Today is a National Day Calendar celebration that is needed after the historical events of yesterday. This is National Encouragement Day, instituted in 2007 by the Encouragement Foundation at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. “Mayor Belinda LaForce of Searcy, Arkansas, made the first proclamation for Day of Encouragement on August 22, 2007. The following month, Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe signed a proclamation making September 12, 2007, the “State Day of Encouragement” for Arkansas.
“Later, President George W. Bush also signed a message making September 12th the official National Day of Encouragement.”1
Everyone needs encouragement from time to time. A person may be feeling discouraged due to a variety of circumstances and needs that arm around their shoulders. Another person may be getting close to the end of a goal, a project, or even the finish line of a race. Our encouragement lifts their spirits and blows wind in their sails as they start to get tired. Sometimes, the encouragement is merely noticing that they are growing in areas of their lives. We tend not to be able to see our own growth, so we need someone else to see that we are definitely making progress. Or we might need someone to encourage us to do the right things when we are reluctant to do so ourselves.
The Scriptures encourage us to encourage. In fact, we are commanded to encourage others. Just consider these verses.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort
(encourage) you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together (encourage one another), and edify (build up) one another, even as also ye do.
Hebrews 3:13 But exhort (encourage) one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Not only did Paul encourage others but he was the grateful recipient of encouragement. He wrote in Romans 1:8-12, “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. (9) For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; (10) Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. (11) For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; (12) That is, that I may be comforted together (encouraged) with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.”
Today, someone needs encouragement. They aren’t hard to find. Let’s ask God to put people in our lives that we can lift up and boost their spirits, reassuring them that they are making progress along the journey. Ultimately, we are going to receive our greatest encouragement and help from the Lord and His Word. Romans 15:4 gives us this admonition to help us help others. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort (encouragement) of the scriptures might have hope.”
1https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/national-day-of-encouragement-september-12
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