God decided to reduce the weapons in the devil's armoury to one.
Satan could choose which 'fiery dart' he would keep.
He chose the power of discouragement.
'If only I can persuade Christians to be thoroughly discouraged',
he reasoned, 'they will make no further effort
and I shall be enthroned in their lives.'
A telling story...
A group of frogs were in the woods, when two of them fell into a deep pit. The other frogs gathered around the pit to see what they could do to help. When they saw how deep the pit was, they agreed it was hopeless and told the two frogs in the pit to prepare themselves to die because there was no way they would be able to get out.
Unwilling to accept this fate, the two frogs jumped with all their might. Some of the frogs shouted that it was hopeless, and that they wouldn't be in that situation if they had been more careful. Other frogs shouted that they should save their energy and give up, since they were as good as dead. The two frogs continued jumping until they became weary.
Finally, one of the frogs listened to the other frogs. He was so exhausted that he lay down and died. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could, even though he was in pain and exhausted. His fellow frogs yelled at him to accept his fate, put an end to the pain and lie down and die. The frog jumped harder and harder and finally jumped so high that he sprang out of the pit. Amazed, the other frogs celebrated his freedom and gathered around him asking, "Why did you carry on jumping when we told you it was impossible?"
The astonished frog explained to them that he was deaf, and when he saw their gestures and shouting, he thought they were cheering him on. What he had seen as encouragement inspired him to try harder and succeed against all odds.
"There is death and LIFE
in the power of the tongue".
~ proverbs 18:21
Encouraging words can lift someone up
and help them make it through the day.
Discouraging words can cause people
to give up or limp through life wounded.
There is enormous power in words.
We have a Christian duty to encourage one another. Many a time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept a person on his feet. Blessed is the one who speaks such a word. ~ William Barclay
"Therefore encourage on another and build each other up,
just as in fact you are doing." ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11
What keeps you from speaking out encouragement?
* Shared at Christian Life Coaching
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