Encourage One Another

Deuteronomy 31:12 Assemble the people, the men and the women and children and the alien who is in your town, so that they may hear and learn and fear the Lord your God, and be careful to observe all the words of this law.

Father God, when we look at troubled people through Your eyes, we become more aware of the brokenness in their lives. We see their hurt and are better able to look beyond their faults to recognize their needs. Our hearts grow less critical and judgmental, and more patient, kind, and forgiving in our dealings with them.

Lord, as we surrender to the power of the Holy Spirit, You pour Your love into our hearts. You give us the capacity to love as You love, and the strength and maturity to look past the flaws, harsh words, and irritating mannerisms that often seem so pronounced. You allow us to glimpse the hurt, pain, and struggles that give rise to the behaviors we find so difficult. In Your strength, we become more inclined to pray rather than judge, to support rather than tear down, and to embrace rather than reject.

Holy God, as we journey through this day, help us seek out those we can help rather than harm, draw near to rather than avoid, and love rather than dismiss. May we experience and display Your love by extending hands of support and encouragement whenever we can. Make us part of the solution and not the problem—faithful representatives of Your Kingdom in a world desperate to see Jesus. Thank You, Lord, for every opportunity to serve others as unto You. In Jesus’ Name we pray and give thanks, Amen.