Are
you an encourager or do you need encouragement? As Paul wrote to the Christians
in Rome, Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all
of you, because your faith in him is being talked about all over the world.
Yes. All over the world. It is a small world. We are only six degrees of
separation from knowing everyone in the United State…and theoretically seven steps
from being connected to everyone in the world. When you consider that, we are
close to telling the whole world about Jesus! That is something for which to be
thankful.
Encourage others.
Thanksgiving for faith and safety.
Love the Lord.
Giving
“thanks” for everything that God provides for us is essential—and that includes
the friends, family, and associates that God brings into our lives. Paul encouraged
the value of giving thanks to the churches he visited on his missionary journeys
and those, like Timothy, whom he mentored.
And give thanks for everything to
God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20
I urge you, first of all, to pray
for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give
thanks for them. 1
Timothy 2:1
Giving
thanks and acknowledging to God and yourself how important these people are in
your life is a good step towards encouraging them. In order to encourage others,
you have to value or appreciate them. Encouragement comes naturally after that.
You just want the best for them. Some people are easier than others to nurture,
help, assist, or inspire—all part of encouraging. Teens in particular are
challenging, but if you’ve been part of their lives since they were very small
and have a good relationship with them, it will be easier.
Do you need encouragement? We all do
at some point in our lives. Some of that encouragement can come directly from
reading our Bibles. God want us to have a relationship with Him…and the best
way to develop that is to hear what He has to say…by reading His very words.
Are you reading scripture every day? What is your favorite translation? A few
people I know still stick with the King James Version, but others prefer the English
Standard Version (ESV), the New International Version (NIV), the Message (MSG)
which is really a modern paraphrase, or the New American Standard Bible (NASB).
There are a multitude of translations out there, including a Jewish
Translation. No matter the translation, if one prays as they begin reading God’s
word, the Holy Spirit will reveal the meaning of the scripture and help each of
us apply it to our lives. That’s encouraging. Prayer is so important. It is our
communication with our Lord and Savior. That strengthens our relationship and
our faith.
Are you an encourager or do you need
encouragement? We need both. Pray. Choose wisely.
Let
me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because
your faith in him is being talked about all over the world. God knows how often
I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom
I serve with all my heart by spreading the Good News about his Son. One of the
things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to
see you. For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that
will help you grow strong in the Lord. When we get together, I want to encourage
you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Romans 1:8-12
Prayer
– Lord Jesus, thank you for Your encouraging words…and for the opportunity to
meet with You every day in scripture. Give us wisdom and understanding that
Your words would come alive in us and that our relationship with You would grow
deeper day by day—encouraging us as we encourage others.
Meditate.
Are you encouraging others and being encouraged?
Verse
of Salvation ~ Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who
has loved us and given us everlasting comfort and encouragement and the good
[well-founded] hope [of salvation] by His grace, comfort and encourage and
strengthen your hearts [keeping them steadfast and on course] in every good
work and word. 2
Thessalonians 2:16-17 AMP
© 2025 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture
quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMP),
Copyright ©2015 by
The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. lockman.org
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
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