The Power of Encouragement

By: Paulette Matthewson

Joy Ministries recently celebrated seven years of encouragement ministry. I am so thankful to God and the wonderful ladies that supports this unique ministry.

One of the Joy ladies recently gave her powerful testimony of the miraculous power of God that continues to heal and sustain her.
She literally has been snatched from the jaws of death. Glory to God!!

When she shared her testimony, she mentioned several times of how Joy Ministries encouraged her. Her comments began to resonate in my mind.

The encouragement she received allowed her to keep pushing forward despite all odds. Jesus worked the miracles, He did what only God can do……the Impossible, but the practical piece of encouragement Joy Ministries did.

Encouraging others can be overlooked and we fail to see the opportunity to empower another not give up  during life’s most challenging circumstances.
Here’s a definition for encouragement: “ the action of giving someone support or hope”. Consider the word “Action” it means we have to do something.
Some things you DON’T need to encourage:
1.Education
2.Money
3.Great personality
Some things you need to encourage:
1.Opportunity
2.Willingness to do so
Anyone can encourage another person.
Who needs encouragement? Every living human being. Encouragement can be given without a crisis, just spread a little cheer or hope around. Do not judge who needs it by outward appearance or because you live in the same house, they may need it more. No one is exempt, we all need encouragement.

Most of us appreciate random acts of kindness or someone checking on us for no apparent reason, but are we doing that for others?

 Scripture teaches us we “reap what we sow “and usually we think of bad things coming to bad people. However, that’s not the context of the scripture. It tells us what seed we put in, is the crop we will reap.

 What if we planted seeds of encouragement on a regular basis, Yes you got it! We would reap encouragement as well!

Another scripture tells us that “he who waters will be watered also.” You can’t water your grass or flowers etc without getting some sprinkles of water on yourself.
And of course the scripture that says “give and it shall be gives”, no place does it mention money. That could be any good thing, including encouragement.

Sometimes encouragement is just listening and fighting off the desire to tell how we went through a similar situation and end up failing to truly encourage the other person.

Encouraging others is not complicated, recently a dear lady at our church had major surgery, the Sunday School children made her encouragement cards from construction paper and the cards were mailed to her.

The sister told me she prayed and cried when she received those cards. Simple act of encouragement but great rewards. 

May we all stop, think and activate our power to encourage!💗