In Hebrews 10:25, we are told to “encourage one another,” because encouragement is something we all need. At one time or another, all of us get discouraged and are in need of being encouraged. The biblical concept of encouragement literally means ‘to come alongside to build up.’ Proverbs 25:28 says, “A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.” Encouragement is about building back up the walls of a person’s heart through faith in the hope of Christ. We can’t control what happens to us in life or sometimes what goes on around us, but we can take control of what we allow into our heart. When we don’t attend to the walls of our heart, discouragement can find a way in. There were many in Scripture who at one time or another became discouraged, such as David or Elijah, to name just two, who God strengthened in their time of need. Like David, we need to encourage ourselves by strengthening ourselves in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6). As Hebrews tell us, we also need to encourage one another. And, like we see in the words of Paul (Ephesians 3:14-16), we need to look for ways to encourage the Body of Christ. That is what this week’s focus is all about.