Encourage One Another
Adult Devotional for Lent or Anytime of YearListen to the audio version.
During Lent, many people give up something they enjoy eating, such as chocolate
or other favorite foods, in order to focus on and consider anew the sacrifice Jesus made for humankind. However, this season, rather than giving up something outward and physical, I suggest giving up discouraging words.
Have you ever been insulted or maligned? It's difficult being on the receiving end of dispiriting words. Those words can cut to the heart and be difficult to shake off. They can wound us temporarily or even give us a lifetime of
pain—a witness to the power of our words. If this is true—and I believe it
is—then the opposite must also be true; encouraging words can lift us up, heal us, and give us hope for the future!
Scripture tells us to encourage others daily so they are not hardened by sin's
deceitfulness (Hebrews 3:13). Encouragement is not flattery, sweet talk, or a superficial pat on the back. We are instructed to encourage or exhort others. This term comes from the same root word, parakletos,
that Jesus used when speaking of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, in the prayer for his followers in John chapters 15 and 16. It's a term that calls to mind that of
coming alongside, comforting, coming near, or praying.
So how do we do it? How can we be encouraged, and how do we become encouragers? True encouragement grows out of a deep faith-walk with God and with one another. It requires our time and selfless devotion. It seeks to lift up and heal, helping others grow closer to God, so they can press on in their faith and be better suited for serving in
God's kingdom. There are dozens of Bible verses that train us to be encouragers. May these sampling of Scriptures encourage you today!
Jesus, our Hope, encourages us. (Heb. 6:18, 2 Thess. 2:17)
Salvation encourages us. (1 Thess. 5:8-11)
The Holy Spirit encourages us. (Acts 9:31)
God's Word encourages us. (Acts 15:31)
The faith of other believers encourages us. (Acts 11:23, 1 Thess. 3:7)
Fellowship with believers encourages us. (Phil. 2:1, Heb. 10:25)
The truth of Scripture encourages us. (2 Tim. 4:2-5, Titus 1:9)
Serving God encourages us. (Heb. 6:10, Col. 3:23-24)
Anticipating the Lord's coming encourages us. (1 Thess. 4:14-18)
(I encourage you to use BibleHub
to look up more encouraging verses!)
"Dear Jesus, during this season of Lent, help me to give up discouraging words and seek
to encourage others daily! Amen."
Copyright 2011 - S.A. Keith
SundaySchoolNetwork.com
You can make a
difference!
Your donation
to the site helps us distribute our
children's ministry resources to churches across the world.
Subscribe to our Newsletter - Learn More
Site Map