Living Out Encouragement, Enthusiasm, Perseverance and Loyalty
“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” -Romans 12:11-12 Never be lacking in zeal or in other words, passion and enthusiasm. What does this look like? Joy, patience and staying faithful in prayer. “When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law.” -Acts 21:20 How can we be passionate about the law? By falling in love with it. Zeal is ultimately powered by love. I grew up being taught passion, it makes me laugh to this day. My Dad once said to me,” You know our rule, God wants you to put your heart into everything you do” “But dad, we’re cutting cheese?!” Literally……everything. However, the older I get, the more I appreciate my parent’s passion. When we make goals, is it not common to be super enthusiastic when you first start, and then it wears down? We need to stay enthusiastic. There are so many motivational books out there but if they do not have Jesus, they do not provide the power needed to keep your zeal and passion. Our enthusiasm and encouragement must come from God. Be in God, and take heart in order to continue to chase your dreams and passions. “A dream comes when there are many cares.” – Ecclesiastes 5:3
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” -Ephesians 4:29-30 What we say to others should be to build them up. “If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” -1 Peter 4:11 Talking to build others up does not mean flattery in the sense of being nice to others for hidden motives. Something we can ask of God is that He always helps us see the best in others, give us the courage to let them know and to show us what is needed in order to push them to reach their potential. All can be seen as encouragement. “Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it.” -Proverbs 11:27 and Matthew 5:6 Seek the good in your spouse, family, friends, strangers and even your enemies. You will find it. We tend to find what our mind is fixed on. We have so many people who look for the worst in each other and who like to discourage. Look at how to build one another up. Sometimes this may mean pointing out a weakness someone may have lovingly in order to strengthen them, but it should always be out of the encouragement of building one another up.
“For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.” -1 Peter 3:10
“All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. Ships are large, but driven by a very small rudder, and it is the same with our body and tongue. Just like a spark can start a fire, so one evil word can light your whole life on fire. Use your tongue to praise God and to encourage human beings who are made in God’s likeness. You cannot have praise and cursing in one mouth. Clean and dirty water cannot come from the same well. An apple tree cannot bear pears.” -James 3:3-12
You cannot claim Jesus and yet not keep a tight rein on your tongue. (James 1:26) “Love which comes from a sincere heart, conscious and faith which means when you talk, it must have meaning and not be meaningless.” -1 Timothy 1:5-6 The tongue has more power than we understand. You can start a fire with one evil word, or you can light our lives on fire. I have completely been guilty of running my mouth when I am not supposed to and let me tell you this is truth. It is convicting to think God is saying we cannot curse and praise out of the same mouth, as your words come from the same heart. We will all mess up and say thing we do not mean. This is where grace comes in. However, the general outflow of what you say to and about others will show where your heart is. We praise and encourage others not because we are all perfect, we will all make mistakes, but every person is made in God’s likeness.
“The tongue has the power of life and death.” -Proverbs 18:21 and 1 Corinthians 14:7-10 “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.” -Proverbs 15:4 One time I had a patient say, “Your words have given me life. Your encouragement has picked me up when I felt I had no hope. No hope for my physical injury, and no hope for my spiritual life.” Our words literally are life, this is not a cliché. One of my patients was feeling suicidal, and words are what made them want to stay. Take advantage of this power. “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” -Proverbs 12:25 Everyone has anxiety. There is a difference between our general anxiety and those who have a disorder, but either way you can never go wrong with a kind word to cheer someone us. Our culture is so anxiety ridden, the least we can do is help everyone out. I know it can be hard to talk to others. What do you say? How do you say it? When do you say it? The best thing to always do is to ask who knows them best. Our Sovereign Lord has given us a well-instructed words to know what to say to those who need it most (Isaiah 50:4). “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” -Proverbs 12:18 When you use your words to bring life, you can literally heal others! “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life.” -Proverbs 10:11
“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” -Matthew 12:33-37
Wow. Judgment for every empty word I have spoken. All I can say is thank you Lord for grace. I have way too many to count. The realization I want us to take from this is how important our words are. Grace will always cover where you fall short, but out of love our desire should be to get our hearts right with God for the right words to flow out. “Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. 11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” -Matthew 15:10-11
“Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.” -Matthew 15:17-20
As an occupational therapist, our clinic can get very busy. Helping patients with everything from the upper back, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, fingers, orthotics, helping emotionally, psychologically and on top of that completing the notes to go with each session. Some ask if it is so busy it burns me out. Even though some days I am more tired than others, it really helps when your attitude is “I cannot believe I get the opportunity to serve God’s people and Him each day through this career.” Same with my sports and coaching. People ask about the burn out, but I think “I cannot believe I get the opportunity to have a healthy body to play and to work with such awesome athletes.” Same with church. Instead of “Do we have to go to church?” How about, “I get to go to church to praise and learn about an incredible God and build the community he has for me!” Let me tell you, this does not come naturally. For anyone. No matter what anyone tells you. You need to make a conscious effort to feel this way each day, and eventually it will become a healthy habit. God puts in us enthusiasm and passion when the world takes it away.
