Have you ever experienced the rush of receiving a greeting card from someone you love?

It’s thrilling to read their words and know they were thinking of you. A personal note allows us to open our thoughts and our hearts to a person, far more than a short text or even a phone call allows. Spoken words are fleeting, whereas written words last. We can return to them, reading them again and again, picturing the writer choosing each word and taking the time to write on their favorite card, one with art they believe we will love.

At Gracefully-Yours, an Austin based publishing company owned by young Grandparents Carla and Rick Tocquigny, the most popular types of cards are Thinking of You and Encouragement. There is nothing more personally inspiring than receiving uplifting words from the people we love, especially from a parent or grandparent.

This powerful message in 1 Thessalonians notes how important it is to encourage those around us.

“Encourage the hearts of your fellow believers and support one another, just as you have already been doing.”

1 Thessalonians 5:11 TPT

Our words have power. We can use them to tear people down, or we can use them to lift people up. When we speak or write, we must open ourselves up to God, allowing Him to work through us. When we open ourselves to Him, God will use our words to inspire the people around us.

Are you going through a tough time right now? Ask for encouragement and intercession from your community. And in return, offer encouragement and intercession for them, just as God desires for us.

Let’s face it. Sometimes our trials are too difficult to describe, and even our family and friends struggle to understand the depth of our pain. When we are so lost that our words can’t seem to touch the reality of our experiences and feelings, Jesus sees us. That’s when passages from The Passion Translation hit the spot.

“The Holy Spirit rises up within us to super-intercede on our behalf, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for words.”

Romans 8:26 TPT

When a matter of the heart is too deep for words, that is where the Holy Spirit comes in. He sees into the innermost corners of our hearts; he hears the deep, longing cries. He doesn’t just intercede for us. He super–intercedes for us.

According to Dr. Brian Simmons, lead translator of TPT, the word Paul uses here in the original Greek is huperentugchano. This is a compound word made up of two words: huper and entugchano. The first word means hyper or super, while the second word means intercede. Paul is saying in this verse that the Holy Spirit is literally hearing our prayers and they will not go unheard.

This does not mean the trials will immediately go away, for God promises that we will have trials.

“For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world.”

John 16:33 TPT

There may be trouble and sorrows, but that struggle is not the end. When you need

encouragement, remember that God has conquered the world! God does call us to encourage

each other and intercede for each other, but we are all still broken and sinful humans. We may be interceders, but there is only one super-interceder—our Holy Spirit.

Intercession isn’t the only example of God’s super love for us. In The Passion Translation, the footnotes of Romans 5:20 comment that the original language uses the word huperperisseuo, which translates to super-abundant grace.

“Wherever sin increased, there was more than enough grace to triumph all the more!”

Romans 5:20 TPT

That’s how much God cares for us! He offers overflowing grace that triumphs over sin and death. And just like we write notes in greeting cards to remind people we care about them, God wrote one giant message to us: the Bible. But start by fueling yourself daily, turning to the Bible. Our go to is The Passion Translation books of Psalm and Proverbs. It fills our tank.

We at Gracefully Yours pray that you will recognize God’s abundant love for you. He longs for

you and is waiting for you to run to him. Talk to the Holy Spirit and take that first step toward the fountain of grace.

If you are interested in sending a note of encouragement, explore Gracefully Yours greeting cards. Each one offers beautiful fine art and photography featuring our Creator’s nature, as well as passionate Scripture references from The Passion Translation. Visit gracefully-yours.com today and use the code TPT70 to receive 70% off all cards, free freight, minimum net purchase of $30 or 7 units for you that oversee card ministry at church. For a smaller purchase, use TPT50 for 50% off, minimum 3 boxes with free shipment.