PRAY OVER THIS
“Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11
PONDER THIS
Wise encouragement is better than lavish praise. Children need encouragement.
I once planted some flowers. They were beautiful, but after a little while they started to wilt. So, I went and got the hose and sprinkled them. When I woke up the next morning, they were beautiful again. Children need encouragement like plants need water. They need it repeatedly. You need to catch them doing something right and let them know through your encouragement that you believe in them. Let your speech affirm them.
What is the difference between encouragement and praise? Praise tells a child, “I get approval when I do good. If I will do good, then they will approve of me. When my performance is good, the approval rate goes up. When my performance is bad, then my acceptance goes down, and my self-image goes down with it.” Praise says, “You are great because you did something.” There’s nothing wrong with praise, but I’m saying that encouragement is twice as strong as praise. Encouragement looks at a child and values that child, not primarily for what the child can do, but for who the child is. Encouragement says, “You can do it. Thank you. I’m so grateful for you.”
When have you been impacted by a word of encouragement?
Who are some people you can encourage today?
PRACTICE THIS
Encourage someone close to you today.
LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers
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