Day 13: Connect Through Encouragement

Focus Area - CONNECT 
Strengthening relationships within the church & community

Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Proverbs 27:17 

Reflection Encouraging others builds them up and helps them to persevere in their faith journey.

Expanded Focus
Encouragement is an essential part of Christian community. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 calls us to “encourage one another and build each other up,” emphasizing that encouragement is a vital tool for strengthening faith, especially in difficult times. Proverbs 27:17 illustrates this by stating, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” These verses show that encouragement is both a gift and a responsibility, fostering growth, resilience, and unity within the body of Christ.

Encouragement can be as simple as offering a kind word, praying for someone, or acknowledging their contributions. It reminds others that they are valued and that God is at work in their lives.
 
The gospel song “Encourage Yourself” by Donald Lawrence provides a powerful reminder of the need for encouragement. The lyrics say:

“Sometimes you have to encourage yourself, Sometimes you have to speak victory during the test.”

This song illustrates that encouragement is not only something we give to others but also something we must practice in our own lives. When we remind ourselves of God’s promises, we build faith and resilience that spills over into how we encourage others.

Encouragement within the church creates a culture of care and support, strengthening relationships and inspiring hope. Outside the church, encouragement demonstrates God’s compassion and uplifts those who feel weary or discouraged.

Connecting through encouragement helps us grow with one another by fostering resilience, building trust, and strengthening our unity as believers.

Questions to Consider

1. Who do you know that needs encouragement today, and how can you offer it?
2. What areas of your life need self-encouragement, and how can God’s Word strengthen you?
3. How can you make encouragement a regular part of your relationships within Beulah and beyond?
4. Who has encouraged you at Beulah and how can you model that encouragement to someone else in Beulah “trying to do life?”