I was praying with a client this week asking for the Lord to send her a Barnabas.
He is a tremendous character in the book of Acts.
I’ve heard that he may have even been the rich young ruler of the gospel account.
Anyway, his name means Son of Encouragement.
He refused to give up on Mark after he bailed out on Paul and Barnabas.
Paul was ready to ditch him but Barnabas refused and he and Paul wound up splitting ways for a time.
I want to be like Barnabas.
I want my words to breathe courage and hope into those who hear.
When I was a teenager, I was extremely negative.
A teacher called me out on it and got my attention.
I decided at that point that I would retrain my brain to look for the good and over the years I’ve gotten much better at it.
I can still complain with the best of them, but I am so much better at seeing and speaking life into my situation and to people.
Beloved, do your words build up or tear down, are the speaking life or death, do they breathe hope or breed despair to those who hear them.
Remember God used words to create.
He is the Word.
Our words matter.
Lord, teach me to measure my words; to think before I speak.
James exhorts us to be slow to speak, quick to listen and slow to anger.
Controlling our tongue can take a lifetime to master.
One of the keys to speaking encouraging words it to pair with the mind of Jesus in us.
Asking the question, “Lord Jesus what do You think about this?” will connect us to His mindset and give us words of grace to those who hear.
I don’t know about you, but I want to be an encourager.
I have a long way to go to match Barnabas, but Jesus can get me there.
He can get you there too.
Ask Him to partner with you to build others up in their faith and watch Him bring encouragers into your life too.
Blessings!
Robyn Henning