The book of Ecclesiastes
speaks about time. There is a time
for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. (Read
chapter 1)
So, don’t
beat yourself up if you’re having a bad day, because there is a time to laugh
just as there is a time to weep. There will be days where you will be strong and
courageous and will conquer the whole world. But then there will be days where
you feel so weak, you won't even have the strength to hurt a fly. And I want to tell you that its ok to feel that way, it
just shows that you’re human!
Scott Burdett
It is in
those times that we must rely on people who can give us an encouraging word to
uplift our spirits. Yes, we can go to the bible and God will give us the
strength and power we need to jump right back up and shake off that funk that
we’re in. But it’s so important to have a friend or a support group where you can go to and
say, I need you right now and not feel ashamed about it. People who you can trust and know they will give you an honest word of encouragement.
Today, I
encourage you to be a changer, to be an encourager, to lift up the hands of those who are weary
and have no strength, may your words be medicine to their souls. We all long
for encouragement. Your words, your act of presence, your smile, your “I’m here
for you” your emails, text messages, phone calls, letters, Facebook post, tweets, or random act of
kindness and generosity is what can help someone in a time of need.
The world is
full of people who are lost, who have given up on hope, who are going through
hardship and have no one to turn to for encouragement. Make yourself available
to fulfill that need and bring a ray of sunlight into someone’s dark world. We
are called to be the light of the world. (Read Matthew 5:14,15) You and I can
make the difference. Be a changer!
I leave you
below with a few encouraging words I found from the book “Encouragement Changes Everything” by John C. Maxwell.
In a later
post, I will include more encouraging messages from this book because it’s just
that amazing!
Be
Encouraged, Be Blessed!
Landy
Perez-Feliciano ♥
1. Encouragement
is oxygen to the soul.
-George
Matthew Adams
2. An Experiment in Encouragement
Years ago,
an experiment was conducted to measure people’s capacity to endure pain. How
long could a bare-footed person stand in a bucket of ice water? It was
discovered that when there was someone else present offering encouragement and
support, the person standing in the ice water could tolerate pain twice as long
as when no one else was present.
3. Encouragement is deciding to make
your problem my problem.
-John C.
Maxwell
4. Encourage Yourself
Don’t let
yourself…
- Worry when you’re doing your best.
- Hurry when success depends on accuracy.
- Think evil of anyone until you have the facts.
- Believe a thing is impossible without trying it.
- Waste time on trivial matters.
- Imagine that good intentions are a satisfactory excuse.
- Harbor bitterness toward God or person.
5. Let no
feelings of discouragement prey upon you, and in the end you are sure to
succeed.
-Abraham
Lincoln
6. Positively
Wired
A study was
done by psychologist Henry H. Goddard on energy levels in children. He hooked
children up to a device called an ergo graph to see how they would respond to
the words of others. He found that when tired children were given a word of
praise or commendation, the ergo graph showed they experienced an immediate
surge in energy. But when the children were criticized or discouraged, the
device showed their energy took a sudden nosedive.
Never
underestimate the power of an encouraging word.
7. The greatest
good you can do for another is not just share your riches, but to reveal to him
his own.
-Benjamin
Disraeli
