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4 Ways to Make Your Affirmations Matter
February 6, 2025
The Power of Encouragement:
Speaking Life Into Others
Each day, we speak anywhere between 10,000 and 20,000 words, yet how many of those words are used to encourage and uplift others?
Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, writes, "Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, as you are already doing." Similarly, in Hebrews, we are reminded to "consider one another in order to provoke love and good works." These scriptures emphasize that our words have the power to uplift and inspire those around us. But are we truly using our words to build people up?
Paul, in Ephesians, states, "No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear."
We often assume people know how much we appreciate them, but unspoken affirmations do little to nurture relationships. Words are powerful tools, and when used with intention, they can transform lives. Here's how to make your words count.
4 Ways to Make Your Affirmations Matter

- If You Think It, Say It
Too often, we keep encouraging thoughts to ourselves. We see someone excelling, being kind, or making a difference, and we acknowledge it internally but never verbalize it. What good does that do? People need to hear affirmations, not just be the subjects of silent admiration. If you think someone is doing a great job, say it! - Say It to Them, Not Just About Them
Many of us have the habit of speaking highly about someone—but to others rather than to the person themselves. We might praise a friend’s generosity or a coworker’s diligence in conversations with others, yet fail to express those words directly. Why not change that habit? Direct encouragement strengthens relationships and validates the efforts of those we appreciate. - Be Specific in Your Praise
A generic "good job" is nice, but a specific affirmation is far more impactful. Instead of simply saying, "You're great," try, "I admire how you always make time to help others. Your selflessness is inspiring." Specific praise resonates deeply and reinforces the behavior that made an impact. - Focus on Character, Not Just Performance
While celebrating achievements is valuable, affirming character is even more important. A study involving first graders demonstrated that when children were praised for their intelligence alone, they hesitated to take on new challenges for fear of failure. However, when praised for persistence, effort, and teamwork, they embraced more difficult tasks. Likewise, affirming someone's integrity, kindness, or perseverance nurtures lasting confidence and growth.
The Value of Living Eulogies
As a pastor, I’ve attended many funerals where the best words about a person are spoken after they are gone. Family and friends share heartfelt stories of love, admiration, and respect. Yet, I often wonder—did they ever say those words to the person while they were alive?
Why wait until it’s too late? Imagine the impact of sharing those affirmations now. Let’s start giving "living eulogies"—expressing appreciation for the people in our lives today. Celebrate their uniqueness, their gifts, and their contributions.
Affirmation is more than just a feel-good practice; it is a biblical mandate to encourage and build up those around us. If we think something positive, we should say it. We should direct our words to the person who deserves to hear them. We should be specific, and we should focus on character as much as performance.
Remember This...
- Words have power—use them to build, not tear down.
- Affirmation should be direct, specific, and character-focused.
- Don’t wait—offer encouragement today.
Let’s create a culture of affirmation, where encouragement is spoken freely and people feel valued every single day.
Reach Out and Encourage a Leader Today
In a world that can often feel chaotic and uncertain, it’s a privilege to be a part of a community that is consistently looking for ways to uplift and strengthen the work being done by Kingdom-minded leaders.
Whether you are working to make an impact in your local community or you are leading efforts on a global scale, we want to remind you today: Your work matters. Your leadership matters.
Today, we encourage you to reach out to one leader in your life—whether it’s someone in your church, your workplace, or a partner in ministry—and encourage them to keep going. A simple note, a text, or a call to let them know that their contributions to the Kingdom are seen and appreciated can have a lasting impact.
Download our Encouragement Guide and use this free tool to brainstorm all the most effective ways to encourage the leaders in your life that mean the most to you.
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“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” Harry S. Truman Researchers have analyzed dozens of metrics, and time and time again, the results say the same thing: what separates the good leaders from the great leaders is their commitment to reading. If you want to improve your leadership skills, develop a healthy team, or foster a growth-oriented culture in your organization, start reading leadership books that will help lead yourself, lead a team, or lead an organization. Why Reading Makes Leaders Great Reading expands your viewpoint. In a way, reading books sits you down in front of the author, like a student before the teacher, as they tell you their story and impart their learned knowledge and wisdom. Reading sharpens your problem-solving skills. Julius Caesar is quoted as saying, “experience is the best teacher,” but we disagree; someone else’s experience is the best teacher! When we learn from the wins and losses of those who have gone before us, exposing the problems they have already solved (or not), it helps us analyze information more effectively. Reading fuels creativity and innovation. Books connect us with people who we might otherwise never have the opportunity to learn from, injecting fresh concepts and ideas into stale and stagnant thought patterns. Reading also equips leaders to adapt to change and embrace new strategies because “learning” sits at the core of reading. Reading triggers something inside us that says, “I’m open to new ideas,” readying ourselves for change. Our Staff’s Top Picks The Integrus team has put together a list of our top picks. We’re committed to providing you with insanely practical tools and resources to assist you on your leadership journey, and this list will help you get started on your reading journey to becoming a great leader. We’ve divided the list into 3 categories. These books will help you: lead yourself, lead others, and lead your organization. These books would also make great gifts or stocking stuffers. So, if you’re not sure what to get the leaders in your life for Christmas, this list will give you some ideas. Each of the books on this list have helped our team grow into healthy leaders who make up an effective team, so I am confident they will help you, too. Click the link below to view the 2025 Reading List our website. We’ve creating a page with all of these books linked directly to an online store. Our hope is that this makes it even easier for you to dip your toe in the pool of knowledge that awaits you.