God is in the most mundane tasks in our lives just as much as he is in the miracles. Never lose motivation because you feel God is asleep. We cannot even begin to comprehend how much God is involved in each of our lives. We need to trust him, and he will show us what he can do. “So, I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God’s hands.” -Ecclesiastes 9:1 Many times as people, we want to be shown in order to trust or in order to find motivation. We often live our lives putting the least amount of effort forward. Either just getting by day by day, or letting ourselves get distracted by the little things. I do not want you to get to a point in your life you are sad you did not put more effort in. The beauty is, no matter your age if you are reading this, God will start working with your effort and enthusiasm today.
“See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as is it called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” -Hebrews 3:12-13 In order to live in encouragement for ourselves, this requires encouraging others. Encouragement helps us keep from our hearts being hardened and lead astray by sin. How? When we lift others, we focus on our strengths in Christ. Sin naturally will make us feel weak and powerless, as there is no power in our weakness alone. Ur power comes from Christ using our weakness. How do we discover our strengths? Many times, it comes from the encouragement of others. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another- and all the more you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:24-25 “Assemble to listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and follow carefully his law.” -Deuteronomy 31:12 Encouraging others helps us be encouraged. Encouraging others requires meeting together consistently. How can we encourage one another if we do not know them? How can we encourage one another if we do not meet? Many argue they do not see the need to go to church as they are saved by salvation alone, which may be true, but how can we encourage each other as the body of Christ if we never attend? We need to have friends and family who can call us out in love and end the calling out with encouragement to build us right back up to tackle whatever it is God has called us to do, and how to use the gifts we have been given.
God did not listen to Balaam and turned the curse into a blessing, because he loves you. God turns curses into blessings! ( Deuteronomy 23:5 and Nehemiah 13:2) “I the Lord have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.” -Ezekiel 36:36 How we can stay enthusiastic, passionate and encourage others is not pretending everything is ok, but having confidence God can take the curses, the wrongs and the desolate lands in our lives and make them for good. “You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.” -Deuteronomy 28:6-7, Deuteronomy 28:1-5, Deuteronomy 28:8 Even though we are truthful to others that there will always be trials and sun-scorched lands, He will always be there to guide us to clear waters. He will never fail. “The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen you frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail” -Isaiah 58:11
“Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of theLord, and they will fear you. The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you. The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none” -Deuteronomy 28:10- 12
God desires to bless the work of our hands and the passion we put into life. “But as for you be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” -2 Chronicles 15:7 God promises if we do what he commands us, walking in obedience, he will be with us just like he was with David (1 Kings 11:38 and 2 Kings 18:5-7) David and Hezekiah had great success because the Lord was with them. (1 Samuel 18:14)
“Praise God in the heavens, praise him all his heavenly hosts and angels, praise him all creation including the stars, the mountains, the animals, kings, princes and all nations, young and old, men and women, for we were all made this command, praise him forever as his decree will never pass away. His name alone is exalted. He raised up a horn for his people, the praise of his faithful servants, people close to his heart. Praise the Lord.” -Psalm 148:1-14
“…but people are tested by their praise.” Proverbs 27:21 It is hard to be passionate, persevere and be enthusiastic when we are struggling in life. Sometimes I really feel resistant because I feel like God is ‘testing” me to see how I will react when I feel defeated and hopeless. I realized God is not a God who purposefully wants to see us suffer, but instead wants to see how much He has changed our hearts and where our focus is when we suffer. If our focus is on the cross, we will remain enthusiastic as we cannot help but praise, might I add with the tears and heart break that are still there and still painful to say the least, as we understand our lives are short, and the mission God has us on is to keep others encouraged, which will lead to encouragement for ourselves.
“They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. 23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” -Acts 14:21-23
“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” -Romans 15:1-6
When we are patient with other’s weaknesses, we are showing them encouragement that even if they currently do not have the skill needed at school, work, with sports, as a roommate, or spouse. Being patient means we have confidence they will eventually get it. God provides us with the scriptures to provide encouragement which leads to hope. When we have hope, we find endurance to continue forward knowing there will be an end to the hardship, God has a purpose during it and God desires to pour his goodness out on relationships when we encourage one another. God loves when we pursue to build up others, as they are in His image. As a parent, do you not love when your children have friends or a significant other in their life that builds them up? How much more does God love it! “The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.” -Proverbs 15:9
Need motivation? “Where there is not revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.” -Proverbs 29:18 Motivation will follow if you have goals. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” -1 Corinthians 10:31 I find myself the least bit motivated when I feel what I am going has no purpose. When we realize every single thing we do in life could bring God glory, you will notice you get more motivated to do something as simple as doing the dishes, or working hard for that class you could care less about in high school or college. “Excel in your gifts from the spirit to build up the church.” -1 Corinthians 14:12 You can find motivation realizing your efforts can help others. You may only be looking at the direct effects, like how is trying hard in a class that has nothing to do with my major going to help someone else? God is big and is doing so much in every second of the day, more than we realize. You never know how your gifts and efforts are going to benefit others and yourself. Your motivation can come realizing the everyday decision you make, the effort you put in, makes a difference.
