Loving Others with Your Words

...Love (affection and goodwill and benevolence) edifies and builds up and encourages one to grow [to his full stature].

— 1 Corinthians 8:1 (AMPC)

Are you part of God's construction crew, or Satan's destruc­tion crew? God's Word teaches us to edify and build up people, because they need to hear our words of encouragement. We all like to have people say loving things to us, so we should do for others what we want them to do for us (see Matthew 7:12). We should never refuse to do something God asks us to do just because it doesn't come easily.

Ask God to give you words that you can sincerely say to people that will build them up. You might be shopping for some new clothes and see a store clerk and think, That dress she’s wearing is really pretty. Your thought won't help her, but saying it to her will. Tell people you appreciate their hard work, because you might be the only person who ever tells them.

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Start encouraging the people in your family, then gradually expand to those at work or church, and eventually get extreme enough to try com­plimenting complete strangers (use wisdom when speaking to members of the opposite sex).

If you like to set goals for yourself, why not set one in this area? Start by committing to give three compliments each day and keep increasing the number until it becomes part of who you are and not just something you try to do.

Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit, I invite You to direct my words today. Thank You for teaching me in every moment how I can encourage those around me, and for giving me the right words for each person. In Jesus’ Name, amen.