There is something that will change people’s lives which every person can do.  It is very simple.  It won’t cost you a penny.  It will make you feel better.  It will change your life as well as others.

The Bible tells us in Judges 3, New Century Version:

Deborah said to Barak, “TheLord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go and gather ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them to Mount Tabor.⁷ I will make Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, and his chariots, and his army meet you at the Kishon River. I will hand Sisera over to you.’ ”

⁸ Then Barak said to Deborah, “I will go if you will go with me, but if you won’t go with me, I won’t go.”

⁹ “Of course I will go with you,” Deborah answered, “but you will not get credit for the victory. The Lord will let a woman defeat Sisera.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh.

Deborah encouraged Barak to do the right thing.  Because she was willing to encourage and go with Barak,  God’s people were saved from an evil king.  History was changed.

Encouragement changes people and maybe even a life story of a person or a nation.  To whom should I give encouragement?  Everyone.  Our friends and family.  Our enemy and people who do bad things to you.

How should I give encouagement?  It’s easy and simple.   Say to your friend, “You look nice today,” and mean it.  Say to your cashier who is fumbling to make change, “You are doing a good job,” and mean it.  Say, “God bless you.  I appreciate what you have done for me,” to everyone who does even the smallest task for you.

Of course, we must always be sincere in our compliments.  If someone is performing badly and has a rotten attitude, ask if they are having a bad day and tell them that you will pray for them during the day–and do it.  I’ve done this many times and people almost always tear up and tell me their story.  They appreciate my prayer.

Additionally,  give out encouragement  liberally.  As the bumper sticker says, learn to practice random acts of kindness and love.  Tell people you don‘t know that they are doing a good job.  Cashiers at Wal-Mart or the person who helps you at a fast-food restaurant. When someone does a great job for you, get the person’s name, ask to see the manager and tell the manager what was done for you.   Again and again,  let people know that you appreciate their work.

Blessings are free and they can change you as well as the person you are encouraging.  When you encourage others, you become part of God‘s plan for that person because God wants blessing and goodness to fall to all the people he created.