just about everybody that you encounter is going through some sort of personal battle or struggle that you know nothing about.

I see it in pastoral ministry all the time. And we are fortunate if that person chooses to let us know about what they’re experiencing.  Because then, we can offer a word of encouragement. The truth is,

you have no idea what God might do through a single word of encouragement!

Perhaps one of the most well-known Bible stories about personal suffering is that of Job. He was a really good man, but he suffered great loss. In a very short time, he had all of his children, servants, livestock and crops taken from him! But when his friends tried to comfort him, they ended up blaming him for his own problems. To which Job responded,

“I have heard many things like these; you are miserable comforters, all of you! – Job 16:2

Do you have any friends like that? They mean well, but they aren’t helping you with their commentary – or their social media posts. That’s why you and I need to learn better how to use our words to encourage. Because …

Our words can build up or our words can tear down.

“The tongue has the power of life and death…” – Proverbs 18:21a

I’d like to give you two simple TOOLS TO ENCOURAGE. The first is kind of a baby-step, or a fundamental of encouragement. It is simply:

1. If you think of something good, say it!

So often we are too quick to share words of criticism. But what if we shared encouragement instead? What if we told our coworkers, our children or our spouse all of the good that we see in them?  As Philippians 4:8 suggests, we could simply tell them whatever is noble, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, excellent or praiseworthy that we see in them.  In the sharing of those few words we could lift their spirits – and maybe even change the course of their lives.

The second tool of encouragement is something that I learned more than a decade ago from my friend and mentor, Roy Comstock. He wrote about this in depth in Volume 3 of his Mentoring Series, “Lifestyle Characteristics of a Godly Life.” And that is:

2. Prepare & Memorize “Word Power” Statements!

What this means is that for every negative emotion, fear, anxiety, worry, guilt, failure or shortcoming that you experience, you find a corresponding Bible verse where God speaks a word of hope and promise.  Then you write that in the first-person in a way that speaks encouragement and hope to you personally. Here are a number of examples:

• No weapon formed against me will ever prosper. (Isaiah 54:17)
• I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
• I am blessed coming in and going out. (Deuteronomy 28:6)
• I am redeemed and forgiven. (Colossians 1:13-14)
• I am a new creation in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
• I’m a child of the living God. (Romans 9:26)
• I am freed from the power of sin. (Romans 6:18)
• I have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)
• I am the workmanship of God created In Christ Jesus to do good works which He prepared in advance for me to do. (Ephesians 2:10)
• My name is in the Lamb’s book of life. (Luke 10:20)
• Jesus is always with me. (Matthew 28:20)
• Through Him I am more than a conqueror. (Romans 8:37)
• I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

So when you find yourself like Job, or King David who wrote in the Psalms,

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?” – Psalm 42:5

You will be able to stay positive and encouraged by recalling a statement of comfort, hope and power from God’s Word. In fact, I encourage you not to keep these Word Power statements to yourself, but share them liberally with others who need encouragement. Remember, they are going through struggles whether they reveal them to you or not. And never underestimate what God can do through a single word of encouragement that you share.

May God bless you as you fight against the negativity, uncertainty, and fear that the enemy would seek to use to steal your joy. And may you be filled with hope and a peace that passes all understanding as you guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord!

In Him,

Pastor Augie

Let’s Pray: Father, thank You for supporting us and upholding us in the battles we face. Help us to seek You when we’re in need of strength and may we use our mouths and our actions to encourage the people around us with words of promise and hope that are found in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

You can listen to or watch this full message online by clicking here.