Surround Yourself with Authentic Encouragers

Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.

─ Proverbs 18:1 ESV

Surround Yourself with Authentic Encouragers

Social isolation is a symptom of the global pandemic we are going through. We have all experienced it in some way or another this past year.

As you read the account of creation in Genesis 1, you will see that at each interval of creation, “God saw that it was good!” In chapter 2, God takes man and places him in the garden, and says something surprising – suddenly, something was not good. “Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone’” (Genesis 2:18 ESV).

Satan, the enemy of your soul, hates you simply because you are in Christ. Often our first thought about the enemy’s plans is to tempt you in hopes of making you sin, so that he can hurt God. But more often than not, he tries to wound you so that you will pull away from others and isolate from them and sometimes from God. He knows you become vulnerable to his lies when you feel alone and unsupported. That’s when his lies can best take root in your heart.

Proverbs 18:1 says, “He who willfully separates and estranges himself [from God and man] seeks his own desire and pretext to break out against all wise and sound judgment” (AMPC).

Authentic relationships with like-minded, joy-filled people of faith can protect you from the devil’s schemes. When you surround yourself with people who encourage you in faith, Satan no longer has a voice, because you see through his deception.

Today’s One Thing

Reach out to those you trust to speak encouragement to you. Sometimes it’s hard to do so when you’ve become accustomed to a season of isolation. Invite a friend to a video chat. Send a video update to someone and let them know how you’re doing in this season. Invite someone to meet you for coffee or tea, even if it’s just sitting across from them, still socially distancing. And make it a point to offer encouragement in some way to at least three people this week.

Additional Reading

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