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Renee Swope

Encouraging and equipping moms to parent with God's grace and confidence.

Encouraging Words Wednesday

Photobucket“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

Have you ever wanted to silence the voices of your fears? In my Encouragement for Today devotion at Proverbs 31 Ministries, I shared how I learned to do just that by helping someone else overcome theirs. Before I knew it, I had faced my fear of open heights because I wanted to help a friend’s child conquer his. And that day, I conquered mine, too.

Without even realizing it, I acted on God’s command and believed God’s promise in Joshua 1:9 that tells me I can overcome my fears with God’s strength. I realized in a very tangible way that the same promises I claim so boldly for others are true for me, too.

Like God did with Joshua in today’s verse, each day we have the same opportunity to come alongside each other in some of life’s hardest challenges and highest peaks and say, “Don’t give up, you can do it. I’ll be with you and I will help you.”

Today is Encouraging Words Wednesday. The second Wednesday of each month we gather here for encouragement and commit to share the power of encouragement with someone in our lives. In believing the power of God’s promises for others, our confidence in His promises for us seems to grow as well. I like to call it the “encouraging words” boomerang effect.

Encouraging words have the power and potential to bring courage to the discouraged. Hope to the hopeless. Assurance to the insecure. Clarity to the confused. Strength to the weak. Calm to someone’s chaos. Comfort for someone’s sadness.

Encouraging words say, “I notice and I care enough to take this moment to tell you because you matter to me and you matter to God.”

So, today let’s shift our focus off our fears, doubts, insecurities and personal struggles and help someone overcome theirs. All we have to do is look for someone who could use a kind word, a boost of confidence, a note with a Bible verse or a short prayer in it. Even just a simple facebook post or email saying what we really appreciate about them, or how you see God’s heart in something they do will make such an impact!

Join me and let’s watch to see the difference this will make in our families, neighborhoods, work places and churches.

Lord, thank You for the power of Your words that give me courage to become who You’ve created me to be – to go to places You’re calling me to go and climb spiritual heights that are out of my reach without Your help. Give me Your encouragement and help me encourage someone else today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Encouraging Words Wednesday Gift PackHis Princess: Love Letters from Your King
by Sheri Rose Shepherd (This is one of the most encouraging books ever!)

The Power of a Purpose Driven (and Encouraging) Mom
message on CD by Renee Swope (What a difference you can make!)

20 of God’s Promises to personalize and send to a friend
(Nothing is more powerful than God’s promises!)

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To enter to win
simply share some encouragement and let me know about it.
Click on the word “comments” below this post and type in the white box:

  1. Commit to it- List one person you’re going to encourage today or this week and how you’re going to do it.
  2. Share it – Share a link to this post with friends via Facebook. Just lick on my Facebook badge in my sidebar. Then click on “share” under my EncWds button on my FB page. You can also Tweet and/or email a friend a link and let me know. 
  3. Spread it – Forward today’s devotion to someone who has been an encouragement in your life, and thank them. It will really mean a lot to them!For an extra chance to win, add our Encouraging Words Wednesday button to your blog with a link to today’s post, then come back and let me know in another comment. You can grab the code from my sidebar under the button.
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Winners announced Monday – want to be notified ?
If you’d like to be updated when I post or notified when I announce the winner, additional give-aways or find out early about special promotions, enter your email in the white box in my sidebar (right under the P31 logo). I will not share your email with anyone. Promise.

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Comments

  1. Commit to it- List one person you're going to encourage today or this week and how you're going to do it.

    Well, I am house bond at the moment but always try to encourage my family in the home but I am very active on Facebook so, I always encourage my family and friends there. It is a powerful tool the Lord has given us–one sentence of encouragement can pull someone out of the dark slimy pit. Praise God that He gave me the gift of encouragement. I feel like a Johnny Appleseed 🙂 I would love to win the Encouraging Words gift pack. Thanks for the chance and be blessed today, Renee.

