2 June 2021
My thoughts started with a simple enquiry. “How was your afternoon?” As the words left my mouth, the person who received them burst into tears. As I gave the person a hug, I asked them “what’s up?” For the next few minutes, in between the sobs, the responder shared with me. I could not fix anything. I could not help much. But I hopefully encouraged them in the situation they were in.
Next day, I sat down beside a co-worker at lunch and asked the same question “what’s up?” The same thing happened. A flurry of tears and a sharing of their frustration. Again, I tried to encourage them and see some things from a different more positive perspective. That’s when my thoughts, with the assistance from the Holy Spirit, started to confirm even more that a spiritual gift given to me was the gift of encouragement.
Twice in a few days, I encouraged people. I tried to give them courage where they were and to look at things from a different angle. Now I know this gift has come from God because in the past, when I was a young teenager and into my early twenties, I was extremely shy. But one day I felt the Holy Spirit say – “Enough – Give up being shy! It is hindering you reaching people. Especially if I want you to reach people for me.”
It was not easy. I had to put into place deliberate steps to speak out. To voice my opinions. To encourage. But slowly and surely God worked on me and in me.
In scripture Barnabas, in the Book of Acts, had such a gift. You meet Barnabas in Acts 9:27, where he took Saul, who became Paul, to the Apostles and encouraged them by explanation that Saul had “seen the Lord” and been transformed by Him. He had this gift.
Ruth in the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament was an encourager. Her mother-in-law, Naomi, was very distraught. Her husband and her two sons had died. All that was left for her in the foreign country where she was, was her two daughters-in-law. Naomi (which means pleasant) had got to such a low place in her emotions and disposition that she suggested that her name be changed to Mara (which means bitter.)
“Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.
Ruth 1:20 NIV
Naomi decided to return to her native town Bethlehem and suggested to her daughters-in-law to return to their families.
But Ruth stays.
On top of staying Ruth encourages her mother-in-law with a declaration of Love.
Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”
Ruth 1:16-17 NIV
Oh to have that speech said over you!
That someone would walk with you, go where you go, stay where you stay……..they won’t abandon you. We need more encouragers in this world. Could that be your gift to others? Or should all Christians have this gift?
And let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds.
Hebrews 10:24AMP
Let each one of us [make it a practice to] please his neighbor for his good, to build him up spiritually.
Romans 15:2 AMP
Jesus encourages all of us, especially in John 16:33
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 AMP
So let us lean into Jesus for that perfect peace and go and encourage someone today.
May these jottings from my journal inspire you to believe in and fall in love with Christ- the hope of the world, as stated in Jeremiah 17:7, ‘Blessed is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord and whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord!’
Love
Rosemary
Every week groups of ladies meet together to chat about the things I raise in my weekly blog post and to chat about life in general. We call these ‘Heart Connect’ groups. If you would like more information please click HERE.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Do you have the spiritual gift of encouragement? Do you think all Christians should encourage?
What spiritual gift do you have? Have you discovered it?
Who could you encourage this week?
9 Comments
Lyn Iglinski
Thank you Rosemary for your words. They always make me think and reflect. You are an encourager thanks to the Holy Spirit.
Netsai Msika
I just wanna glorify the almighty for putting people like you Rosemary in my life. I am always encouraged by your words on my way to work. God is great and Thank you.
Helene Williamson
Rosemary I look so forward to our weekly video and your Jottings from my journal. Tonight as I struggled to sleep I got up and watched Bruce’s June 2 teaching and then I read your writings. I am struggling with my husbands health. I am worried that he may have Alzheimers. I am praying that is not the case – but he has changed so drastically in these last few months. He sleeps all the time and he forgets things – important things.
My mother had it and I did not handle it well at all – and it lasted for years – before she passed. I can see so many of the same symptoms in my husband. Please pray for him that his cognitive test on June 14th will go well and that is something that will be easily fixable – if not pray that I will have the patience that I will require to deal with the situation.
God bless you. And I look forward to your next video and jottings from your journal.
God Bless all of you at Bruce Downes.Org
Cheryl O'Grady
Thankyou Rosemary for your msg on encouragement. It is so necessary for us to be ready and watching for opportunities to be able to come along side another who is needing a kind word or practical help. Great feeling to see another lifted up! Blessings to you and yours
Janet Hall
My husband was diagnosed with althziemers 2 years ago. I also saw many changes in him. His memory was bad and at times he was mean.
He underwent a heart valve replacement and suffered a stroke which affected his speech and paralyzed his right side. This also affected his disease.
Please read all you can about the disease and learn how to deal with him. I understand your fear and am praying for a good outcome.
God bless you!
Susan Young
I have just prayed for you Helene that if your husband has alzhemias that God will heal him or give you an understanding heart towards your husband and don’t take his meaness to heart it is the disease speaking as he is not himself . Go online and get all the information you can and you can find someone else who has family and how they cope with it.
God bless you Helene🦋💐🥀💞 Susan
Valerie Simms
Thank you Rosemary for jotting this down in the Journal for us! There have been a number of times where I have opened up my Bible to the last page of 1 Thessalonians. I wondered if this was God trying to tell me something, as I would often give the page a quick glance, then move on. This time I took my time and read the subtitle, Final Exhortations, greetings, and Benediction. Would you believe, I only found out days ago what the word exhortation meant; encouragement!!!
As I read the scripture passage in 1 Thessalonians 5: 12 – 23, more slowly and reflecting on the meaning, I felt as if St Paul was giving me advice, along with the disciples in Thessalonica! In verse 14 I read,” And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the
fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. In answer to a question, are we as Christians meant to encourage? I believe after I read this scripture passage the answer is yes!
I too read the scripture passage in the Book of Acts how Barnabas encouraged the apostles to receive Saul, who became Paul, as a true convert in Christ, recounting to them Paul’s amazing encounter with our Lord Jesus, on his way to Damascus, supposedly to imprison those who followed the Way of Christ! As I read about Barnabas here and elsewhere, I began to realise how gifted by the Lord he was!
I then recalled a time in my past, overhearing a conversation that occurred between my husband and a minister about me! My husband to my surprise mentioned that I had an encouraging nature, and to my surprise the minister nodded repeatedly, agreeing enthusiastically with my husband. I also recalled that at that time I was having issues of my own, but they didn’t stop me in encouraging my husband, who was facing difficulties of his own too at that time!
Your Jottings from your Journal, plus the scripture passage I have mentioned here that I’ve come across often and finally took some time to reflect upon. As well as getting to know the gifted apostle of the Lord, Barnabas has got me thinking…. Have I Lord got the gift of encouragement that I need to use more often, for the benefit of my family, relatives, friends, neighbours and especially in the Body of Christ? All for Your glory Lord God?…. Is this a gift from the Holy Spirit that is lying dormant within me, Lord?…..
Thank you Rosemary! You have got me thinking and praying now….Next step is to see the pod cast! God bless you Rosemary!
Lisa Dreyer
Thank you Rosemary, God Bless you. Amen
Ursel Mihelcic
Thank you Rosemary