ENCOURAGING WORDS

What does it mean to encourage?

Here is one ordinary example that created extraordinary results in the life of my friend.

"Yesterday our guest helped Brian do one of those 'do it yourself' projects that took two people six hours and would have been impossible for me to help with. Our friends made meals and a pie for our parents. But far greater still, these friends intentionally took time to encourage us with a far greater gift than their time and talents. They encouraged us with their words."

How did they do this? Listen to this description of the impact of encouraging words on my friend's heart.

"They intentionally used their words to esteem us. They spoke words to affirm qualities in our lives and observations they have made observing our character and our walks with the Lord. They shared the impact of our lives on them over the decades of our relationship. As they shared with us, we were humbled, affirmed and deeply touched with His encouragement. What an amazing gift! The impact of their esteeming words was so deeply impacting to our hearts that we looked up the word esteem in the dictionary."

(The definition of the word esteem-worth, value, opinion, judgment; the regard in which one is held; especially high regard.)

The person whom GOD esteems is defined in Isaiah 66:2b, "This is the one I esteem; he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word."

How can you speak encouraging words to a hurting heart in your world today?