  2. The first email that I checked this morning was from Proverbs 31. I was so excited and inspired by "Encouraging Words Wednesday". I sent a message and a bible verse to many of the women that are important to me with a note telling them that I love them and I hope thay have a great day!

  3. I am going to encourage my 18 year old son. We home school and I have just 93 more days before his life moves on to work and, later this year, military life.I want to send him off with the best outlook and encouragement possible!

  4. Good afternoon,
    I have a friend named Cindy who is struggling with some self doubt. She had a tough work feedback session with a boss who is not very supportive lately. I want to lift her up, she is a good woman who works hard and is appreciated by me at work. Thank you! I have been working on lifting her up, I will pray for more ideas and God's love for her too!
    Mary B in Virginia

  5. I love the idea of Encouraging Words Wednesday, I shared it with an online community I'm a part of that helps women to organise their lives and to let go of physical and mental clutter so I know words of encouragement can mean a lot to the members. Here's a link http://www.facebook.com/#TheFlyLady

  6. Your devotional on Encouragement was just what I needed today. There are many people who need a word of praise or help to make it through the day. When we look away from our doubts, fears, and weaknesses, we can be centered on the Lord and how to help those in crisis or need. My husband needs my words and actions to help him realize how much he is loved by God and me. Thank you. Kathy

  7. I'm committing to act on God's voice and encourage Andrea this week. Thanks for the nudge!

    And, I'm grabbing your button 😀

  8. I would like to encourage Dawn who commented here today. You go girl. I will be praying for you. I am fifty five also and God is really been speaking to me about doing something else. I don't know you but I am proud of you for following after the dream that He has put in your heart. I am sure that it has not been easy.

  9. I was laying in bed this morning and the Lord brought to mind an older lady in our church. She has a lot on her plate but she is always so encouraging. I am going to send her a card and encourage her.Your post today was confirmation to me that I need to encourage her.

  10. I am encouraging a girlfriend of mine as a buisness owner and in her rediscovered faith in the Lord. She has been struggling with alot of things in her life and she has had numerous life changes recently. Ihad a great discussion with her early this week and have been daily sending her little texts of encouragement, calls, and in person words of encouragement to spend time with her creator, to let her know I lvoe and believe in her, and to encourage her that God does have a plan for her life.

    I "shared" on fb, heres the link : http://www.facebook.com/notes/renee-swope/encouraging-words-wednesday/10150125480712164#!/profile.php?id=194400032

    I forwarded to a friend who LOVES prov31 minitries and could use some encouragement today. 🙂