“Complete your work so your willingness to do it will be matched.” 2 – Corinthians 8:11 “Be eager to help and your enthusiasm will stir most to action, just like those in Corinth did for the Macedonians.” -2 Corinthians 9:2 and 2 Corinthians 8:19
“Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All God’s people here send their greetings. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” -2 Corinthians 13:11-14.
We are supposed to be eager to help and show enthusiasm, which will lead to completeness through our actions to follow. “Therefore Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are already doing.” -1 Thessalonians 5:11 Encouraging others is a command, and it can be hard when we do not even feel encouraged ourselves. The beauty is even when we do not want to encourage or feel encouraged as we have all felt pretty beat down by life, it is no longer us that even needs to have the power to do it but Christ who lives in us! To find motivation, enthusiasm, encouragement, dedication and passion, the only way we can have it consistently without it running out is to realize it comes from Christ inside of us. If we try to find it from only ourselves and situations in life, it will vary as much as life does.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” -Galatians 2:20-21
It is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me. How exciting to think the God of the universe, Jesus lives in us! There is nothing we cannot do through Him!
“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.” -Colossians 1:27-29
Energy, enthusiasm, is power. We were all created with different personalities and by no means am I saying we should all be spazzing out all the time (even though for some people that energy truly is a gift!). However, within each personality you can tell when there is a sense of enthusiasm and passion in what they love and do.
“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” -2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 and Romans 15:13 Jesus provides us with all we need. Need more energy, it’s yours! “Make your goal to encourage others in heart and unite them in love to complete their understanding to understand Jesus in whom all treasures of wisdom and knowledge come. People will give you fine-sounding arguments, and you will not believe them as you stay disciplined and firm in the faith of Christ.” -Colossians 2:2-5
“These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority.” -Titus 2:15. How can encouragement go with rebuking? We can help others, sharing advice in an encouraging way. People in our lives will be more likely to respond to your rebukes if you try to say it lovingly and with encouragement that you know they can do it. When I encourage patients, I see objectively better measurements. As a therapist, when I correct a patient on an exercise they are doing wrong, I notice a different if I simply critique or say it in a way that even though they are performing it wrong right now, I know they will be able to perform it with the proper technique, ultimately helping them recover quicker.
“So, I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.” -2 Peter 1:12-15
We can all use more encouragement. It is amazing how quick we can all get down on ourselves. One day we can wake up super confident, and the next wonder if it is worth it. Never underestimate constant reminders of encouragement. You might think if you do it too much, it may not seem genuine. Pray God helps you come across genuine, as well as to find ways in others’ lives to encourage them and not make it up. You will find it, and with help you will be able to encourage others in the ways they need. Whether they need more assertive encouragement to pick themselves up by the bootstraps, or more gentle if they have suffered a great loss. You will find the discernment if you ask for it.
15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” -Revelation 3:15-16 It is easy to become lukewarm in life. To get comfortable, and just cruise along. God wants so much more for you. He wants you to be enthusiastic and passionate about Him, leading you to be about life, others, yourself, your home, your pets and experiences which will naturally motivate you and lead you to encourage others. We see a lot of carpal tunnel releases at my clinic, and I made the mistake of calling it a routine procedure. One of my surgeons rightly corrected me saying there is never a routine procedure. Another example is with fundamentals in athletics. Ask any great athlete, as they will tell you there is nothing routine to excel in their sport and they must be “hot” each practice in order to prepare for the game. We should feel the same way in life. We can be enthusiastic about our relationship with God, the life he has given us, the people he has given us, about the talents and experiences He has provided, or we can act like it is just another mundane day. The choice is yours, and I hope you chose to let your heart catch the fire and get excited when Monday comes around. Regardless of what you do, if you have enthusiasm doing it, it will be purposefully pre-designed to be worth it. “He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.” -Job 5:9 “Praise be to the Lord, for he showed me the wonders of his love.” -Psalm 31:21
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us.” -Romans 8:31 “Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” -Acts 5:38-39 “It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me. Who will condemn me?” -Isaiah 50:9 If this does not give you all the enthusiasm, I do not know what will. If you go into your day with God’s vision and consider His desires, you can bet your tasks and service is going to be of origin from Him. God who can do all things is with you and for you every single day, working for your good and for his purpose. His purpose for you is better than your greatest dreams!
