Giving Courage

When people see you coming or get an email from you, what is their first reaction? Is it,
"Uh oh, here comes trouble!" Or do others light up when they see or hear from you?

Giving Courage

"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)

I heard someone say recently that when you encourage someone, you literally give them courage, but when you discourage another person, you take courage from them. I think that is very true. We all have people in our lives that impact us in one of two ways: they routinely encourage or discourage us. And I imagine you and I do the same to others: we either instill courage in them or take it from them by the words we speak to them.

We are blessed at our home church, Great Hills Baptist Church, in Austin, TX. We have many who are encouragers. When I see them heading my way or notice an email or note from them, I know that they are reaching out to me to affirm, build up, and instill courage within me. One of those people is Mary Lou. She is around 90 years young and one of the most encouraging people in our church. She loves the Lord and the Word of God, and she is one who loves to build up and not tear down.

We had a wonderful church member leave us a couple weeks back, and what a tremendous loss we feel. Felix Daily was one of the most kind, sharp, and godly men I have ever known. He was 93 when he went to heaven, and what a "Barnabus" he was. He was a person of extreme encouragement. He was my prayer partner, and my life is poorer without him in it. Felix lived out Clint Eastwood's wise saying, "Don't let the old man in." Most do not age gracefully. They complain and become sour the closer they get to the grave. But not Felix. I want to be like him if the Lord allows me to live that long. I want to be someone who believes the best in others and goes out of my way to offer words of life and hope, one who builds up and does not tear down, one who gives courage instead of taking it.

When people see you coming or get an email from you, what is their first reaction? Is it, "Uh oh, here comes trouble!" Or do others light up when they see or hear from you? The good news is, if you are negative and constantly drain others, you can change that. Do what our biblical text for today teaches us to do: encourage others every day. The best way to keep sin and its harmful consequences from your life is to be an encourager.

Who will you bless today with your words? Solomon says life and death are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). Prepare to be a blessing. Speak life. Encourage someone today. Instill courage in them!

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Podcast of the Week

Helping the Destitute and Transforming a
Nation with Christ's Love, with Fred Eppright

Pastor Danny welcomes to the show Fred Eppright of the Baptist Haiti Mission and the IMPACTcares Foundation. Fred shares the story of the Baptist Haiti Mission and how he and his son, Matt, got involved. Fred, Matt, and their partners at the BHM are doing truly powerful, invaluable work. We think you will be blessed to hear about what they are doing and perhaps be interested in partnering with them in their ministry.

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