Remember. Remember. Remind. Remind.

In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, we see a simple layout for how to encourage someone. The older mentor here has major impact and influence over the younger mentee and for good reason. God is working in this multi-generational relationship, and many, many lives and ministries have been benefitting from it for years!

Here are the 4 steps Paul used to greatly encourage Timothy:

1. Remember them in Prayer. Pray for them. He prayed for him. 2 Timothy 1:3 “I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.”
   Paul prayed for Timothy, and this caused his mind to be remembering him and their relationship.
   
2. Remember them well. He remembered his tears. 2 Timothy 1:4 “As I remember your tears.” Paul prayed for Timothy long enough that his mind went to remembering details of Timothy and his life. He thought about the real memories of some times they had spent together. His prayer for him was not simply a mentioning. It was also a remembering. As he was praying for Timothy, he was also thinking about Timothy. He was remembering him well.
   
3. Be reminded even more about them. He was reminded of Timothy’s sincere faith. 2 Timothy 1:5 “I am reminded of your sincere faith.” In that moment of prayer and reflection, he was reminded of Timothy’s faith, his grandmother Lois’s faith, and his mother Eunice’s faith. This prayer time is powerful for Paul. In this simple prayer moment, there is actually quite a bit going on. And it is really helpful for us to see this. As Paul was praying for Timothy, he then remembered the tears of Timothy. An aspect of their relationship and time spent together. From there, he was reminded of Timothy’s sincere faith in Jesus. And from there, that reminded him that Timothy has also been impacted by the devout faith that also dwells in his grandmother and mother. Paul is spending time reflecting, remembering, and being reminded about Timothy, and this was also started because he was praying for him.
   
4. Remind them what to do. He reminded Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God. 2 Timothy 1:6 “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God.” Paul writes a letter to Timothy to encourage him. Even more specifically, he was telling him what he needed to do to grow in his relationship with God.
   What is remarkable is how all of this came about! Paul did not just decide to encourage Timothy. Paul was praying consistently for him. From praying, he then remembered detailed things about him. From there, he was reminded of personal aspects of him. No doubt, this prayerful reflection increased his love and concern for Timothy. And from that frame of mind, he set out to encourage him. That is encouraging! We are certain that Timothy was built up as he heard of how much he meant to Paul, which then allowed him to be more open and receptive to the instruction.
   Imagine how much you would be encouraged if someone wrote to you to let you know that they pray for you often, and that they remember fondly several things about you, and then from there they then remind you to go and live for Jesus.
   May God give us more and more true encouragement!
   And may these 4 steps be used to bring it about – Remember, Remember, Remind, Remind!

And so here is a helpful outline of what to say to them to truly encourage them:

1. I prayed for you recently.
2. I remembered this __________ about you.
3. That reminded me of this _________ about you.
4. And I want to remind you to do this _________.