CHOOSE TO ENCOURAGE BY MILTON DYKES

One of God’s greatest gifts to mankind is the power of choice. He made us in His image, and He made us unique from all other creation. Obviously, we are not robots who mindlessly go about our days without freedom to do what we desire. The fact is, we do what we choose to do. Every day is a new day of choice filled with a myriad of opportunities. Hopefully we would never willingly or deliberately discourage anyone. We can be passive and uninvolved, or we can lift them up by our words and actions.

All of us need encouragement at one time or another. No matter how high or low in life we go, there will be tests and trials to be faced. I cannot tell you the number of times a card, a kind word, a helping hand, or second chance has made the difference in my life. This is true for all of us. Having received encouragement, it behooves us to be encouragers.

Here are a few tips by Richard G. Capen on how to be an encourager:

· Encouragers are compassionate, unselfish, and loving people.
· Encouragers seek out opportunities to help, and drop everything for those in need.
· Encouragers count their blessings, and help others inventory theirs.
· Encouragers pray for others and with others.
· Encouragers find the good in others, and they nurture it. No cynics allowed.
· Encouragers forgive and forget, and they listen and observe.
· Encouragers make lists of people to thank and do so. Often.
· Encouragers take advantage of what they have, and erase thoughts of what might have been.
· Encouragers can always be counted on.

In Acts, we read of Barnabas, one of the great encouragers in the Bible. In fact, his name means "son of encouragement." The Bible says, "Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord" (Acts 11:22-24, NKJV).

God wants us to follow Barnabas's example and find ways to encourage others. It is a choice, and it produces eternal results. Be a difference maker. Choose to encourage.