I hate those days.  You know the ones I am talking about.  The ones that seem like they just won’t get going.  Everyone seems to say the wrong thing.  Just a day of discouragement and disappointment.  We all have them.

Just last night, I was having one of those days.  I had no reason to be down, but I was.  I got home because I just wanted to be alone, and walked into my room to listen to some music (mostly T.I. right now, he has a cool name, not quite TC though) and I looked over and saw my Bible.  I so wasn’t in the mood for reading it, but I felt like I heard God’s voice telling me to pick it up.  So I did and I read Psalm 67.

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face shine upon us, that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.” Psalm 67:1-2

When I read this, I saw that the reason David was asking to be blessed was to further the kingdom of God.  Wow.  I always wanted to be blessed so I could feel better.  I started praying and asking God how He could use someone like me to further His kingdom.  I feel like my negatives out way the positives.  Then I heard God telling me to pick it up.  I have kept every note and thank you card I have received since doing ministry and God told me to go read some of them.

Never underestimate the power of encouragement.  I had read all these notes before, but I needed to be reminded.  I wasn’t the one doing these things, I was just lucky enough to be a part of what God was doing.  The joy in my heart returned.  I sat down that night and began writing letters of encouragement to others.  If there is any chance of something I say helping someone the way these letters had helped me then I had to give it a shot.

The words you say to someone impacts there life much more than you know.  A simple smile or hello can make someone’s day.  Letting someone know you are praying for them in the midst of pain can lift their spirits.  Are you using your words to bring hope? to bring joy?