Will you encourage three people this week?
Encouraging others will fill you with joy, too!
Encouragement is the act of giving someone support, confidence, or hope. An often ignored spiritual practice, encouragement offers healing and joy to the giver and recipient.
Science confirms that giving to others, including simple encouragement, does the following:
- releases endorphins in the brain
- is linked to improved physical health and longevity
- fosters social connection
Appropriately, an African proverb says, “Doing good to others is doing good to yourself.”
Spreading goodness and truth is a way to bring God’s kingdom down to earth – helping us to be God’s agent of hope in this chaotic world.
A small gesture can make a transformational difference. Encouragement infuses hope into a situation, gives confidence and motivation, and helps someone feel seen and understood.
Bible verses that encourage us to encourage!
“Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.”
-Proverbs 12:25
“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
“Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.”
-Galatians 6:2
This week’s challenge
This week’s Choose Joy Challenges is to encourage at least THREE people this week!
God might bring to mind a friend going through a tough time or someone you haven’t thought of in a long time. You could offer a prayer, an encouraging verse, a positive observation, or give the gift of your presence. It’s incredible how far a simple smile and cheerful conversation can lift a person’s spirit.
Ask God for divine encounters that allow you to spread the joy of Jesus and also receive that joy in return.
Ways to communicate encouragement:
- In-person
- Send a text
- Send an email
- Write a note
- Reach out on social media
What to communicate:
- Something you appreciate about them
- How you see God working in their life
- Pray for them and let them know
- A verse
- An encouraging song
- Ultimately, whatever God puts on your heart
Encouragement of others is a social-emotional intelligence skill worth developing! Growing this skill involves prayer, intentionality, and courageousness.
Resources
Consider these resources to help you in your journey:
Books:
Encouragement: The Unexpected Power of Building Others Up
by Larry Crabb
Practicing Affirmation: God-Centered Praise of Those Who Are Not God
by Sam Crabtree
Notes of Encouragement:
Consider these prayer packs to offer encouragement to whoever God might lead you to.
Prayers to share: 100 Pass-Along Bible Promises
Prayers to Share: 100 Encouraging Notes for Tough Times & Tough People
FREE DOWNLOAD!
We have another free download for you this week. Print it out, frame it, put it on your refrigerator, or wherever you might want to be reminded to CHOOSE JOY!
