It takes effort, and sometimes it can be awkward, but encouragement is an important part of the Christian life.

Proverbs 10:11 (NIV®) 

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life.

 

We all share a common ability: the knack for discerning the weaknesses of others. It doesn’t take great wisdom to see other people’s flaws. Even the best of us struggle with our inconsistencies. At every defining moment of my life, God has provided a voice of encouragement, a “fountain of life” who helped me stay the course. Sometimes it was a personal friend, and sometimes it was a stranger speaking to me from a stage. Because of that, one of the priorities in my life is to be that for other people. I want to lift people up when they are struggling. It takes effort, and sometimes it can be awkward, but encouragement is an important part of the Christian life. And since Scripture says we will receive by the same measure we give, if we want to be encouraged by others, we should determine to be encouragers for others.

 

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank You for the body of Christ―Your people, Your hands and feet and voice in the earth. Thank You for every person who has been a fountain of life for me, whether it was a friend in conversation or a stranger on a stage. Help me to be that for others. Give me wisdom to know what to say and when to say it so that I might encourage others and build them up in Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.