Any 90’s music fans out there? Me too! I just love a good bass, strong downbeat, dance track, with an old school lyric rap that you can actually sing along with. One such jam that fits the bill is “Power” by Snap!:
“Like the crack of the whip, I Snap! attack
Front to back, in this thing called rap
Dig it like a shovel, rhyme devil on a heavenly level
Bang the bass, turn up the treble
Radical mind, day and night all the time
7:14, wise, divine
Maniac brainiac, winnin' the game
I’m the lyrical Jesse James”
I love a good jam that makes you feel good, encouraged, like you have the power to do anything you set your mind and heart to.
As a person who has been through some tough stuff, being encouraged has made all the difference in my life. Being encouraged has given me strength to try something just one more time or go on just one more day, even in the face of past failures. Being encouraged has helped me be more patient, more honest with myself, more hopeful, and more resilient.
You see, encouragement has so much more power than we give it credit. Because of someone’s encouragement towards us (a parent, sibling, teacher, coach, mentor, Jesus), we have become the person we are today.
Encouragement is not just something that is “nice to do”, it is actually crucial in our development and eternal lives. A simple word of encouragement just might be the tipping point in someone’s day or life- giving them hope and the extra “umph” to move in the direction God was already sending them!
So what does encouragement look like for your…
Spouse?
Children?
Friends?
Colleagues?
Strangers?
First and foremost- it should be authentic! We don’t want to “fake” a word of encouragement on our part. Or even worse, tell a white lie that leads someone astray (e.g., telling your friend that cannot carry a tune “you are a great singer”, and then they end up on the blooper reels of American Idol).
Secondly- we should focus on character and progress more and appearance or shortcomings less. Focus on how this person is demonstrating or cultivating more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control (Galatians 5:22-33).
Lastly- we should encourage often. More often that you probably think. As children we rely on this encouragement daily from our parents and teachers- to keep us moving in a positive direction and growing into who we are called to be. As adults, this really isn’t any different. We daily need reminders (either from the word, pep talk to ourselves, from our friends, our spouse, our boss, etc) that we are doing a good job, are valued, cared for, trusted, and that we matter.
Loved ones, I want you to wholeheartedly know that what you put out in to the universe will come back to you! If you yourself want to feel encouraged, be even more encouraged, or need that pep talk… try being that person to someone else this week and see what happens. I can almost guarantee you that it will come back to you two-fold! He who refreshes others is himself refreshed (Proverbs 11:25).
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11.
So let’s start being encouragers this week! Encourage that one person this week, even if you’ve already said it to them before or assume they’ve heard it before. YOU’VE GOT THE POWER!