A Heart That Encourages

Take Time to Be Filled

If you take time to sit at Jesus' feet and be filled by God's Spirit as you study the written Word, if you focus on overcoming internal obstacles to doing God's work, you will never lack for ministry. God's fullness in you will naturally overflow into the lives of others.  

Memorize Scriptures of Encouragement

Colossians 4:6, "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one."

You can have the "ministry of encouragement" with everyone you meet. Your life and lips will offer refreshing encouragement to all who cross your path. Like our Messiah, you will be able to "speak a word in season to him who is weary" (Isaiah 50:4).

It's good to memorize some pertinent words of encouragement from the Bible to share with people in need. Knowing Scripture gives you a "word in season," something timely and appropriate to the situation.

Make Phone Calls to Encourage

Proverbs 12:25, "Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad."

An easy way to encourage and make a heart glad is to reach out and touch someone by phone. I'm not talking about calling long lists of people or even making lengthy calls. A simple, quick call can do much to gladden the heart of the recipient.

Write Notes of Encouragement

Writing notes -- by mail or email -- to those who need encouragement is another way to share a good word that makes the heart glad.  

Try the "3-Sentence rule" whether you're writing to the sick, the bereaved, those in leadership, or a recent hostess:

• Sentence #1 conveys I miss you, I appreciate you, or I'm thinking of you.
• Sentence #2 lets readers know they are special to you and why.
• Sentence #3 says I'm praying for them and includes an appropriate Scripture verse.

Live Your Priorities

By living out your priorities you will teach and disciple many women -- without saying a word. The best way to teach priorities to others is to model those priorities. After all -- and this is another principle for us women after God's own heart -- one picture is worth a thousand words. 

Simply concentrate on being who God wants you to be and doing what He wants you to do. Concentrate on mastering your priorities. Don't worry about organizing your thoughts, preparing a lesson, and getting up in front of a group. Just walk among the women at your church and in your neighborhood doing with all your heart what you are supposed to do.

Heart Response

When you and I made our way through the section about our spiritual growth, we stretched ourselves. We set goals. We decided to do the work that growth requires. Our aim was to let God fill us up and prepare us for future ministry and service to others.

Now consider the simplicity and ease of the ministries we've considered here!

1. Writing a note.
2. Making a few phone calls.
3. Speaking words of grace.
4. Modeling God's priorities.
   

These are next to effortless. Each one, however, requires a heart filled with God's love and with sensitivity for others. Ministry is always a matter of the heart. If your heart is filled with a watchful concern for God's people, you will be privileged to refresh many souls in need of encouragement just like a rain cloud delivers much-needed moisture to a parched earth.