Ever read a verse a million times, then suddenly one day, it jumps out at you?
Well for me, today was one of those days.
I read in Proverbs 27:21,"As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise."
So I sat there and thought, what does a fining pot and furnace do for silver and gold?
Well, it removes impurities.
It refines it.
It takes something of potential worth, and gives it value.
That is what our praise does for others;
It takes what someone is and helps them see what's valuable about them, and also what they could be.
Did you ever get a compliment you felt you didn't deserve?
I've been there.
What did it do to you? It made you want to live up to what the other person thought you were-it made you want to be a better person!
That's what our praise is capable of doing.
I'm not suggesting that we flatter, or even lie to people in an attempt to praise them, but there is something good we can find in everyone.
If you're looking for the good in a person, you'll find it, and once you have it's a good idea to praise them for it!
I challenge you to use your words as a tool to encourage someone today, and help them become what they could be.
