Encourage One Another – Breath of Life

Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Each culture has its own way of greeting and making others feel welcome. In Hawaii, the traditional greeting is called Honi. When people greet each other in this way, they gently touch each other's foreheads and noses. When they do this, they believe the breath of life is shared, which connects people on a spiritual level. They believe that this draws people closer together and gives them a sense of honour, respect and shared humanity.

When we accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour into our lives, we receive the promised breath of life – Holy Spirit. The Hebrew word for Holy Spirit is Ruach Hakodesh. Ruach means wind, breath or spirit. It is seen as God’s divine, life-giving essence. This life-giving essence is what gives us strength and courage. It gives us hope and joy. It gives us everything we need to live a life that honours and worships God. When this life-giving Ruach of God is infused in our lives, we have an insatiable desire to love and to serve others. We have love and compassion for those who are downtrodden.

Word in Due Season

Each day, we encounter people who are going through struggles that are weighing them down. They may be part of our sphere of influence or perhaps a random person we meet as we go about our daily business. God brings people who are downtrodden along our path so that we can impart His Ruach, His breath of life, to them. We can do this in a way that honours God and the other person when we allow Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and discernment. Through His divine wisdom and discernment, we will not just speak idle words, but life-giving words. Words in due season that will quicken the spirits and touch the souls of those who hear His words.

A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is! Proverbs 15:23 (NKJV)

God, in His grace and love, breathes His Ruach in us so that we can bring hope to others in their pit of despair. Comfort in their grief and sorrow. Peace in their fear and anxiety. Strength when they feel they are drowning. Faith when they are doubting. God has empowered us to be His encouragers in this broken world. Let us look beyond ourselves to those who need to be revived by His Ruach. His breath of life. As we revive others, we will in turn be revived.

If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God. G.K. Chesterton

Reflection:

Think about people in your sphere of influence who need encouragement. Ask the Lord to show you how you can encourage them

Prayer:

Thank You, Lord, for Your breath of life. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit. Open my spiritual eyes to see those who need encouragement today. Give me a word in due season so that they may be comforted and strengthened. In Jesus’ name, amen.