Daughter Redeemed

Why is it so important for women to encourage their loved ones?

Because we know them best and love them the most! Though we can’t see their hearts and know them perfectly as God does (I Samuel 16:7), we can get a pretty good idea of what’s in their hearts by how they speak and act (Luke 6:45). Since we hear and watch them more than anybody else, and since we love them, we are the most qualified to lovingly help them apply God’s truth to their lives.

What are some steps we can take to grow in the area of encouragement?

1. Let God encourage you. Bible reading, meditation, and prayer shape our minds with truth and cleanse them from the pernicious lies of the world and the the Evil One who controls it. (I John 5:19). This is self-care at its best, and it makes encouraging others possible. Only a tree planted and nourished by the rivers of life can offer its fruit for food and its leaves for healing (Ezekiel 47:12). 2.

What are some habits or disciplines you have put into place to help you encourage your own family?

1. Arranging my days When my kids were little (but after they started sleeping through the night), I established the habit of waking up early and getting ready before they woke. If they beat me up, I would feel behind and frazzled the entire day. I needed quiet time with Lord and the calm of putting things in order before I was ready to face those physically draining days.

What are some things that might keep us from encouraging others well?

Unchecked sin will prevent us from encouraging others. All sin at its root is unbelief– a refusal to believe and accept God’s truth. If we stop believing the truth, we will also stop speaking it. But there are lots of other things that can trip us up as well: exhaustion, a full calendar, responsibilities, sickness, financial strain, all manner of trials and difficulties.

What do you do when it’s hard to encourage your loved ones? When it doesn’t feel like there’s anything to praise?

I always begin by praying more for them. Prayer is not only good for them, but for me as well. It changes my heart disposition. I take all my cynicism, hurt, anger, frustration, and confusion to the Lord. He isn’t overwhelmed in the least by my unsorted and raw feelings. His Spirit can use the words of Scripture and his very presence in my life to instruct my feelings with truth and to comfort me with his love.