The Gift of Encouragement

I have been thinking a lot recently about the gift of encouragement and how important it is in our every day lives.  Encouragement always seems to me to be such a gift and it brings the recipient such blessing.  I wonder do we think consciously about how we can be an encouragement to one another and how we can actively build each other up?  Life has lots of ups and downs, sometimes more downs or times of frustration and yet a word of encouragement can really change a day and bring such blessing, enabling us to persevere in serving the Lord and helping us to re-clarify our purpose here on earth as God's children and servants of the Lord Jesus.

Perhaps it is just a posy of flowers, a card in the mail or a phone call, a short chat at the school gate or time for a coffee and the opportunity to sit down and talk and pray.  The ways in which we are blessed by others can be a timely reminder from the Lord of how much he cares intimately about the small details of our lives and what a deeply relational God he is. 

Psalm 145 

13b The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises
    and faithful in all he does.
¹⁴ The Lord upholds all who fall
    and lifts up all who are bowed down.
¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food at the proper time.
¹⁶ You open your hand
    and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

¹⁷ The Lord is righteous in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.
¹⁸ The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.
¹⁹ He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
    he hears their cry and saves them.
²⁰ The Lord watches over all who love him,
    but all the wicked he will destroy.

²¹ My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
    Let every creature praise his holy name
    for ever and ever.