“Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you.”
– William Arthur Ward
Encourage others
While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that Saul had come out to take his life. And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this”.
1 Samuel 23:15-17
David was in the wilderness and heard that Saul had come to take his life. David was moving from place to place in the wilderness not knowing what the next day would hold for him, and to hear that Saul was after his life must have been devastating.
When David was crossing a valley, we see that his good friend Jonathan was there to encourage him. The first thing that he did was to help David to find strength in the Lord. Second, we see that he installed faith in David, encouraging him to remove the fear which was troubling his heart. How did he do that? He reminded David of God’s promise that he will be the king, and that he would assist him. All the promises of God are yes and amen in Him.
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1
In all this we see that Jonathan was positive towards David and was able to walk side by side with him. He was able to encourage him to persevere through rough times.
Are we able to walk side by side with a friend and encourage them the same way that Jonathan did? Ask the Lord to lead us to the discouraged so that we could be a tool in His hand.
Dear Lord,
I thank You Lord that You have always encouraged me and strengthened me. Help me to do the same for others. Amen.
God bless you
Theo and Manju