Encouraging One Another (Even When You Can't) 2016.10.04

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

I wanted to write up something about "encouraging one another" as I'm a huge fan of it. My love language is "words of affirmation" so this is a given. I can see the power of a well-placed word (or an ill-placed word) that can have an affect upon a person. It opens doors, and people begin to talk & I like to listen.

And then there are the times when my heart has "hardened by sin's deceitfulness". OOh man, not good! I use the excuses:
  1. I reach out & encourage people
  2. I call when I notice someone not at service
So why does my phone stay silent when I fall off the grid? Am seen without my ever-present smile & humor?

By then, my heart's hardened, and I am stuck in the "fact" that "friendships only work when I am doing things for people... People are mostly unavailable when I'm in need of some encouragement"... Yes, it gets dark & sad quick in my little world.

I understand my selfishness. And with that said & set aside for now, I truly feel like people do struggle with encouraging one another. It's a normal worldly instinct to become self-absorbed with one's life... but the sad fact is, people "are" where they "are". People aren't mind readers, and you shouldn't rely upon them for encouragement - that's God's role.

But encouraging one another is a command given to us from God:
Therefore encourage one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:18
I came across this scripture and it stings! I hate it because it's telling me, "when you're down, when you're hurt, when you're in need of encouragement, you have to simply set it aside & continue encouraging your brothers & sisters, irregardless pf where you heart is.
(did you think that I was going to use this scripture on the people who fail to encourage??)

God is a god of action, as is His love. His encouragement\love\action doesn't stop when we ignore Him, forget to pray, forget to offer gratitude\sin against Him... Could you imagine what life would be like if God the Almighty, had a temper like us? Life would be over!

God is my example when I am tired, in need of encouragement, but yet need to encouragement my friends & spiritual family. His never-ending love for me, is my motivation to move past my selfishness and draw people closer to Him.