The Power of an Encouraging Word

I came to realize just how powerful an encouraging word is when I started running.

I usually hit the pavement about 3-5 times a week and put in training runs. Just me and the road ... with my phone and running app that logs my miles.

Periodically, I've tried to push it and do some sprints. I've also tried to see how quickly I can run a mile or even a 5K (3.1 miles) during my training runs.

Yet, when the discomfort of the run begins to set in, my brain begins to yell at my body to slow down. To keep from slowing down, I have to engage in some mental warfare. I force my mind to tell my mind (confusing, huh?) that I'm not stopping. Running isn't simply a physical sport. There is a huge mental aspect to it.

On the other hand, I've enjoyed running in quite a few races. That is an entirely different story. My best times have occurred in races.

In fact, it's generally understood that you can take a minute or more off of your average training pace when you run in a race. So, if I was training at a 10 minute per mile pace for 3 miles, I would probably run a 5K race (3.1 miles) at a 9 minute pace. Races are almost always faster than training paces.

Do you know how that's possible? There's still the mental warfare that takes place in training runs. But, during races, there's one more huge motivator: the crowds!!!

Something happens when there are men and women, boys and girls along the race route who are watching your progress and cheering you on. Their encouragement enables the runners to push themselves harder than they were able to push themselves when they were training by themselves. The people along the race routes and their encouraging cheers are priceless to runners. We listen to those words and feast on them as we continue on in the race.

Encouraging words are powerful. You and I have the ability to cheer others on as they go about their days. We have the ability to help them perform much better than they would on their own ... simply by generously giving words of encouragement.

Do you encourage others? It would seem that our narcissistic society, where folks spend more time thinking of themselves than others, causes us to rarely ever give words of encouragement. We have the power to cheer others on to better achievements and yet we fail to do so for fear that they would get the limelight as we sit in the shadows.

Realize that you have the ability to spur others on to greater achievements. Realize that you may be the one that God could use to encourage someone who He could use greatly.

In fact, what would it be like if our churches were filled with a community of men, women, boys and girls who lavished words of encouragement upon each other?! I'd love to find out!

Let me suggest an assignment for you: For the next 24 hours, try to find something encouraging to say to everyone (or virtually everyone) you meet. See how it changes them ... and you!

Ephesians 4:29 (New Living Translation)
"Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them."

The purpose of God's comfort

Life is tough. Sometimes, life is downright painful.

But, for the follower of Jesus, there is comfort to be had. As we cry out to Him, we can experience comfort (yes, in the face of trials) that comes from fellowship with Him, knowing that He is fully in control and that He has promised to work out even the bad stuff for our ultimate good (making us more like Him - Romans 8:28-29).

So, is our personal Christian life an end in itself? Do we simply get from God only for our benefit? Hardly.

As God provides us with comfort in the face of trial, one of the many outcomes He desires is that we comfort others. He wants us to share with others how we have found Him to be faithful in our time of trial and then to assure others that He can do the same for them.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (New Living Translation)

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us."

Will you be open to comforting someone today?

So many folks would rather talk about themselves than listen to others. In doing so, they rob themselves of the opportunity to hear others' stories and provide the needed words of comfort. Today, desire to listen, empathize, and as God leads you provide the comforting words that are needed.

The power of an encouraging word

1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us: “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

We all crave encouragement and affirmation. One well-timed encouraging word could not only positively change the course of someone's day - it could change the course of their life! Talk about power! But, we often struggle to give those kinds of words to others.

Why?

Well, let’s think about it in terms of a bank account. Before you are able to write a check, you must have enough money in your account to cover the amount of the check. If your bank account is dangerously close to a zero balance, you’d better not write a check!

In the same way, encouraging others is like writing a check. If our internal ‘bank account’ if full, we find it easy to encourage others. If, on the other hand, we are internally bankrupt and struggle with our worth and identity, it will be almost impossible to find it within us to give others the affirmation they would love to hear.

If we find it hard to encourage others, we’re publicly showing that we are internally bankrupt. (Let that thought sink in.)

So, do yourself and others a favor and cultivate your walk with Jesus. Allow Him to fill your internal bank account as you meditate on just how much He loves you and what He’s done to bring you into relationship with Him. Enjoy sweet fellowship with Him each day, get regular deposits into your internal bank account and write checks of encouragement to those you encounter. Who knows how God could use you to positively impact someone else!

1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."

Running, Endurance, Encouragement and the Christian Race

I’m starting a "Run for God" program at our church and the first meeting is this Saturday, August 18^th. Many of those who will attend aren’t presently runners but want to be. I’m excited to take them on this 12 week journey! 

To spice things up, I looked for a 5K (3.1 mile) race to end our 12 weeks together. I found one on November 3^rd that winds in and out of downtown Brooksville and around our church facilities. I was initially thrilled … and then I noticed the northernmost part of the route. There are some serious hills!

I’ve got twelve weeks to get these guys and gals ready at a pace that keeps them healthy and interested. From personal experience, I know that they’ve got to develop endurance and they’re going to need a lot of encouragement.

Do you know what it will take to build endurance? Certainly not sitting in a chair listening to me talk about the art of running. They’re going to have to get out there and run. They’ll sweat. Their legs will ache. Their lungs will cry out for air. Their body will let them know how out of shape they’ve become.

But, if they do the hard things, then eventually, they will be free to enjoy the quality of endurance and good health. They’ll realize that running 3.1 miles at a time (what they once thought was impossible) is actually enjoyable! They’ll experience the thrill of crossing the finish line as the gathered crowds are applauding their achievement!

This truth applies so easily to the Christian life. If we want to develop the ability to glide through the difficulties of life (“life is pain” for you Princess Bride fans), then we’ve got to go through the tough times. That's the only way to develop endurance. In fact, that is exactly why God brings difficulty (the bad things) into our life … to build endurance (the good thing). Romans 5:3 says, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance.”

Don’t get upset at God when life gets tough. Realize that he’s toughening you up. He’s getting you spiritually fit so that when life gets tough again, you can handle it and glorify Him in the middle of it.

But, I want to share one more thing. I mentioned that in a foot race, it is so fun to hear the crowds cheering as you approach the finish line. Wouldn’t it be nice if we were encouraged that way in our Christian race? Well, we are. Just read Romans 15:4. “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (emphasis added)

As we read God’s Word and see how He worked in the lives of the biblical characters, we believe that He is doing the same in us (Hebrews 12:1-2) so we are encouraged. When we read the precious promises found in God’s Word affirming His love for us, His assurance that He is fully in control of all things, His promise that He will work all things for our good, His provision of the Holy Spirit, and so much more, we are encouraged to keep going, to keep following Him in word and deed no matter how tough it may get.

Why? Because God has made us to be more than conquerors (Romans 8:37)! He wants us to show others how incredible He is by our ability to go through tough times with endurance and feeling extremely encouraged!

How exciting is that?!