How can we encourage others with the promise of increase in Psalm 115:14? Setting Psalm 115:14 in Context Psalm 115 celebrates God’s supremacy over idols and His covenant faithfulness to His people. The closing blessing is personal and generational: “May the LORD give you increase, both you and your children.” (Psalm 115:14) The psalmist invites every believer to expect growth—not just material, but spiritual, relational, and missional—in step with God’s unwavering character. What “Increase” Means in God’s Vocabulary • Quantity: multiplication of descendants, influence, resources (Genesis 1:28; Deuteronomy 30:9). • Quality: expansion of wisdom, joy, and holiness (Psalm 92:12-14). • Continuity: a promise that spans “you and your children,” showing God’s heart for legacy (Isaiah 54:13). Grounding Our Confidence: Supporting Scriptures • Proverbs 10:22: “The blessing of the LORD enriches, and He adds no sorrow to it.” • 2 Corinthians 9:10: “Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.” • John 10:10: “I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.” These passages confirm that God delights to multiply what is surrendered to Him. Speaking Psalm 115:14 Into Someone’s Life • Personalize the verse: replace “you” with the person’s name. • Affirm God’s initiative: “May the LORD give…,” keeping the focus on His gracious action. • Highlight the generational reach: remind parents, mentors, and spiritual leaders that God’s blessing is designed to overflow to those they influence. Practical Ways to Encourage People With This Promise 1. Share testimonies of God’s past increases—answered prayers, restored relationships, unexpected provisions. 2. Write the verse in a note or text, adding one concrete area where you believe God will bring increase (e.g., “faith,” “peace,” “open doors for ministry”). 3. Stand with them in generosity: partner in giving, service, or outreach, trusting God to multiply seed sown (Luke 6:38). 4. Celebrate small beginnings; point out growth others might overlook, reinforcing that increase often starts as a mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32). 5. Remind them of God’s timing: “He makes everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11), guarding hearts against discouragement. Guardrails: Balancing Expectation and Submission • Expect the Lord’s increase, but resist presumption; His wisdom shapes the form and pace. • Keep motives pure—seeking God’s glory, not self-exaltation (James 4:3). • Embrace seasons of pruning that precede greater fruitfulness (John 15:2). Carrying the Blessing Forward Psalm 115:14 is more than kind words; it is a covenant promise from the God who never lies (Titus 1:2). Speak it, believe it, and watch the Lord amplify His goodness in the lives of those you encourage—so their increase becomes a living testimony that draws still more hearts to trust Him. |
    |