Photo by Hamed Saber
Wouldn’t it be great if everyone spread encouragement like it was Tiger Woods gossip?
I’d sure appreciate you for doing it.
To help out, I’ve collected 70 scripts you can encourage others with. You can literally copy and paste them into your life.
Some of these work better in short, handwritten notes. Some work better on Twitter or facebook or email. Some you have to say in person. Use your own judgment on where to use them.
Some of these also require some action outside of simply the words here. You’ll know based on the scripts. Encouragement without any action behind it or any certainty behind it is pointless. So don’t think you’re getting off with shallow verbiage. 
Of course, these are only meant as a starting point. Once you get into it, make them your own. Start creating. Become an encouragement artist.
70 Encouraging scripts
1. “Thank you.”
2. “I appreciate you.” (not, “I appeciate that/it.”)
3. “I respect you.”
4. “I don’t agree with you, but I admire your motivation to [INSERT ACTION YOU DON'T AGREE WITH]. Thank you.”
5. “Thank you for smiling so much.”
6. “God has blessed me through you.”
7. “Hi [INSERT FRIEND'S NAME], I just wanted to shoot you an email to tell you that I’m thinking about you and praying for you. -[INSERT YOUR FIRST NAME]”
8. “Happy birthday, [INSERT FRIEND'S NAME]!”
9. “I know patience doesn’t get noticed much, but I wanted to let you know that I notice it in you.”
10. “Thank you for being an example to my children.”
11. ” ‘[INSERT QUOTE FROM THAT PERSON'S BLOG POST].’ I liked that because [INSERT SOMETHING YOU APPRECIATE ABOUT THAT QUOTE].”
12. “You should follow [INSERT A FRIEND'S TWITTER NAME]. S/He always writes good stuff.”
13. “I love how much you laugh. Can you teach me?”
14. “Did you get a hair cut? It looks great.”
15. “Would you like to join us for Christmas/Thanksgiving dinner?”
16. “I’ll pray for you. Do you mind if I do it right now? [INSERT PRAYER]”
17. “Why have you continued so long already? Remember that when you want to quit.”
18. “Give me a call whenever. I’m always available for you.”
19. “[INSERT MATTEW 7:7-8]”
20. “You should pursue that. You have the talent, but I think you also have the hustle to make it to the end, which is really important.”
21. “I know you could have totally ripped his head off in that discussion, and probably been in the right. You really showed character by keeping your cool.”
22. “Hope you feel better.”
23. “Can I take you to lunch to get your advice on some things?”
24.”Dear [INSERT FRIEND'S NAME], thank you for having me over for dinner. I enjoyed the evening with you. -[INSERT YOUR NAME]”
25. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
26. “Is there anything I can do to help you with [INSERT THAT PERSON'S PRIMARY PROJECT AT THE MOMENT]?”
27. “What would you do if you were me?”
28. “[INSERT FRIEND'S NAME], I’d like you to meet someone.”
29. “I can’t pretend to understand what you must be feeling right now.”
30. “Can I interview you?”
31. “I apologize for [INSERT REASON YOU'RE APOLOGIZING]. Will you forgive me?”
32. “I heard [INSERT RESPECTED PERSON] say, ‘[INSERT ENCOURAGING QUOTE].’ ”
33. “My pleasure.” (Instead of, “No problem.”)
34. “Just try it for one more month/week/day.”
35. “Would you like me to watch your kids for an evening so you can take a night off?”
36. “Are you reading through the Bible right now?”
37. “It’s supposed to be hard. If it weren’t, everyone would do it.” [Use your best impersonation voice.)
38. "Happy Valentine's Day!" (Say it when it's not even Valentine's Day.)
39. "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you."
40. "You seem to support your friends more than anyone I know."
41. "Let me bring you a meal. Do you like [INSERT DISH THAT YOU MIGHT PREPARE].”
42. “God bless you.”
43. “Jesus will never leave you or forsake you.”
44. “If you’d like someone just to listen to you, I’m here.”
45. “What has God been teaching you lately?”
46. “Do you mind if I share something that God’s been teaching me lately?”
47. “Here’s $20. Go buy a gift and give it to someone else.”
48. “Everyone, I’d just like to let you know that [INSERT FRIEND'S NAME] has been a fantastic support to me. S/He’s an outstanding friend.” (Say this at a large gathering.)
49. “Thank you for your support through this. I know I’ve not made this easy.”
50. “Jesus loves you.”
51. “Thank you so much. I couldn’t do your job.”
52. “I know this is weird, but let me give you a hug.” (Works better with some than others.)
53. “Let’s pretend today is Mother’s Day. What can I do to help out?”
54. “This is excellent. Can you give me the recipe?”
55. “I love you.”
56. “God is in control.”
57. “I take you for granted way too much.”
