The Power of Encouragement
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. – 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Did you know that in the New Testament there are 59 one another verses that teach us how (or how not to) relate to one another in Biblical community? About 1/3 of these verses focus on the idea of unity, while another 1/3 highlight the importance of loving each other. Another 15% of these verses emphasize humility, and the rest of them are more random (e.g. greet one another with a holy kiss).
Many of these one another verses address the way we communicate with each other, how we engage each other verbally. There is something significant in our speech, which is why Proverbs 18:21 says that the tongue has the power of life and death. So, we are challenged to pray for another (James 5:16), to speak the truth in love to one another (Ephesians 4:25), and to even confess our sins to each other (James 5:16). We are also taught to encourage one another and to build one another up (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
When we speak encouragement, life, truth in love, and blessing over each other, we become a mouthpiece for our Heavenly Father. He speaks through us to one another to bring alignment of our thoughts, motives, attitudes, and actions with His Kingdom and His heart. If one of us is believing a lie about who we are or about our identity in Jesus (e.g. God doesn’t care about me, I’m worthless, I’ll never experience freedom, I’m not worthy of God’s grace and mercy, I don’t need God, God has too many other problems to be mindful of me, etc.), those who know us can speak encouragement and the truth of our Heavenly Father directly to us, with the goal of helping us identify the lie, renounce it, and declare what is true over our lives. Our words matter to one another!
Of course, speaking encouragement, life, truth, and blessing necessitates some level of relationship and connection. Our words carry more impact and substance when there is established trust in relationship. We build and invest into Biblical community so that we can maximize the influence of our words when spoken.
Who do you need to encourage today?
Today’s Prayer: Lord, may I continually speak words of encouragement and life to those around me. Use me as your mouthpiece to build up and to edify those I come in contact with.
Today’s Challenge: Purposefully communicate words of encouragement today to someone you know needs truth and hope.
