Encouragement Emails
This is not a new idea as I heard about it from a friend a while ago, but do you have an “Encouragement Email” section in your email inbox?
Here’s why I think it’s a good idea to have an encouragement email section. Because times will get tough and you will be down…both in your professional and personal life. But when you store away emails that encourage you, you can break them out in tough times and re-read some of them from the past. It is something I just recently did and like it did for me, reading them can help you keep your focus on what is important.
Honestly, our work and lives are hard. Following Christ and living for Him is EVERYTHING Satan doesn’t want. So he is going to try to make it as difficult as possible. Look what he did to Job (Job 1:6-12 & 2:1-10). And because he is a roaring lion looking to pry on us, he is going to make our lives as difficult as possible so we are going to need encouragement.
The encouragement emails will therefore come in handy. However, no amount of encouragement from people can impact us the way that daily interaction and encouragement we get from Christ. In Christ we can cast our anxiety on him (1 Peter 5:7), to seek Him first and he will take care of us (Matthew 6:33), remain confident for the promise of a great reward (Hebrews 10:35-36) and that God is WITH us wherever we go (Joshua 1:9). It may be easy to go through your inbox and read some encouraging emails, but our ultimate hope comes from God and what He has called us to. When we get discouraged, we need some encouragement from Him and Him alone. His promises are there for us to be reminded of.
So right now, TAKE A MINUTE and set up an encouragement Email” section in your inbox. Then put some encouraging emails in it. If you already have one, re-read some of them and be encouraged. But, more importantly, spend some time with the Lord and share with him what may be discouraging you and talk it out with. See what He has to say and how He can encourage you through it all.
Thoughts? Experiences? Share your comments below so that we can all learn from each other and benefit.