My Daily Devotional

Be an Encourager

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
1st Thessalonians 5:11

Encouragement is such an important trait to master, and each of us should strive to be an encourager to others. Our children’s attitude and behavior can be shaped, because of a father’s encouragement and motivation. A sick friend can find encouragement, from a visit by their neighbors and family, and recover more quickly. An athlete will be more confident and perform better, if they are motivated by an audience of encouragers. The Bible teaches us that some people have been given the gift of encouragement. These people are blessed, as they are able to change attitudes, and bring the best out of the people they come into contact with. An encourager is able to uplift the spirits, and even change the attitude of people they encounter. An encourager is someone that we all like to meet, as they make us feel better, after our encounter with them. I have found through 45 years of management experience, that encouragement is a much better motivator than discipline, in getting the most productivity out of your employees. A carrot dangling in front of a horses face, will motivate him to pull a wagon, more than a whip across his backsides. Throughout the New Testament, the Apostles were writing letters to the Churches they had established, and almost all of them had statements where they were encouraging the churches and the leaders, to keep up the work they were doing. I believe that God wants each of us to be an encourager, and to build each other up. One of the duties of the body of the church is to be an encourager to other members, and through fellowship, encourage and build each other up. Make a point today, to find someone that you can encourage and build up, and God will bless you for it.