The Joy of Encouragment

            Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Be a joy-filled encourager!  

            One of the most glowing characteristics that a person can possess (in my opinion) is the gift of encouragement.  It comes more naturally for some people than others.  I’ll bet you can name a few individuals who are a continual source of encouragement in your life.  As Christians, we should all be encouragers.  God gives the gift of exhortation; and when we use that gift, we spread His joy.  

            In the New Testament, encouragement and exhortation are part of the same concept and often are used to translate the same Greek word. A person who has the gift of encouragement will most often:

• Recognize someone’s need and respond to that need in a caring and appropriate manner.
• They will know what a person needs to hear and will say it with love in a timely fashion.
• They’ll have lots of friends, because people love to be around them! After all, EVERYONE needs encouragement!

           Romans 12 teaches about the different gifts given to believers.  In this passage, Paul tells us that if we have been given the gift of exhortation, then we should put it to use!  

            Let’s be on the lookout for that person today that really needs an encouraging word or act of kindness. When we encourage others, it has a boomerang effect.  It comes right back to us…along with a bucket full of JOY! 

            Generously share the joy of encouragement!