5 September 2019
Encouraging Others to Encourage Others
2 Corinthians 13:11
Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
Rob said something on Sunday at church while he was teaching that has stuck with me all week, “Don’t be passionate about what doesn’t matter.”
This is funny because isn’t most of what we do in life focused on what doesn’t matter much? Most moms will probably agree with me that if we buy the “wrong” toilet paper or a different brand of peanut butter, we will certainly hear about it. But I’m really encouraged by what Rob said. I conducted a little heart inventory and realized I have been focusing a lot on things that don’t really matter. I won’t elaborate on what those things are but simply report that this week I decided to pay attention to what I focus on.
Let me just say that focusing on joy, making encouraging others my priority, and pursuing peace this week has not been a disappointment at all. I’m not even in an office, volunteering somewhere, or trying to change the world. I am just a wife and a mom at home encouraging the people I live with.
Replacing criticism and critiquing with encouragement is actually very refreshing. I’m having alternative interactions and responses that have been much more effective than my automatic position. My hope has increased, my faith has increased, and my expectations have increased. That’s not normal. I’m finding that focusing on joy, encouragement & peace is a way more enjoyable, peaceful and freeing way to live than focusing on things that really don’t matter at all.
Dear God,
Thank you for your instruction all over scripture that is like finding treasure! Your solutions are not only full of life but enjoyable and even simple! Thank you for being with me. Thank you for helping me encourage where I’d automatically criticize. Thank you for the peace and joy in our home that YOU put there. I love you, and I pray in your Son’s name, amen.
Encouraging Others to Encourage Others
2 Corinthians 13:11
Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
Rob said something on Sunday at church while he was teaching that has stuck with me all week, “Don’t be passionate about what doesn’t matter.”
This is funny because isn’t most of what we do in life focused on what doesn’t matter much? Most moms will probably agree with me that if we buy the “wrong” toilet paper or a different brand of peanut butter, we will certainly hear about it. But I’m really encouraged by what Rob said. I conducted a little heart inventory and realized I have been focusing a lot on things that don’t really matter. I won’t elaborate on what those things are but simply report that this week I decided to pay attention to what I focus on.
Let me just say that focusing on joy, making encouraging others my priority, and pursuing peace this week has not been a disappointment at all. I’m not even in an office, volunteering somewhere, or trying to change the world. I am just a wife and a mom at home encouraging the people I live with.
Replacing criticism and critiquing with encouragement is actually very refreshing. I’m having alternative interactions and responses that have been much more effective than my automatic position. My hope has increased, my faith has increased, and my expectations have increased. That’s not normal. I’m finding that focusing on joy, encouragement & peace is a way more enjoyable, peaceful and freeing way to live than focusing on things that really don’t matter at all.
Dear God,
Thank you for your instruction all over scripture that is like finding treasure! Your solutions are not only full of life but enjoyable and even simple! Thank you for being with me. Thank you for helping me encourage where I’d automatically criticize. Thank you for the peace and joy in our home that YOU put there. I love you, and I pray in your Son’s name, amen.
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