In our desire to get close to God, we seek 5 key aspects that Christ expressed throughout his ministry, his care and compassion for others gave him the ability to give others the compassion of the following five that as humans we crave for and seek out in others, these 5 points are as follows: We seek out
# Those that encourage us!
# Those that appreciate us!
# Those that forgive us!
# Those that truly listen to us!
# Those that truly understand us!
What is about people that encourage us, what draws us closer to them, why is important to us that we will find time to be in the company of those that encourage us!
It is the positivity that others bring to our circle of life that draws us to want to spend greater time with them.
- Name up to five people in your circle that bring joy, happiness or you crave to share quality time with?
- Of these how many would be people that encourage you / or support your goals in life.
- How do they support you or your goals?
Encouragement is a wonderful tool and when used right it can build people up and help grow us into our dreams and hopes. Encouragement when from someone we love or trust has a multiplier effect and can give strength and determination that is drawn upon to achieve great feats.
- Previously I asked you to think of up to five people that bring you Joy, well sadly I am going to ask you to think of up to five that you avoid!
- Why is it you avoid these people?
- Do you know what it is specifically that makes you avoid their company?
We tend to avoid those that bring us discomfort, pain or those that make us uncomfortable, but are drawn to those that bring us comfort, joy and pleasure to be around.
If we turn to the bible and look at the verses that are focused on the encouragement of others,
- Deuteronomy 1:38 – Moses knowing that he was not to enter into the promise land is called to encourage Joshua in his leadership of the Israelites, as they make their way across the Jordan river and take possession of the land of milk and honey.
Moses needed to hand over and in the process encourage the new leader to be strong and follow the laws and teachings of God. In Deuteronomy 3:28, God calls upon Moses to Commission, encourage and strengthen Joshua for he will lead God’s people.When we commission someone it show we have faith in their abilities and that they are trusted to carry out the duties they have been commissioned to conduct. When we are encouraged we find our ability to overcome obstacles and use those around us to assist in accomplishing goals and tasks set before us. We find a strength that often we didn’t know we had or a confidence in ourselves to achieve the impossible or difficult situations we may find ourselves in.
- 2 Samual 11:25 – David sends a messenger back to the Joab (equivalent to a General) stating he is not to be discouraged, that they are to fight harder and conquer the city. Though it may sound harsh to tell someone to fight harder in a man’s head it reflects the trust that one has for another to get the job done. That the person been told has the confidence of the other that they are capable of achieving the goal. So in a mans way I know you can conquer the task, just do it!
- Psalm 64:5 – “They encouraged each other to do evil and plan how to set their traps.” We can be encouraged to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord as well as what is wrong in the eyes of the Lord.
- Judges 20:22 – “The Israelites encouraged each other and took their positions again at the same place they had fought the previous day.” When we encourage others from amongst ourselves we
- 1 Samual 30:6 – “David was now in great danger because all his men were bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the Lord his God.”
- 2 Chronicles 31:4 – “In addition, he required the people in Jerusalem to bring a portion of their goods to the priests and levites, so they could devote themselves fully to the Lord.”
- 2 Chronicles 35:2 – “Josiah also assigned the priests to their duties and encouraged them to work at the temple of the Lord.”
- Isaiah 41:7 – “The Carver encourages the goldsmith, and the moulder helps at the anvil. “Good,” they say. “It’s coming along fine.” Carefully they join the parts together, then fasten the thing in place so it won’t fall over.
Mankind can achieve great things when they work together and through our encouragement of those around us we can
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