An Encouraging Word - Part 4 - Transforming Mission

The Encouragement of Sharing Scripture and Prayer

We’ve explored the power of words in Part 1, 2, and 3 of this series and explored the biblical foundation of encouragement from one of Paul’s writings. Over the next few days I will share some of the encouraging words I have received from others. Encouraging words are intended to be shared. The first encouraging word comes from my childhood.

My grandmother did not get past the second grade. She taught herself to read phonetically. I remember watching her point to the words with her arthritic finger, say the word phonetically so she could hear the word. Every night, at a certain time, she would take her Bible off the mantle to read before bed.

When my brothers and I would stay with her, at the time she was ready to read her Bible, she would ask, “Do you boys want to read the Bible with me?” I remember that we would reply, “No, Grandma, you read it.” As we giggled, hiding being the sofa or the chair, we listened to her read the Bible.

She is the first person I remember reading the scripture to me outside of the church building.

An encouraging word.

She would take us to our bed upstairs. She would stop by the stove in the living room and turn up the fire so the heat would come through the grate in the floor in the bedroom. It was always cold upstairs, but she would tuck us in bed. The bed and sheets were the kind you could snuggle down into.

I remember that she would stand at the foot of the bed and say, “You boys want to pray with me?” We would say, “No Grandma, you pray.” I remember her prayer as if it were yesterday, “O God, take care of my boys: Timmy, Steve, Ted.” She would name others in the family and then say, “Give us a good night’s rest and a good day tomorrow.”

She was holding me before God before I ever knew who God was. She gave me the gift of an encouraging word.

Let me ask again, is that why Paul wrote, “Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you.”? (Today’s English Version)

What scripture or prayer encourages you? Who might you share it with today?

-Tim Bias