Encourage means to contribute to the progress or growth, to give hope or courage and to spur on. I want to mention how encouraged I feel by the support my friends have given me in starting this blog. The support you all gave me has truly blessed me and I appreciate each of you.
Sometimes it is so hard to feel in encouraged because the world tries to make everything a competition. I see it all around in magazines, on tv or even hear it in conversations, how to be the best at ____________. It seems we are all trying to be the best wife and mom, the best volunteer, the most organized, the greatest at whatever and it puts so much pressure on our spirits. I don't believe that we were made to compete with each other and try to "out-do" other people.
I believe that we are supposed to encourage each other and lift each other up. Competition makes me feel like I can't trust others, that I am on my own and that I can't show my hand or share my heart. It helps to isolate us because we feel that if we show weakness, the one or ones we are "competing" with will be able to take advantage of that weakness.
I don't want to compete with others, especially those that God specifically put in my life. I certainly don't want those people to feel that I am competing with them. I want to be a source of encouragement and support and I want to have that from those in my circle.
I love Romans 12. It describes spiritual acts of worship as well as how we should work together with others. We are not made the same, we all have special and unique talents that are to work together to serve God. We aren't supposed to compete over who is the better giver, leader and who does more serving. I believe we are to use our gifts and talents to work as one body to serve God and others.
The following scriptures stood out to me on this topic. Hebrews 3:13, "But encourage one another daily" and Romans 15:4-7 "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God".
I pray that we can all be a source of encouragement and be that spirit of unity. We are all of one body, formed to work together to bring good things to each other and lift one another up. I also pray that we can reach out to one another when we do need encouragement and that we will not let fear keep us isolated from our sisters and brothers in Christ. Another favorite scripture comes to mind, 2 Timothy 1:7 "God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline".
Be encouraged friends, God is on your side and so am I!!
Hi Jenn. Thanks for expanding on the topic of encouragement as it relates to competition. Competition among women breaks my heart. It's rooted in fear and insecurity and feels like a threat. I don't want to compete - I want to love. My heart aches for women to come alongside each other and build each other up. Gossip and criticism squash our joy. Instead, when we see a girl that does something great or shines her light - let's say, "thanks, I'll have some of that!"
ReplyDeleteI agree Dana!! We should be more encouraging and support each other instead of trying to knock others down. The world is there to push us down, we should be the hand to lift our sister back up. I want to be secure in who I am and appreciate the beauty in my sisters, to be on the same Jesus team. :)
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