    THANK YOU for your encouragement! 🙂

  11. I am going to forward this devotion to my friend who needs some encouraging.

  12. I go to a Recovery group at my church and there is a 20 year old girl that got mixed up with an older and I mean older man like her father's age. (AKA a pervert), that started while she was not of age so now that we have the scene set you get the picture. She has finally through our encouragement gotten out of this "relationship" confessed to her father and mother but still feels badly that she may have hurt his feelings. The enemy has put on her false guilt and shame and even thought she knows these are lies NOW she is just becoming aware that she was abused in many ways and is really struggling. Her father is encouraging her to get counseling. Last night at group she confessed to us all and showed us that she cut herself. I am so heartbroken for this sweet young friend. She has been there for me so much through my trials with my own daughter which is a whole other story. I am going to text this sweet friend and share what Sheri Rose writes and says you should write to yourself "My chosen daughter, you are royalty even when you don't feel like a princess……" I am praying for her that this will help encourage her and remind her who she really is in Christ and she will remember who she finds her true identity in. I am also going to give her the name and number of my fabulous life coach who is so sweet and godly and loving and just who my young friend needs. She has such a hard time articulating sometimes when she is in front of people and my life coach "meets" with you on the phone so it is so non-threatening. I pray this will help her as she puts things off, like applying for a new job that is at the same place she is at, and finding a counselor, etc. So she needs more than healing. I think a life coach is just the thing that the Holy Spirit is encouraging me to lead her to. I know my friend can help her. She has helped me since October more than my newest counselor has in over a year that I have seen once a week who is a Biblical counselor. My life coach is married to a Biblical counselor and has extensive training, don't get me wrong. She always encourages me to the Lord and prays with me and for me. She lets me listen to what God is telling me. She doesn't tell me what to do, she let's God do His mighty work and then says good girl!! HAHA She often interjects when needed but lets me work it out with the Lord. I cannot wait to text my friend. We do not share email addresses. It is all pretty confidential. But we will share numbers so we can text to encourage one another during the week if we are in despair or struggling. So I cannot send you any proof or facebook anything to you. But I can give you my email…it is [email protected] I get Prov. 31 devotional everyday and it hits me right where I am at no matter if I read the wrong one or what. God is amazing. I just want more of Jesus. I want my hands and palms opened up to Him and nothing more. I just recently tore down my high places in my home and this sweet girl came and helped me. What a sweet time of fellowship and prayer followed. It was the nursery that I had decorated for my 5 month old grandbaby. My daughter was my idol. I am happy to say that she is not any longer. I know she gets the Prov. 31 Devotional. I sent it to her and told her she could subscribe. Praise be to God, she did!!!! These last days have made me laugh out loud at how God has told me Kelly, I've got this. I do not need YOU! Sit back and watch the hand of God. My heart is full this morning after reading the devotional and your blog. I am a prayer warrior and love to encourage others. I so loved it when you jumped up there with that little boy and helped him finish the climb. I knew you would!!! You are awesome. God Rocks, doesn't HE??!!!! No pun intended!!!!

  13. I am a Stephen Minister at my church and I will be meeting with my Care Receiver tomorrow. She desperately needs encouragement because she is going through a very painful situation in her life. It is always challenging for me each week, to find the right words to say to help her. I have to depend completely on the Holy Spirit to speak through me to her, I cannot do it on my own. God truly knows what she needs to hear and I need Him to show me. Thankfully, He does!

  14. Encouragement really does help and means a lot to the person who needs it! I know this personally. I am the secretary at my Church and often get the opportunity to encourage those I see in the office and talk to on the phone.

    I also have been on the receiving end of encouragement. My husband died about two years ago and for me it has been a very long and hard journey, everyday is up and down.

    If it weren't for the encouragement of those around me and a few faithful friends in my life who have continued to stand by me and assure me God is always there with me I'm not sure how I would find the strenght to make it through this journey that God has placed in front of me.

    I thank them often and find that in my journey, I have encouraged and strengthed them also.

  16. I want to send cards encouraging a woman from church receiving a bone marrow transplant as well as my aunt who has had several tragedies in her family in the last few years. Thanks for helping me think of encouraging others instead of just wishing for it for myself!
    –Jill

  17. I have a friend that loves Jesus with all her heart. Last year her husbanc spent 9 months in rehab for drug abuse. When he came home it was a fairy tale romance with a happily ever after ending; or so we hoped. Sadly he has reentered the drug world and she and her daughter a once again alone.

    I very seldom hear her complain about how hard her life is. If by some chance negative words are spoken she quickly follows with how God is helping.

    I have tried to encourage her this week by sending her e-mails that let her know just how special she is to me and to God. We enjoy a good laugh so I have looked for silly e-cards to make her smile.
    I know God is helping her and I admire her strength.

    Thank you for sharing, it helps me so much.

  18. I have a friend who loves Jesus so much! Lsst year her husband was in rehab for 9 months for drug addiction. When he came home it seemed like a fairy tale romance and a happily ever after ending. I am so sad to said that was not the case and she is once again alone with her daughter.

    She is so encouraging to me because she has never given up. There are very few days she complains and when she does it is for a moment and she is once again sharing how God is sustaining her.

    This week I have tried to tell her how very special I think she is by send her e-mails of encouragement and some really silly e-cards to lighten her day.

    I learn so much from the devotions on Proverbs 31 about sharing my faith and growing in God's love. Thank you for sharing.

  19. Thank you thank you for the encouragement you brought to me today! My friend – stressed out mama – needs encouragement today so I will forward this on to her. Thank you!