Encouraging words or words of affirmation can have an amazing effect on a person’s life. We all experience moments of doubt and look at ourselves as not measuring up to others. Then suddenly someone smiles at us or says something kind, and we are not only back on track but feeling better about ourselves.
Michelle has battled kidney stones for weeks and now is recovering from surgery. I had my left knee replaced and am recovering too. Our next-door neighbor Jim brings our trash can up to our house after the garbage truck takes away the trash in it. He does not have to do that, but he knows we are not 100%. That is kindness from God through a person.
When we have a personal relationship with Christ we have everything we need to battle whatever the world wants to throw at us. A setback or multiple appliances going out at the same time can become overwhelming. But really it is just a chapter in our lives to see who we place our dependence on, ourselves or God. He wants to help but what happens is we try it alone until we realize we needed to go to Him first. God does not want to be our last resort.
Be encouraged by me. Life is full of storms, but no storm lasts forever. They are usually short lived. In January we had our dishwasher go out, garage door opener went out, water heater rusted out and flooded the living room, lightning struck the metal rain gutters and blew a hole in out propane line and a few other things I forgot. It was hard both financially and emotionally. Our living room was a disaster. But God…… yes, he saw us through, and things are great now. Storms refine us and grow our godly character. God uses these storms to grow us in our walk with Him.
We are always a work in progress with God as the potter and us, the clay. He sees us as His perfect masterpiece. You should see yourself that way too. God does not make junk. Let God use you today to be an encouragement to someone in you path or life. Affirmation for your wife or husband can really impact your relationship in a big way.
I remember one day I went to the bank and got twenty fresh one-dollar bills, never been in circulation. The next morning, I got up early and taped a dollar bill at every location I knew she would go. When Michelle got in her car there was a one-dollar bill in the rearview mirror and another on the steering wheel. I added a card that said, “you will always be number one in my life.” She loved it! She will never forget that day. Neither will I.
I washer her feet one day unexpectedly out of love and the urging of the Holy Spirit. We both will never for that day. Do something or say something to be an encouragement to others.
1 Thessalonians 5:11Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
Jim Everett
