If there is one thing I know it is this; people are hurting. Someone close to you is dealing with something challenging or painful, even if you don’t know it.
Just last week I heard of a friend who had received a negative diagnosis – I had no idea she had been ill at all. It hurt my heart for her. It also caused me to determine in my heart to stay in closer contact with those God has brought across my path.
A couple days after the determination, one morning when I got ready for work, I felt a prompting of the Lord to call a friend. I had other things going on, so I made a mental note to call before the day ended, but I continued on my way.
Several times that day, the Lord prompted me to make that call and I would say, “I will as soon as this is done…”
Finally, around noon, I sat down to make the call. She didn’t answer. She did, however, send me a text to let me know she was busy and could talk later. I went about my day. When she texted that she was free to talk, I was busy, actually in the middle of something. I hesitated.
But I again felt the prompting of the Lord. I picked up the phone and made the call. I could hear something in her voice. Something unlike her. Finally, I asked, “Are you discouraged?” She replied, “Why would you ask me that?” Turns out, she was battling discouragement. We prayed and told that spirit of discouragement to leave and prayed for God to bring her back to a place of peace.
What would happen if I didn’t heed the prompting of the Lord? My friend may have stayed discouraged. Or God would have prompted someone who would have obeyed His instruction. We all know how the enemy works, he will bombard our mind over and again until we lose hope – at least that is his plan. But God had another plan that day.
Whatever you are walking through right now, this I know, GOD HAS YOU ON HIS MIND. He is thinking about you. He is working on your behalf. He is prompting those around you who could encourage you and lift you up. He is not distant. He is near.
God works through people. That is a simple truth. He has given His people the ability to encourage others and lift them up. He will prompt us to minister to others, to bring healing, to offer encouragement and to extend His unfailing love.
We are known by how well we love others. Part of loving others is picking them up when they feel down.
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. (Prov 12:25)
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life. (Prov 10:11)
We have that ‘good word’ available to us – it is found in the written word of God. Our words can bring a fountain of life to those who are weary and discouraged.
Friends, I encourage you today, ask God to show you someone who needs to hear words of life. Ask Him to reveal to you a person who could use some encouragement. Ask Him to show you someone you can be a blessing to. I can promise He will show you that person AND give you the words to speak to them.
Proverbs 15:23 says, A man has joy in giving an appropriate answer, and how good and delightful is a word spoken at the right moment—how good it is! (Amp)
May the Lord grant you a good and delightful word to speak at just the right moment today. This is my prayer for you!
