{"id":2699,"date":"2015-03-15T09:00:53","date_gmt":"2015-03-15T14:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.barbdahlgren.com\/?p=2699"},"modified":"2015-02-02T16:58:55","modified_gmt":"2015-02-02T22:58:55","slug":"choose-to-encourage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/?p=2699","title":{"rendered":"Choose to Encourage"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"1<\/a>We are exhorted to encourage one another and build each other up. (1 Thessalonians 5:5) Ephesians 4:29 says, \u201cLet no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace unto the hearers.\u201d That\u2019s just a fancy way of saying we should encourage others. Edify means to build up or encourage. The Message Bible puts it this way: \u201cWatch the way you talk\u2026Say only what helps, each word a gift.\u201d So encouragement is a gift we give others.<\/p>\n

Encouragement is important because it goes straight to the heart of a person. In fact encourage in Latin \u201cen\u201d means \u201cput into\u201d and \u201ccor\u201d means \u201cthe heart.\u201d Put into the heart!<\/p>\n

We live in an ultra busy, rat race society. Giving encouragement to others falls way down at the bottom of our to-do list, if it makes the list at all. Yet, God himself is the great encourager (Psalm 10:17; Romans 15:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:16- 17) with the Bible being the most encouraging book ever written. God wishes for us to comfort, exhort, and encourage one another as well. (I Thessalonians 4:18; 5:11; Hebrews 3:13)<\/p>\n

Encouragement should not be confused with false praise or idle flattery. Not everyone is the greatest, best, or most fantastic person in the whole wide world. False praise can stimulate rivalry or competition, be judgmental, foster selfishness, or give a deceptive sense of evaluation. Encouragement, on the other hand, stimulates cooperation or contribution for the good of all, focuses on effort, makes a person feel accepted, and gives comfort or joy.<\/p>\n

Encouragement is not just a spiritual issue anymore. Businesses are instructing their leadership about the fine art of appreciating employees. Why? Because it can:<\/p>\n