Every Day

"But encourage one another every day, as long as it is called 'today', that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."

Hebrews 3:13

 

Encouragement is absolutely necessary for sustaining the Christian life.  Not only do we need to be encouraging people, not just believers, but we need encouragement ourselves.  Often, we may think of encouragement as just saying nice words to someone, but it goes much deeper than that.  Encouragement actually is defined as the action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope.  This definition makes it real for me as to how to encourage others in a way that is deeper than just saying something nice.  We support one another by lending a listening ear, that cares for what they are going through.  We give confidence to each other by encouraging each other in the lives God has given us.  We encourage each other to persevere through whatever is going on in life.  And finally, we offer hope to each other.  By sharing stories, and how the Lord has walked with us through the difficult trials and circumstances in life, we offer hope to others, that encourages them to keep going.  Encouragement is one of the basic building blocks to our walk.  I love the scripture above because it so practical, and answers all of the "who, what, where, when, why, and how", questions.  The what is encouragement, and we offer this to everyone in our realm or circle of influence that we can.  We can do this anywhere and at anytime, but the writer of Hebrews tells us to do this in the present.  We are told to do this "today, as long as it is called 'today".  Last time I checked they are still calling today, today, so what this is saying to me is to always find ways to encourage one another when it is in our power to do so.  And why do we do this?  Because if we don't we can easily slip back into the hardened life of sin we once lived in.  It is so difficult to move forward oftentimes, but yet, so easy to slip back into old ways, habits, and thinking.  This is why it is so important to offer the support, confidence, and hope to other, as well as, be receiving this ourselves.  For anyone reading this, I want to encourage you today.  Be strong, be courageous, know that God has called you with a purpose and a life full of hope and abundant living!  Keep persevering and pushing in that job, in the relationship, with your kids, with your spouse, with your recovery, and continue to patiently endure, knowing that the Lord has an ultimate home for you that is way above anything you can think or imagine!  "But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil 3:13-14)  Press forward today!  Go out of your way to encourage others today, by offering support, confidence, or hope.  Pray and ask the Lord to continue to give you the strength and perseverance to get through another day, getting one step closer to the abundant life He has for you.  Love you all!  Praying for you and yours!  Have a blessed day, it's your choice!