Build Up and Not Tear Down

I DECLARE I am a people builder.  I will look for opportunities to encourage others to bring out the best in them and to help them accomplish their dreams.  I will speak words of faith and victory, affirming them, approving them, letting them know they are valued.  I will call out their seeds of greatness, helping them to rise higher and become all that God created them to be.
This is my declaration.
 
Do you know how many people have never been told: "You are a winner"?  There are most likely people in your life right now - people you work with, people you play ball with, maybe even your own family members - who are starving for your approval.  They are craving for you to speak the blessing over their life.

You don't know what it will mean when you affirm them, when you give them your approval, and let them know in no uncertain terms that you are proud of them and you think they will do great things.  Everyone needs to be valued.  Everyone needs to be appreciated.  Every person needs that blessing.

I ask you today, what kind of seeds are you planting in your child, grandchild, spouse, in that friend, in that nephew or niece?  Are you believing in anyone?  Are you taking an interest to see how you can make someone's life better?  Listen to their dreams.  Find out what God has put in their hearts.  Let them know you're behind them.  Give them your approval.

If you talk with any successful people they'll tell you somebody believed in them.  Somebody planted a seed and encouraged them when they were down.  Somebody helped them get a good break.  Somebody spoke faith when they didn't think they could do it. 

Thomas Edison encouraged Henry Ford.  Mr. Ford was introduced to him as "the man trying to build a car that runs on gasoline."  When Edison heard it his face brightened up.  He hit his fist on the table and said, "You've got it.  A car that has its own power plant; that's a brilliant idea."

Up to that point no one had encouraged Mr. Ford.  No one thought it was a good idea.  He had just about convinced himself to give up, but along came Edison and spoke faith into him.  That was a turning point in Henry Ford's life.  He said, "I thought I had a good idea but I started to doubt myself.  Then came along one of the greatest minds that's ever lived and gave me his complete approval."

That's what can happen with a simple vote of confidence.  We don't realize the power we hold.  We don't always realize what it means when we tell somebody, "I believe in you.  You've got what it takes. I'm behind you one hundred percent."  And really, every one of us should be someone else's number one fan.  We should be encouraging them, lifting them when they've fallen, celebrating when they succeed, praying when they're struggling, urging them forward.  That's what it means to be a people builder.