Song of Solomon 1:8-2:7
There's so much more than just a love story. Yes, Song of Solomon is a love story, but that doesn't mean that we'll only find lessons pertaining to husbands and wives and dating couples. Our reading for today is a good example. As I read into chapter 2 this morning, the way the man and woman were speaking to each other (I know, it was syrupy and a little over the top) grabbed my attention. The importance of what we say and the manner in which we say it was not lost on me. Almost every phrase and utterance was complimentary, approving, praising, encouraging--need I go on? Think back to a time when someone praised you. How did it make you feel? How did it affect your outlook? Your day? A little encouragement can go a long way.
We all have relationships on many different levels. Making the best of these should involve giving encouragement. So what does being an encourager look like? How can we stay motivated to be an encourager when maybe we're not receiving encouragement ourselves? What about being an encourager to someone we struggle with? Tami W.
For me the highest level of encouragement comes from the words God plants in my mind or heart. I believe if we would say one positive phrase of encouragement or praise to everyone we encountered in a single day, we would make any impact in the world and in our own lives.
Have a great day!
Yes, yes, yes we need to be encouragers. That's one thing that gets me up in the morning. I think about who I can encourage that day. Even if it's a simple "have a great day." With those we don't get along with very well, we need to remember that they need God's love too. They need to be encouraged too. It's amazing how a simple "thanks very much" can make someone's face brighten up. I also feel that if we encourage others, they will feel happier. Their attitude might be a little happier, and perhaps they will give us a few words of encouragement too.
it is very hard to encourage when i am not being encourage more over to encourage someone i dont get along with? at my work place there are some persons to deal with i call them the test of god or the devil himself now how do i encourage them and encourage them to do what exactly
Media M.
It is definitely a challenge to encourage someone that we struggle with. However, my own experience has been that when I have complimented or gone out of my way to say a kind word to someone like this, it can start the process of building a relationship or making for a better one. And, yes, it can be extra hard if you're not receiving any encouragement.
You asked "encourage them to do what exactly?" It's not that we should encourage them to do something. Encouraging might simply be saying something like "have a good weekend" as you leave on Friday or "hey, you did a nice job on...." or even "is that a new sweater?" Think about little things that give you a boost and then try and put them into practice with others.
Hope this helps some. Thanks for the comment. Tami W.