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Key Bible Verse: I'm eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. In this way each of us will be a blessing to the other (Romans 1:12). Bonus Reading: Exodus 17:8–13

Invited by E. K. Bailey to preach at his New Con-cord Missionary Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, I arrived that Sunday evening in a state of exhaustion. Pastor Bailey took me to his spacious office. It was filled with 20 well-dressed men who quickly stood to honor my entrance.

"Gentlemen," he said commandingly, "the man here is tired. We've got to pray some power into him."

The men moved toward me and, in what resembled a rugby scrum, placed their hands on my head, shoulders, and back. From around the group came prayers on my behalf. And that went on for about 20 minutes.

When we finished, Pastor Bailey said, "When Mr. MacDonald preaches tonight, I want some of you on the front row, some on either side, and the rest of us will be in back of him. You know what to do." And they did.

When it came time for me to preach, the 20 men became a cheering section. They prayed; they shouted; they urged me on. Never had I enjoyed preaching the Bible with more vitality and verve. I preached for 40 minutes, and they wondered why the sermon was so short.

—Gordon MacDonald in When Men Think Private Thoughts

My Response: A time when I was energized by others' support was …

Thought to Apply: Encouragement is oxygen to the soul. —George Adam (writer)

Adapted from When Men Think Private Thoughts (Nelson, 1996) by permission.

Prayer for the Week

Father God, help me to pass the solid encouragement I've received from You on to others who need it.

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