‘Encourager’

DUTY OF A CHRISTIAN AS AN ENCOURAGER

A Christian is a person who believes that Jesus is Christ who died for our sins, who is baptized in water and Spirit (John 3:5) and who is a follower of Christ. So, we no longer live but Christ lives in us through the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:24-25).

Here, we are talking about the role of the Holy Spirit as an ‘Encourager’. The word ‘encourager’ means to inspire with hope, courage, or confidence or to give support to. It also means comforter or advocate which is known as Paracletes in Greek, which is a word used for the Holy Spirit. It is one of the roles of the Holy Spirit.

1. In a world full of evil and attack from the devil 24x7, I am hardly managing to stay positive. How will I encourage others?
2. Apart from CHOOSING to stay and walk constantly in the will of God, the act of encouraging others or helping others when you hardly have enough is just going to help you instead, in a much greater way. The peace that God gives is all that we ever needed to keep going. If this question could arise in your life like now, that would mean you have already tried to stay positive and focused on your welfare and hardly have enough to help others out. But, are you satisfied with just getting through?

Your words of encouragement could uplift someone or even save somebody. Your wholehearted 5 minutes prayer for someone you’ve never prayed for, interceding for someone could give them the lakhs of rupees that they needed desperately. This is only possible with us, the children of God, because we share in the inheritance of Jesus and we believe in the only valid belief that changes life.

I can assure you it is going to be hard most of the time and very unreasonable because it is out of your comfort zone. But we are all called to help and love one another. So, let’s not just get through the day like that, trying to get things done and stress about things not done. Ask God to help you plan it out, stick to the plans (stretch yourself in this), and take one step at a time even if you don’t see the end of the tunnel.

1. Most of the time, I can’t be present to help people out. Won’t it be just empty words?
2. We are all called to play our own part in the story God is writing. Some are called to plant the seeds, while some are called to harvest. Wherever we are placed, whatever we are called to do at the moment, we must do just the thing God called us to do at the moment. Yes, once we start something, we must try our best to be responsible in any way we can do. If we are out stationed, we can always try to fit into our schedule to pray, to help out financially etc.

There’s a saying that tells us that if we really want to do something, we make a way for it- we don’t make excuses. The voice God uses to speak to us is usually only audible to us and that makes us the best judge of what we must choose to do. 

1. What if I am the one who could not follow the very words I spoke about?
2. We can always try and get up again and again. We learn from our mistakes and we try not to repeat them. You yourself, know your intentions. If you did your best and will continue to do your best, you are doing great. If you didn’t, you can plan out and eliminate the things that don't apply to you and then do it right. Trying to live by others' opinions will only get us weary. There will always be people who want to speak negative just as there is always bad with good in this world. Just do what you have to do and live a positive life. Just keep encouraging people, no matter who they are. So, don't be afraid of something positive you have never done yet, don't quit this game, be the last person to leave and be willing to do ANYTHING for God.

1. So, how do I encourage others?
2. Wisdom can only come from God. I believe knowing a person’s psychology is quite important but the only effective and valid way is God’s way. Some people are going to be really good at concealing their pain and need God so much. It is not their mistake, but instead, it is because they are silently screaming out for help. Yes, so how do I get to hear from God for myself, for her, for him etc? No worries. God always gives us the right things at the right time. We just have to be patient and speak by faith when we talk to others. Some tips on how to encourage others are- by sharing the good things you learn from the word of God, asking about them, their current situation, their family, their studies, their job etc. We can also ask for prayer points and pray with them after that. List them out in your prayer book and schedule a time for them in your prayer list. Reassure them whenever they need reassurance. Do check up on them from time to time and schedule meetings with them. It might even sound fake to do this but i like to keep it this way, if you want to change, you start doing that and keep on doing it. It is not faking it, it is faith-ing it!
3. Is that it, encourage others? And then what?
4. Yes, that is a major part of what we must do. Helping them out in any way you can, will be a great indicator of you really caring for them. After encouraging them in the areas they need, pray with them afterwards, then list them out in your prayer book and schedule to check up on them. Help them out in any way you can by seriously searching for ways to help them at all times.

The people God is giving you at the moment are your neighbours and the second greatest commandment is to love your neighbours as yourself. I am sure, if we all try to help each other out like this, how much would we be growing! Not just spiritually, but in many other areas of our life.

We can learn to appreciate even little help from others. It is not a sign of weakness but it is a sign of fellowship. Be willing to receive back what people like to offer you, be it a small thing or a big one. Share with each other your prayer points and be as open, as you would want people you talk to, to be open with you.

Two more things to keep in mind:

1. We all intend to expect back the same dedication and help we offered to others but this should not be something we as a Christian do. We give out and not expect it back. God is enough to give us even much more than what we need and desire.
2. When others do good to us, don't make it your burden, whether they expect it back or not. We are called to love everyone and not favor someone more. Like how God would repay back the bad things done to us in His Time, so will He repay the good. If God uses you as the weapon to bless them, God will give you what's required.

Let’s be great encouragers/ cheerleaders for the kingdom of God!