, so that you just additionally could find out about me and what I’m doing. I’ve despatched him to you for this very goal, that chances are you’ll know about us, and that he could encourage your hearts.” Ephesians 6:21-22 BSB

“…we despatched Timothy to go to you. He’s our brother and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good Information of Christ. We despatched him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your religion, and to maintain you from being shaken by the troubles you have been going via…” 1 Thesselonians 3:2-3

Y’all, life is difficult proper now. So very exhausting in so very some ways. Well being, funds, relationships…the listing goes on and, in fact, is ever-changing. From everyday, we don’t know what “unhealthy information” is likely to be subsequent. It could be simple to crumble… stay in concern and set a plan to dig in our heels and brace ourselves…will ourselves…to face agency in our personal power for no matter tomorrow holds. However y’all, as Believers, we don’t have to try this. And we shouldn’t do this! As a result of we have now a hope that the world and fellow Believers must be reminded of. every day, hourly, and perhaps even minute-by-minute.

That’s the reason Paul mentions these males. As a result of they have been despatched with reminders of the Hope that we have now, and we must always all do the identical. For our household, buddies, co-workers, and whoever the Lord locations in our path, listed below are 4 causes we must always encourage others:

1. We’d like braveness to remain true to the Lord. (Acts 11:22-23)

When Barnabas went to Antioch, he discovered among the Believers who had been spreading the excellent news about Jesus to Gentiles, and so they have been turning to the Lord! However this outreach was not appeared upon favorably by all. Simply as at present, once we share about Jesus, it’s not affirmed or applauded by the world. However my candy buddies, we should “stay devoted to the issues we have now been taught…” (1 Tim.3:14) and encourage others to do the identical by reminding them of all that the Lord has accomplished (Ps.105:1). As our roots develop deeper into Him, He’ll give us the braveness and power for our religion to develop robust within the Fact (Col2:7-9).

2. There’s energy in standing along with fellow believers in talking Fact. (1 Cor.16:17-18)

It’s true that one individual can shine a lightweight. That one individual could make a distinction in one other’s life. However there’s power in numbers. If concern creeps in or doubt begins to minimize your longing to encourage others, name in reinforcements! The Lord gave us one another for a motive! Don’t neglect assembly with different Believers (Heb.10:25) to carry one another up, as buddies/”brothers” in Christ are there for occasions of adversity (Prov.17:17).

3. Sharing how different Believers are rising encourages hearts. (Eph.6:21-22)

When you flip to the information on any given day, you’ll almost certainly be confronted with tales filled with the cruel, unfavorable realities of this world. And in case your coronary heart is like mine, it could actually grow to be discouraged in a short time. These tales could make you query what the Lord is doing, the place He’s, and perhaps if He even cares. However the solutions to these questions are that He’s working (John 5:17), He’s proper right here with us (Is.41:10), and His coronary heart breaks for a similar issues that break ours (Ps.34:18). And so, with the information of this Fact, we have to make an additional effort to carry others up and share what He’s doing within the little moments of our personal lives and the lives of these we love. Our tales could not make the headlines, however they’re nonetheless simply as necessary and priceless and worthy of being informed…and this world, these in our little worlds, want them to encourage their hearts.

4. We’d like robust religion to maintain from being shaken in occasions of bother. (1 Thess.3:2-3)

Y’all, talking the title of the Lord has energy! The power to share what He’s doing has accomplished and can proceed to do is a privilege that we have now been given. The Psalmist mentioned, “I believed in God, so I spoke” (2 Cor.4:13). If we consider, we should encourage others to strengthen their religion in order that when exhausting occasions come, they may be capable to keep true, stand agency with refreshed spirits, and bear in mind Whose they’re. Devil loves nothing greater than a defeated soul as a result of in that, He has a possibility to sneak concern, doubt, and discouragement in. That may then take root to anger, bitterness, resentment, and a number of different emotions that distance us from Fact and permit us to be shaken.

What a present it’s to encourage others! To remind them of their intrinsic value, the items they’ve been given, and the needs they’ve been created for! And much more so, to remind them of a fantastic large God, who loves them, is true there with them, and is value telling the entire world about.

Let’s pray:

Expensive Jesus,
Thanks for the entire great buddies who’ve been an encouragement to me in my religion. Please give me the braveness to encourage others in the identical means, deliberately in search of and taking advantage of the alternatives I’ve been given. Assist me to shine Your mild and stand agency in difficult circumstances as I level to You as the explanation for the hope that I’ve.
In Your Mighty Identify,
Amen

Maggie Meadows Cooper is a spouse, mother, educator, writer, and blogger with a eager for ladies to develop a coronary heart for Jesus and others. She is the writer of the kids’s e book “Bumper” and blogs at The Little Moments about what the Lord is educating her via her youngsters and on a regular basis life. She contributes to Blogs by Christian Ladies, Devotional Diva, She Disciples, and Connecting Ministries. An educator with an M.Ed. in Early Childhood Training from Auburn College (Conflict Eagle!), she has twenty years of expertise working with younger youngsters. She loves all issues chocolate, actual Coca-Cola, and lives along with her husband, three youngsters, and two rambunctious canine in Opelika, Alabama.

Educate Us to Pray is a FREE prayer podcast hosted by iBelieve author Christina Patterson. Every week, she offers you sensible, real-life recommendations on how you can develop your religion and relationship with God via the ability of prayer. To take heed to her episode on What to Pray within the Morning for a Fear-Free Day, click on beneath!