Gracious Talk

“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” (Proverbs 16:24)

Some people can live weeks or months on a kind word.

Maybe you know someone who is struggling with the fear of man (aka peer pressure) and a gracious word could sound something like this – “I can understand why you might want others to accept you. I struggle with the same temptation. What has helped me in the past is this: God created me, loves me and wants the best for me. I would encourage you to live for God’s pleasure and not man’s demands. If you live for man, you will be disappointed; if you live for God, you will discover of lifetime of endless joy. Let me pray with you!”

Encouragement is an important ministry because we often encourage Christians who are fainthearted in need of encouragement (I Thessalonians 5:14).

Sharing gracious words for one another is one of the primary reasons God wants us to gather on Sundays – “²⁴ And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but ENCOURAGING one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25). Does that sweetened your soul and health?

Chuck Swindoll once said that receiving encouragement is like receiving a courage transfusion. It is a word that gives a person the confidence to persevere, step in, and trust God with their present circumstances…and not fear.

We love the opportunity to be around these kinds of people. So did Paul. He often spoke of those who were of encouragement to him when he needed hope and confidence to face the plethora of ministry challenges in front of him.

• Romans 1:11-12 – “¹¹ For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—¹² that is, that we MAY BE MUTUALLY ENCOURAGED by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.”

• Romans 15:4-6 – “⁴ For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and THROUGH THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE SCRIPTURES we might have hope.⁵ May the God of endurance and ENCOURAGEMENT grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, ⁶ that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

• I Corinthians 14:31 – “For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and ALL BE ENCOURAGED.”

• Ephesians 6:21-22 – “²¹ So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything.²² I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and THAT HE MAY ENCOURAGE YOUR HEARTS.”

What words will you speak to someone today that will make their life seem sweeter and more valuable?