The Daily Blessing of Encouragement
“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 (NIV)
When was the last time you received an encouraging word from someone? How did you feel? When was the last time you gave an encouraging word to someone? Encouragement is like a gentle breeze that can refresh and renew weary souls! Encouragement can turn a bad day into a bearable one, and a good day into a great one! It has the power to heal wounds, lift spirits, and inspire greatness.
The Bible doesn’t just suggest that we encourage one another from time to time. It tells us to do it daily. Why? Because life is filled with daily struggles, battles, and temptations. Each day, we encounter people who are fighting silent battles, carrying heavy burdens, or facing doubts and fears. The latter part of Hebrews 3:13 warns us that without daily encouragement, our hearts can become hardened by the trials and temptations of life. We can become disillusioned, bitter, and distant from God and one another. Daily encouragement provides the consistent support and affirmation that everyone needs to persevere.
Thomas Edison, one of the greatest inventors in history, is often celebrated for his perseverance and innovative spirit. But as a child, he wasn’t a particularly strong student in traditional schools, and his teachers often considered him inattentive or disruptive. Despite this, his mother, Nancy Edison, recognized his potential and encouraged his curiosity. She decided to homeschool him, allowing him to explore and learn at his own pace. She provided him with the freedom to tinker and invent, even in their home. This laid the foundation for a remarkable career as an inventor. He went on to create groundbreaking inventions, which transformed the world. What a powerful illustration of how encouragement can propel someone towards success.
Let us decide today to actively look for opportunities to offer acts of kindness, a listening ear, or a helping hand to someone who may be silently starving for encouragement.
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of encouragement and the reminder in Hebrews 3:13 to practice it daily. Help us to be mindful of the opportunities to lift one another up, to be sources of light and hope in the lives of those we encounter. Amen.
Rachel J. Sealy
When was the last time you received an encouraging word from someone? How did you feel? When was the last time you gave an encouraging word to someone? Encouragement is like a gentle breeze that can refresh and renew weary souls! Encouragement can turn a bad day into a bearable one, and a good day into a great one! It has the power to heal wounds, lift spirits, and inspire greatness.
The Bible doesn’t just suggest that we encourage one another from time to time. It tells us to do it daily. Why? Because life is filled with daily struggles, battles, and temptations. Each day, we encounter people who are fighting silent battles, carrying heavy burdens, or facing doubts and fears. The latter part of Hebrews 3:13 warns us that without daily encouragement, our hearts can become hardened by the trials and temptations of life. We can become disillusioned, bitter, and distant from God and one another. Daily encouragement provides the consistent support and affirmation that everyone needs to persevere.
Thomas Edison, one of the greatest inventors in history, is often celebrated for his perseverance and innovative spirit. But as a child, he wasn’t a particularly strong student in traditional schools, and his teachers often considered him inattentive or disruptive. Despite this, his mother, Nancy Edison, recognized his potential and encouraged his curiosity. She decided to homeschool him, allowing him to explore and learn at his own pace. She provided him with the freedom to tinker and invent, even in their home. This laid the foundation for a remarkable career as an inventor. He went on to create groundbreaking inventions, which transformed the world. What a powerful illustration of how encouragement can propel someone towards success.
Let us decide today to actively look for opportunities to offer acts of kindness, a listening ear, or a helping hand to someone who may be silently starving for encouragement.
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of encouragement and the reminder in Hebrews 3:13 to practice it daily. Help us to be mindful of the opportunities to lift one another up, to be sources of light and hope in the lives of those we encounter. Amen.
Rachel J. Sealy
Roland & Rachel
