Focus: Encourage Him!

Text: Dt.1:38

"But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it."

In this world, encouragement is a great necessity. We all need encouragement at certain times in our lives to stand strong and to move forward. Life is full of discouraging moments and situations, and it is at such times that we need each other.

When we face diverse challenges we need encouragement. When the battles of life become fierce, we need encouragement. When our lives begin to go in the opposite direction, we need encouragement. When we are bombarded with the issues of life, we need encouragement. When foes increase around us and friends depart from us, we need encouragement. When things we do not mean to go wrong go wrong, we need encouragement. When we face an uphill tasks and we don't know how to go about them, we need encouragement. When life gets tough and nothing is working out as planned, we need encouragement.

Joshua was about to step into the shoes of Moses and lead Israel into the promise land, and he was looking like a misfit for the task. Then God turned to Moses, and said to him, "Encourage him." Again God said to Moses, "Charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see" (Dt.3:28). Joshua needed to be charged up, encouraged, and strengthened. He needed to be instructed, inspired and told that he could make it. He needed to know that the God of Moses was also the God of Joshua. He needed to be assured that the absence of Moses from the scene would not mean the absence of Moses' God. 

*Encourage others

Moses quickly complied, and the Scripture says, "And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee" (Dt.31:23). The effect of Moses' encouragement of Joshua was immediate and obvious, for we read, "And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses" (Dt.34:9). Moses went as far as laying his hands on Joshua, transferring his powers on him.

Someone needs your encouragement today. Can you hear the voice of God instructing you to encourage another person who is desperately in need of it?

Encouragement is given in many ways. It takes different forms or diverse dimensions. It can be given in words of grace or in deeds of kindness.

*Encourage yourself

Apart from encouraging others, we can also encourage ourselves. The Scripture says, "And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God" (1Sam.30:6). David found himself in a tight situation and he had to encourage himself. When he looked around and found no encourager, he gave himself encouragement. He spoke words of strength to himself. He gingered himself. He told himself, 'David, take heart! Don't succumb to depression! Don't yield to self-pity! Quit bemoaning yourself! Get up, and take charge! Refuse to sink into the depths of distress and despair! You can survive this! You can overcome all the odds. It's not over yet for you, David! The God inside of you is greater than all the external forces arrayed against you. Have faith in God and hold on to hope! It's well with you.'

In the book of Judges we read, "And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day" (Judg.20:22). Encourage yourself now! Tell yourself that you can succeed where you once failed. 

You can win where you once lost. You are not a flop because you once or severally failed in the past. God specializes in turning failure into success and mistakes into miracles for those who trust in Him.

Let me tell you something: If you don't know who to encourage, encourage me. I need your encouragement in this work that I have been called to do. I need your support in every way possible. God is demanding that you encourage someone today. Get into the habit of encouraging others and supporting divine causes! See encouraging others as a ministry given to you by God to fulfill. One ministry of the Holy Spirit is that of encouragement. Join the Holy Spirit in this same ministry of encouragement! It is a rewarding ministry. God is saying to you today: Encourage him, and also, encourage yourself! Amen!

 by Bishop Moses E. Peter