Encouragement

Encouragement

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another.

MY HUSBAND INVITED some friends for dinner, and honestly, I was annoyed. I’d spent the week home with our kids and would have liked nothing better than a quiet night out with my husband. Ever the host, when an old friend called, my husband quickly invited him and his family over to our house that Saturday night. I was a bit disgruntled as I helped my husband prepare food and our house for company.

As soon as they entered our home, much of my bad mood lifted, replacing my angst with a feeling of peace and a sense that they were meant to come and be with us that evening.

As dinner was shared and we caught up on life and family, conversation moved to faith and believing God for big things, changes of heart and desiring nothing more than being obedient to God’s call.

As we talked about our plans to move out of our neighborhood and more to the heart of our city, something we believed and had peace God was asking us to do, our friends nodded agreement, a shared understanding as they explained much of the same conversations they’d been having with God, very much mirroring our own.

As the hours seemed to move by a little too quickly and dinner ended, tears were shed as we spoke honestly to one another about things that were on our hearts that we had yet to share with anyone else. We ended the night by praying for one another, encouraging each other, and agreeing to get together again soon.

I am often struck by how God knows our need, even before we realize it. How he often brings people to us at just the right time when we need encouragement and understanding that can spur us on toward the good things he has for us to do. Even on the nights we think we don’t want to host.

Lord, thank you for the communities of people you place us in so that we can be an encouragement to one another. Amen.

-Kendra

One Good Step: Invite someone for dinner or coffee, share with them what God is doing in your life, and encourage them as they pursue what God has for them as well.