Encouraging Your Ladies With God
By Laura Detree
Here’s an excellent lesson to share with your ladies the next time they get together:
The directive for Christians to enlighten one another is found throughout the good book. In fact, enlightenment is the basis for a life’s change! We all tend to get anxious from time to time and need support. We may get discouraged about our relationships for instance, or maybe we are having self-esteem issues. Maybe someone you know is depressed, stressed, or ill. Encouraging others is being a good Christian in the Lords eyes.
Be Courteous
Respect is a significant component in our relationships with others. One should always be respectful towards those who are having a bad day, even if they are not being pleasant themselves. It may be the disgruntled young boy at the check out counter who hurriedly hands you your change, or the uptight manager who is disrespecting his workers. Should you become a chameleon because they are having a bad day? I think not. Turn your cheek at such a situation and detach from the negative emotions of others. This is the way to remain courteous in such a situation.
Quote:
“Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” (James 3:18)
Be Thankful
Build up the downtrodden for this is what the Lord would like us to do: it is part of our requirement as Christians to support others in the ways of God. Show them how much you value him or her for who they are. It will make an immense difference in affecting their attitudes. When we build up those who are hurting it ultimately makes us feel better too.
Quote:
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Have A Forgiving Heart
The Lord tells us to forgive our enemies, so how much more should we then pardon strangers, parents, children, co-workers, friends, and spouses? Forgiveness is something the Christian Community must do every single day. In fact, there is always a person who needs our forgiveness. This is why it is wise to just “be a forgiving person.” Encourage others through the forgiveness you have in your heart.
Quote:
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:2-3)
Be An Accepting Friend
Acceptance is being patient and enduring. Don’t upset a friend because you cannot accept something about them. We can continue to assist them by shining our light, but we should not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. If we are loving the same Lord then what is the problem? Should we allow trivial differences to bring problems in our relationship with others? I don’t believe that is what the Lord wants us to do. Jesus came to bring us love, not rules and regulations.
Quote:
“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” (Romans 12:3-5)
Pray and Fellowship Together
To assist the trouble-hearted there is no better way to encourage them in the faith than to come together in prayer and fellowship. This does not have to be in Church – God’s Spirit is not just in a Church structure but is anywhere you are. Invite a friend over for lunch or game of cards. Inform them about what the Lord has done for you in your life. How has the Lord blessed you and your loved ones? How was your existence before you accepted Christ into your life? Be a witness for he Lord and encourage those to be more encouraged in Him with you!
Quote:
“How good and pleasant it is when fellow believers live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1)
Praise The Lord With Hymns
Is there someone you know who is bedridden or ill? How can you bring happiness to them in their time of need? What about music? Grab your karaoke machine or portable keyboard and cheer them up singing and playing songs. There is no better way to strengthen the discouraged than through songs and hymns that praise our Savior. Record a tape of your musical talents and send them out to those who are ill.
This article “Encouraging Your Ladies With God” by Laura Detree is excerpted from www.coffeewp.com/ladies/august2003
This article may not be written by an Apostolic author, but it contains many excellent principles and concepts that can be adapted to most churches. As the old saying goes, “Eat the meat. Throw away the bones.”
