Every morning at about 7:30 we get a text. And every morning I’m so glad to get that text because I know it’s dear Husband’s brother sending a group text with part of a chapter of Psalms or Proverbs and a heartfelt prayer.  The reading is water for our thirsty souls.  It’s a remedy for what ails us!  It always lifts us up. In this way, my brother-in-law encourages a small group of people every day.  No one told him to do this.  But he knows that everyone needs God’s words to strengthen and encourage and this is his way of helping his friends and family get a boost each day.

We also get weekly encouragement from our church leaders.  Scripture, music, and personal examples feed us regularly.   Did you ever think about the fact that we can encourage our church leaders?  Pastors, teachers, worship leaders, missionaries, and anyone who serves God needs our encouragement.  They are doing hard work and often they don’t see the results they hoped for.  Take time to thank them, share how they helped you, tell them you pray for them, help them when you can, and give so they can be supported.

Speaking from the viewpoint of a pastor’s wife in years past, I can tell you that your pastor and also his wife need kind words.  They carry a heavy load and deal with heartbreaking situations constantly.  Feeling the love of church members and seeing them get along with each other gives them the strength to keep serving.  The opposite is also true.  Dear Husband and the other elders who led a church many years ago were grieved to the core by a member who insisted on her own way, disrespected the leadership, and so caused a lot of discouragement and sorrow.

“Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.”  1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

“The brothers and sisters in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God.”  Acts 28:15. (Paul was in custody on his way to prison in Rome and being welcomed on the way by believers cheered him.)

“May the Lord show special kindness to Onesiphorus and all his family because he often visited and encouraged me. He was never ashamed of me because I was in chains.”  Paul writing from prison telling Timothy how much visits helped him in 2 Timothy 1:16

“When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.”  Paul, the apostle and church planter to the church in Rome looking forward to mutual encouragement in Romans 1:12

Those of us who are older should encourage the next generation to take our place.  We won’t be around forever and the younger people need our support to develop their gifts so they can step into their full potential as leaders.

“… your assistant, Joshua son of Nun, will lead the people into the land. Encourage him, for he will lead Israel as they take possession of it.”  God telling  Moses that although he had led the people for 40 years in the wilderness, he wouldn’t lead the people into the promised land.  Instead, it would be his apprentice, Joshua, who would in Deuteronomy 1:38

“Instead, commission Joshua and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead the people across the Jordan. He will give them all the land you now see before you as their possession.”  God’s command to Moses in Deuteronomy 3:28

We encourage others by commenting when they’ve done a job well.  This isn’t flattery in order to make them like us.  This is a genuine appreciation for the accomplishments of another.  It’s honoring their effort and skill which encourages them to keep going.  Read below how a wise king acknowledged the skill of others.  For many years the people had drifted away from worshiping God at his Temple and had left it in disrepair and disuse.  That is until newly coronated, twenty-five-year-old King Hezekiah made his first project cleaning out the Temple, readying it for worship. Then he requested both the people and the priests and teachers to come to the Temple for a special celebration.  It had been years since the priests had led worship, and many younger ones had never done it before.  Since the priests were newly installed, this festival was their first attempt at leading worship.  With the king’s encouragement, the first celebration was a happy success.

“Each day the Levites and priests sang to the Lord, accompanied by loud instruments. Hezekiah encouraged all the Levites regarding the skill they displayed as they served the Lord … The entire assembly of Judah rejoiced, including the priests, the Levites, all who came from the land of Israel, the foreigners who came to the festival, and all those who lived in Judah.  There was great joy in the city, for Jerusalem had not seen a celebration like this one since the days of Solomon, King David’s son.  Then the priests and Levites stood and blessed the people, and God heard their prayer from his holy dwelling in heaven.”  2 Chronicles 30:21-22, 25-27

So, who can you encourage today?  Is there a verse or a visit that someone facing difficulty needs from you?  Could you thank your pastor for his teaching?  Is there a young person in your church who is showing signs of leadership that you could give an ‘Atta, Boy’ to?  Could you sincerely compliment the musical accomplishments of someone leading worship?  

“Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.”  2 Corinthians 13:11