40 Acts of Lent: day 23 - 'boost'

Act twenty three - Boost by Dan Blythe
Most people don't have a clue about their value. It's true across the spectrum: culture tells men and women they're only valuable if they look a certain way, upbringings leave people insecure, job prospects have many feeling down about their worth. These people are in your circles, too. How much longer can they go on not knowing their worth? It's time to give them a boost.

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, 

as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

                                                                                                               Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)
       
There are many great places to live in the world but to me there is no place quite like London. I love the pace, the diversity and the history. London continues to expand and because of that there are construction sites everywhere.
Now, I am no expert in the field of building but I have noticed two types of machines on building sites. Cranes, which lift things up, and bulldozers, which knock things down. If we relate this to the verse above, I believe Paul is saying our talk should be like a crane rather than a bulldozer. We should lift people up rather than knock them down, be constructive rather than destructive, be positive rather negative, so that we may give strength and grace to the people who hear us.
One thing I have come to realise is that regardless of age everyone deals with the issue of fear.

Over the last few years I have personally received courage through receiving encouragement from others. We all have the ability to give someone courage by encouraging them. Every encouraging thought we have about someone but fail to pass on actually deprives them of that blessing, strength and courage.
Let's be fearless today and every time we think an encouraging thought; let's share it in order to build that person up the way Jesus would. Let's meet them, tell them, call them, text them, email them, Whatsapp them or comment on their social media. Whatever it takes, let's be counter-cultural; let's pass strength and courage on because, today, we are shaping the way the world sees the church – let others see us as those who build people up, rather than tearing them down.

Choose how to complete this act...

GREEN OPTION:
Talk about them behind their back. This one can be done really simply and still have a huge impact. Tweet at them telling them something they've done that meant something to you, spotlight them in an Instagram post, or casually mention in conversation at work how brilliant another member of staff is. Easy but profound.

YELLOW OPTION:
Put a word in. Maybe they'd be perfect for an upcoming position at work or in church. Maybe they've achieved something recently that deserves to be publicly talked up. If you can think of even the smallest reason why bragging about this person could lead to greater things, then don't hold back.

RED OPTION:
It's easy to spot ten ways your best mate is brilliant, but what about people you find difficult? What's great about them? It's easy to dig out the worst, but search for the gold. We guarantee you can find something. Take time to really consider them, and then be as brave and bold as possible, and let them (and those around them) know.