Wednesday, June 29, 2022
The Power of Praise
“Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth—a stranger, not your own lips.”
—Proverbs 27:2
I’ll be the first to admit that I am hard on myself. No matter what I do, there is always something to scrutinize—how I look, how I act, how I preach, how I write ... it’s never perfect. There’s always someone who does it better. It’s something I’ve struggled with for as long as I can remember.
I know, each and every day, that God has called me to His purpose. Having the opportunity to follow His plan is so rewarding, but it can be so hard to battle the negative thoughts!
But then someone comes along and gives me a word of encouragement. Whether it’s, “Your message really spoke to me,” or simply, “I really appreciated our chat earlier,” any word of affirmation can completely change my perspective. It helps me put things into perspective and reminds me that God put me here on this earth for a reason.
Compliments and encouragement are a gift. I’m not talking about flattery—flattery can be fluffy and fleeting because it’s often not said with the right intention. The encouragement I’m referring to is that which builds someone up and pushes them forward in the path God has set out for them.
There is power in words—people so often believe and follow the words spoken over them, whether intentionally or not. Our words have the capacity to either invigorate or hinder others.
Just think of how it can inspire and motivate you when someone tells you you’re doing a good job, compliments your character, or reminds you of a gift that you have. On the flip side, imagine if (and some of you have probably experienced this regularly) you were told you weren’t good at something or were constantly ridiculed for the passions you have. It’s unlikely you’d have the desire to keep pushing forward.
Consider the impact we could have if we, especially as a church body, decided to regularly encourage and appreciate others! Think of the impact it could have on the Kingdom and what God is doing here on Earth if we would continuously appreciate each other and remind them how God has blessed them.
As Proverbs 27:2 says, we are not meant to praise ourselves. No matter what social media tries to tell us, we are not here to fluff ourselves up or seek out that praise from others. Ultimately, we are called to praise others and be that blessing for them! It is such a simple task that can make the biggest difference!
Just think about Proverbs 31, where the husband praises his wife. He points out her craftsmanship, generosity, business knowledge, discipline, kindness, and more, with specific examples for each. What an example of powerful and beautiful encouragement!
I challenge you to find a way to encourage or appreciate someone today. God invites us to be a light in this world. In every moment, let’s find some way to be a positive light for someone else.
