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Encourage One Another Daily, as Long as It Is Called Today

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October 2, 2021

Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

CONSIDER THIS

For the next 57 days or so we are going to be digging a deep well of encouragement. We will delve into what the Holy Spirit has revealed to us about the practice and ministry of encouragement; how it works, how to do it, and so forth. In the process, we will “encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of us may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” 

I have become convinced that the greatest and most singular need people who want to wake up, follow Jesus and become imbued with his supernatural presence and power in the every day world—which is holy love— is courage. We need to have courage put into us. And we need it not just every now and then, or before a big challenge or in the midst of a hard struggle or loss. So how often do we need to be encouraged? 

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,”

EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. 

A couple of years ago I created an acronym for the things I want to sow into my own life every single day in order to be more deeply whole in my physical body and alive in Christ by the power of the Spirit. As you might imagine, the acronym is S.E.E.D.S. 

S = Sunshine & Scripture (Outside & Inside)
E = Exercise (just do something because anything is better than nothing)
E = Encouragement (Give and Receive)
D = Diet (fasted lifestyle with feasting rhythms) 
S = Sleep & Spirit (Passive & Active)

One of these things is not quite like the others—Encouragement. We all understand encouragement at a certain level. It’s the William Wallace speech to his fear-filled warriors in Braveheart. It’s  Knute Rockne to the Fighting Irish in the Notre Dame locker room. On we could go. But encouragement, as the Bible reveals encouragement, is of another quality and order of magnitude. Here is my working definition:

To “encourage” in the biblical sense of the term, is to stand in the stead and agency of Jesus, participating in the work of the Holy Spirit, to minister grace to human beings at the level of their inner person, communicating, conveying, and imparting life, love, courage, comfort, consolation, joy, peace, hope, faith, and other dispensations and manifestations of the Kingdom of Heaven as the moment invites or requires. 

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,”

As you can see, we are going in deep. This awakening practice of encouragement will change the character of your heart and the climate of your home. In fact, if you can get even a handful from your local church to join in with this kind of sowing work, it will change the culture of your community into a “House of Encouragement,” and if this gets loose into a small town or city—oh my! This work of encouragement comprises the core essence and ethos of what we call Banded Discipleship. 

THE PRAYER

God our Father. You are the God of all encouragement. Thank you for your son, Jesus, who is the ultimate exemplar of both courage and encouragement. No-one has encouraged the human race more than Jesus Christ of Nazareth, crucified and risen from the dead—ascended to your right hand—where he ever lives to encourage the saints. Come Holy Spirit, and teach and train me as an agent of encouragement. On the one hand it seems simple enough and yet I know there is an art and craft and skill to anything your Spirit does through human agency. Come and encourage me that I might encourage others. I pray in Jesus name. Amen. 

THE QUESTION

Can you remember the last time someone deeply encouraged you? How about when you last deeply encouraged another? What do you remember about these occasions? 

P.S. 

There’s still time to jump into THE AWAKENED LIFE COURSE– COHORT 3. It is a veritable feast of encouragement. And it is a required course to graduate from the Daily Text. ;0) If you need a scholarship– just ask. In one month your life could completely change and go to the next level. Start Here. 

For the Awakening,
J.D. Walt
Sower-in-Chief
seedbed.com

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WHAT IS THIS? Wake-Up Call is a daily encouragement to shake off the slumber of our busy lives and turn our eyes toward Jesus. Each morning our community gathers around a Scripture, a reflection, a prayer, and a few short questions, inviting us to reorient our lives around the love of Jesus that transforms our hearts, homes, churches, and cities.

Comments and Discussion

4 Responses

  1. The seedbed text itself I have always found encouraging. I love your ministry, it really helps focus, helps me to grow and challenges me. God uses this to speak to me on the regular. Looking forward to this in-depth look at encouragement, not just from God but from how we can do that for others as well.

  2. In a season when it appears that the world around us is coming apart at the seams, this series of daily devotions about encouragement seems to be just the prescription the Great Physician ordered.

  3. Love your acronym for seeds! Encourgement is so important to do as we left up individuals up in Gods word.

    Lord continue to bless JD Walt with his knowledge and wisdom and give the encouragement, and understanding of Your word to thru his devotional, in Jesus name.
    Amen.

  4. Thank you so much! The scripture has confirmed the direction God’s calling the church. As the church we must continue to follow the light of life to encourage & point others towards the light, Jesus. As long as it is called “Today,” is an opportunity to sown into others the seed of God’s divine love. Thanks Again for the encouraging words, much love and blessings!

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