Encourage one another
by Angela Weir
In his letter to the Thessalonian believers, Paul exhorts them to encourage one another. He understands that we all need words of affirmation, such as ‘Well done. You’re doing a good job.’
I was on a training course during which the teacher asked each of us to turn to the person next to us and say something to encourage them. The man sitting next to me said something so beautiful that I was almost overwhelmed and didn’t know what to say. What he had said truly fed my spirit. When I think about it now it still gives me a warm glow.
But I’m aware that Christians sometimes feel discouraged. They feel that their efforts to help and serve in various ways aren’t even being noticed. They don’t do what they do just to receive thanks from someone, but they would be mightily strengthened by an encouraging word or a ‘thank you’.
Just imagine the difference it would make in our church fellowships if everyone made determined efforts to encourage one other. Perhaps we could send a note to someone, or give them a phone call, or just make a point of saying ‘thank you’. By doing so we would help to affirm others and build up their human spirit.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray that You will strengthen in me a ‘ministry of encouragement’ that I may always be ready with the right word or action to build up my fellow Christians. Amen.
Angela Weir has been associated with Ellel Ministries from the very beginning, first as an associate member of the ministry team and later as an associate teacher. She trained as an actress before moving to Cumbria, where she taught drama in a girls’ school. She now teaches and ministers at various Ellel Centres.
Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship. Provided full acknowledgement is made to Seeds of the Kingdom as the source, you are also welcome to use it in a non-commercial way and reproduce it in magazines or other Christian websites. The copyright for any commercial use of the material remains with Ellel Ministries International.
