What Good Am I?

Give Away 1

 

Thanks for stopping by today! Before I’ll share my post “What Good Am I? , let me remind you of a party going on on my Magnetic book page!

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be celebrating the release of my new Magnetic, which takes places September 16th,  in all kinds of ways!

First, if you pre-order Magnetic: Becoming the Girl He Wants I’m giving away over $50 worth of FREE downloadable resources:

His Revolutionary Love ebook

Devotions for a Revolutionary Year ebook

* My video message Confidence Comes Closer

Printable resource The Magnetic Manifesto

* Printable resource Magnetic Journaling pages

Click here for more details!

Also over the next month, I’m giving away one BIG giveaway every single week, along with a grand prize giveaway that runs the entire four weeks! You’ll want to enter to win each and every one of them (and tell your friends to enter too!)!

Let’s head to the celebration and the place for you to sign up! Click here for the give away page!

If you are getting this via email, you must enter the give away by going to www.LynnCowell.com.

 

7 - WithholdGood

What Good Am I?

“Why, when a woman walks in a room, do all the other women size her up?”

 

Where was the nearest rock? I desperately wanted to crawl under one. My husband had just pointed out what I have often seen but didn’t think others saw. Our insecurity tends to seep out in situations where we feel “less than”.

 

Greg’s comment that evening stirred inside of me a series of questions.

 

What holds us back from offering encouragement when we know most of us struggle with feelings of insecurity?

 

Why, when we have the power to help each other over come these feelings and do so much good for each other, do we not?

 

Why would I not, when I have a good thought about another, simply say it? Beautiful comments we think in our head stay in our head:

 

I noticed your kind act in the grocery store. You inspired me!

 

Your generous heart makes me want to be giving as well!

 

When I see the boldness of your faith, I’m encouraged to be bold as well.

 

The more I thought, the more I knew just how easy it could become if I would just start speaking good about others.

 

Solomon reinforced my thoughts as I read Proverbs 4:27, “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them.” (NLT) s I read this verse My heart hearD, “Lynn, do not withhold saying good when you see good. When you speak good, you are doing My good.”

 

So, I’m starting a mantra: if I have a positive thought, I’m going to say it. It doesn’t matter if I know you or if you are a woman I’ve never met. With God’s help, I no long want to withhold good from those who deserve or those who need it, when it is in my power to help.

 

My prayer is that not only will I encourage others along the way, but my kids will see God’s goodness pouring through me and they too will be inspired to call out good in others as well. If we’ll join together and make sharing the good we see normal, we might just bring some really good change.

 

Jesus, I want to be a bringer of Your good to my world today; at the grocery store, when seeing my neighbor and as I go about my work.  Open my eyes to see good and then call it out and encourage another with the power of my words. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

My new book, Magnetic, is a study for girls based on the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (NIV)

 

Why do you think we can tend to be quick to judge but not easily share the good we see?

What holds you back from sharing the good you see in others?

Lynn

8 Comments

  1. nancys1128 says:

    It both amazes me and baffles me that we are often quick to speak the negative yet slow to speak the positive. Why is it so much easier to complain/degrade/insult than to praise and compliment?! Rather than daily noting our blessings, we should hourly be openly sharing positive comments. Thanks, Lynn, for such a timely, for me at least, piece. I’m rethinking my reactions to current situations at work that have my mind swirling with negative thoughts instead of looking for the good in what surrounds me.

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      One of the quotes I have in Magnetic is, “Someone’s failure doesn’t make me look better.” It is sad to say, but sometimes, our hearts are actually a bit happy when life doesn’t go perfect for another. Be it jealousy or insecurity, God has so much better for us! Thanks for sharing Nancy!

  2. My children tell me that they can’t speak to strangers like I do. I work at the university and desire daily to speak to the students’ hearts. It’s tough out there for them, even though they think they are tough. It’s amazing to see their eyes dance when you say things like, your dress is a lovely colour on you. Or, you’ll do great on your presentation. Those comments go a long way. A challenge . . . . Exhort 5 different people a day. You will notice as you do this it will just fall out of your mouth. : ) Thank you for the encouragement.

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      I love that challenge, Dottie! I’ll take it up too!

  3. Lynn- What a great post to read today! I think sometimes as women, especially, maybe we withhold these positive comments to others because we are so insecure ourselves. Partly withholding because maybe we think, “Well, it sure would be nice if someone would encourage me for a change!”
    I write that because I have said that to myself before. I have withheld good for that very reason. How selfish is that?
    But it’s true. The Lord knows our hearts and He also says in Nahum 1:7 that He knows who trusts in Him. I have over the past months really being aware of the encouragement others need mostly because I know how when someone says something positive to me how it makes me feel.
    So my goal has been that no matter what I am feeling(down, depressed, less than, etc) I will make it a priority to encourage someone when I feel led to and in turn I am encouraged myself..
    Thank you, Lynn, for inspiring young women and girls with your new book. I have a soon to be 18 year old daughter and I want nothing more than for her to find her beauty in Christ. I am so encouraged by her growth in her faith. She chose last night after her softball game to go to the church my husband pastors and do her bible study(on a Fri Night) instead of going out with friends. God has so blessed me with her. So thankful she seeks satisfaction in the Lord rather than in the acceptance of boys or other things in this world.

    Thanks again Lynn! Looking forward to Magnetic!
    Tracy
    http://www.tracycyates.wordpress.com

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      Thank you so much for your honesty, Tracy! Doesn’t it help us all when we just tell it like it is?

      You are an encouragement to me today! And what a blessing your girl is!

  4. I’ve been more intentional in speaking encouragement into the lives of those around me. We had opportunity to spend the weekend with my nephew’s family. His Dad passed away in 99, his Mom in 2013. As I watched his interaction with his 3 children, my heart was about to burst – made the comment to him “Your Dad loved you kids so very much – it thrills my heart to see your love for yours. You’re a good Daddy!” God opened a door to encourage his wife as well. We are incredibly blessed as we watch our nieces & nephews walk with God and raise their families to know Him as well!

  5. I love your word here! Several years back, the Lord laid it on my heart wherever I was, to speak a word of kindness or encouragement. The key, for me, is to seek the Lord each day to open my eyes to see those who need encouragement and my ears to hear their plea (spoken or unspoken). God is always faithful! My life is increasingly blessed as the Lord speaks love through me. Romans tells us to “let love be sincere”. I do not love because I have to.. I love because I am compelled by Christ in me. May God continue to bless you, Lynn, and use you to love…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.