Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. –1 Thessalonians 5:11
I was talking with a friend who told me, “I’ve listened to you teach, and here’s what I see as your strengths…and the church needs to hear your voice…”
She went on to affirm me with what she believed I could be. I felt so inspired and motivated. I felt challenged, believed-in and thankful that I have a friend who has “spiritual eyes” to see what could be in me.
Soon after that, I ran into a very nice person who knows me and heard me speaking at church. She said to me, “You’re much funnier and a better speaker when you are speaking with Brian.” Pointing this out did nothing for me.
Superficial relationships tend to focus on the obvious and inspire nothing new. One of the ways to deepen the quality of your relationships is to be a person who challenges others to see their own potential.
If you’re like me, you tend to see your own faults, sins and inadequacies and don’t always see potential for good. So when others go beyond pointing out the obvious, to envisioning what could be and make it known, it breathes life into our souls. This type of affirmation is incredibly powerful and can become life-changing!
When I was a teenager, one of my teachers spoke life into me, “Thora, I think you can be a leader…You need to step up and risk. You can do it!” Her words became an encouraging reminder of who I could become…a leader.
What she did for me was simply to copy what Jesus did for Simon. You may remember the event where Jesus looked past Simon’s big-mouthed misadventures and gave him a new name: Peter( Petros, Rock). Jesus saw something in Simon (and told him so!) that Simon did not see in himself and this simple fisherman became a rock-solid leader in the Jerusalem church.
We all need people in our lives to see what we don’t see in ourselves. Likewise, we need to breathe life into others.
Today, breathe some life into another person’s life by recognizing their potential and telling her or him what could be.
Blessings,
Thora
So encouraging and so true- I totally have friends that “breathe life” I find it especially helpful in those times when I’m not seeing my own potential. Thanks for sharing!
The power of words from the right person and in the right way is incredible. It really can bring out the best in you.
My thought is always ” don’t tell me what I know, tell me something I don’t know.
You’re funny without Brian, too.