You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry.” Ps. 10:17
To encourage means to inspire or give hope. Every one of us needs encouragement round the clock, especially in the times that we live in today. God, our Father, takes the time to observe, listen and hear the inner cries of our hearts and steps up to encourage us. In such moments He does not condemn or rebuke us; instead, He gently inspires and walks us through a path to victory. Having just celebrated Father’s Day, I have not been very intentional in my role as an encourager to my family, church, etc. It is easier to see people’s faults, criticize and instruct them on what is right, but that is not necessarily encouragement. To encourage someone, I must step into the person’s shoes, be humble and gentle, and with much empathy, help to fern out the dying fire in the person. If we fathers could intentionally be encouragers, those under our care and sphere of influence would flourish better. HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!
