Not completely bad

For some time,” writes a friend, “one idea comes back to me over and over again: to encourage.” He explained, “I was raised in a German subculture, where we praise people with the words: ‘Not completely bad!’ Therefore, encouragement doesn’t come easy to me.” He’s not alone either. How much easier it is to point out the flaws and the failures of others instead of reinforcing them with positive statements which serve as encouragement.

How do you cultivate the positive habit of encouragement? Let’s face it. Learning new habits never comes easy. First, locate the reservoir of encouragement deep within your heart. Never discovered it? OK, experiment. Start with your wife (or husband, as the case may be), your kids and your own family. Don’t be gushy or insincere, but say something positive, encouraging and uplifting. Do it with sincerity and deep meaning.

With practice it becomes easier, right? OK, having done this in your own family, strive to encourage someone beyond your immediate circle – people you work with, people you encounter, people who may not particularly be nice to you.

God gave specific instructions to the Israelites to encourage Joshua, the son of Nun, because he was to lead the nation into Canaan. Paul instructed the Thessalonians to “encourage each other” with the words he had written, and again “encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 4:18, 5:11). Hebrews 3:13 exhorts us to “encourage one another daily.” The reality is, we all need encouragement, going beyond the “not completely bad” level.

If God commands us to encourage each other, better cultivate the habit. And in doing the work of an encourager, you’ll be amazed how catching it is and how much more your presence will be welcomed no matter where you go.

Used with permission from Guidelines International Ministries. To learn more about Guidelines and the ministry, send an e-mail to [email protected]. You may also visit www.guidelines.org.