58. “This is the day that the Lord has made – let us be glad and rejoice in it.”
59. “Will you take a picture with me. I want to remember this moment forever.”
60. “You can be as close to God as you want. Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you.”
61. “I recommended a friend to you.”
62. “Remember the now cheesy, Footprints poem? It’s true.”
63. “I don’t know what to say, but I’d like you to know that I’d say something amazing for you if I could.”
64. “I made a list of people who’ve inspired me in a deep way. You’re on it.”
65. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
66. “You’re someone I’d like to imitate.”
67. “My son/daughter/brother/sister wants to grow up to be just like you.”
68. “Can you feel God’s love?”
69. “May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you.”
70. “You’re a blessing to me.”
“When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.” -Acts 11:23
Serving Suggestions:
(1) You have 70 to choose from, in this list alone. Pick at least one and use it within an hour of… right now.
(2) Add some of your own suggestions in the comments.
Twitter Updates
This is weird that you would post this! I’m one of 2 Christians on my floor in my dorm, and my best friend (who happens to be the other Christian who lives next door) has been having a bit of a rough week. I just colored a big piece of paper that said “I love you! I’m praying for you, see you tonight”. Of course, we’re girls so I drew flowers and hearts all over it – But I’m sure there’s a manly way to do this.
Random encouragement is one of the best ways to develop Christian fellowship and show the world what a difference Christ has made in our life through the way we treat each other.
Yes, if you gave me that with flowers all over it, I’d say, “Well, I don’t agree with you, but I appreciate your motivation for doing it for me.” :>)
The manly way would be to bump chests or something.
You’re right on with this… tis the best way to become “known for our love for one another.”
-Marshall Jones Jr.
You are so right. Little things mean big encouragement. I’ve used lots of these before and will have to start using some more of these. Thanks!
You’re very welcome. It’s certainly not a mind-blowingly creative list. It’s more a reminder to break out what we already know. You and I already know that things like “Thank you” go a long way… we just forget to actually say them (at least I do).
-Marshall Jones Jr.
Marshall — you’ve tapped into something here. There is almost a dearth of encouragement in our society and culture, and people are hungry for it. Good post.
Thank you. Encouragement is one of my main goals in life… because of others who’ve encouraged me. It’s in the backdrop of everything I write here. Knowledge is overrated – encouragement is what we need.
In the coming weeks, you’ll probably see more about it here.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
Good call, Marshall. These little thoughts are easy and can go such a long way. Great list!
Thanks, Brett. Yes, it’s amazing how much we can (but at least in my case, seldom do) leverage these easy to do things for substantial results.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
Both of your last two posts have been excellent, Marshall. Really enjoyed them. Am amazed at how you and I can talk about the same subject – loving and serving others – and yet do it so differently. Yours is very fresh and practical.
By the way, the pictures at the top of your blogs intrigue us. WHAT and where is today’s? Also, my wife asked me who the girl was in the pic a couple days ago. Sister? girlfriend? None of the above? Just curious.
That’s the beauty of it, isn’t it? That we can serve and minister in such unique ways… and still be following exactly what God’s telling us.
As far as the pictures go, I find most of them on flickr. Some of them are taken by friends I know, but most I’ve just found, liked, and used for the posts.
The picture for this post was taken in Iran if I remember correctly. He’s a favorite of mine. It’s just a group of he and his friends in the desert. I loved the idea that he and his friends were together in the picture (even looking at the camera) while in the middle of a desert. That’s how I often feel about encouragement… though we’re in a desert, we can be together and enjoy it.
The picture of the young women from the other day was just a shot I found. Not my sister or girlfriend. I loved the “lost determination” she had on her face.
I enjoy photography, so I try to bring some into the posts when I can. I hope everyone enjoys it.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
I appreciate you for this, however I laughed out loud when I got to number 4.
How akward would it be to say to a loved one “I don’t agree with you, but I admire your motivation to [fornicate with that unbeliever]. Thank you.” I’m not sure I’m mature enough for that kind of a conversation.
Eeek… that’s classic, though. I guess I had something else in mind. How about instead, “I don’t agree with how you’re showing it, but I admire your love for one another”?
-Marshall Jones Jr.
I’m pretty sure what I love most is that you take time to reply to your comments.
From now on, when people say thanks I’m going to say “my pleasure.”
thanks for this. The world would be a much better place if we all did this.
I love it. Sometimes others won’t even notice the difference, or they’ll only notice unconsciously (they’ll realize something’s different about you but won’t know specifically what it is… I love when that happens
). The wonderful thing, though, is that even if it makes absolutely zero difference for anyone else, YOU’ll still know… and God will still know, and that matters.
About the comments, thank you for your encouragement. It’s “my pleasure.”
Thank you for commenting and giving me something to respond to.
-Marshall Jones Jr.