Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Devotional Message
Spiritual growth is not just an individual endeavor, it is a community project—where the light inside of us shines outwardly towards others. We not only have a responsibility to expand our spirituality and faith for our own sake but also for others’ well-being, as it should be the natural response to our shared future in Christ.
The greatest gift we can give to another is pure love—and the simplest way to express that in everyday moments is to ‘encourage one another and build each other up.’ When we encourage others on their own journey or throughout simple moments in their lives, we come alongside them, offering comfort, support, and a helping hand as they navigate the intense waters of their day. The hope and confidence we give to someone may end up being the drop of courage, faith, and strength they need to continue walking on the path God laid out for them. When we build each other up, we show others what they do not see in themselves—their gifts, their magnetism, their strengths, and their talents. By affirming these qualities, we give them permission to celebrate themselves and continue showing up in wholeness.
This spiritual construction can happen in simple ways—offering help when someone is in need, supporting someone’s dreams, encouraging them to try new things, bringing them to experiences that we know can benefit them, or simply through affirming words: ‘I see you, I support you, I’m here for you.’
What this leads to is mutual hope and encouragement—for when we give from this place, we also receive it back, just as Paul acknowledges the Thessalonians were already doing. The ways in which we build others up and comfort others often become how they’ll treat us too. Throughout the ebbs and flows of life, we come to realize that we really do need each other to maintain hope, to find strength, and to continue growing. Our words and actions can either strengthen or weaken the spiritual structure of those around us—and God calls us to be builders, not demolishers.
Let’s Pray
Dear God, I want to thank you for all the people you’ve placed in my life who have encouraged me and built me up, especially in times when I really needed it. Their words and actions have been strengthening me for the journey ahead.
Sometimes I fail to offer that same love and encouragement to others, so today I ask for your help to be more intentional in encouraging others and building them up, just as your Word instructs us. Allow me to find simple yet meaningful ways today to support, help, or comfort someone that I love, whether through my actions or my words.
Help me to see encouragement not just as a nice gesture but as a spiritual responsibility that contributes to others’ well-being and growth. Thank you for using me as a vessel to foster spiritual growth, not just for myself, but for the community around me. May we continue to encourage one another and build each other up, just as we are already doing. Amen.
Thank you for making God and Man a part of your spiritual journey. Please check out the rest of our website and if you need further encouragement, we have a beautiful library of prayers for almost every occasion located here.
