You May Be Closer to Encouraging Others Than You Realize
This information is taken from True Identity: The Bible for Women (published 2005 by Zondervan, copyright 2005 by The Zondervan Corporation).

You may have heard that every person in the world is connected to anyone else by no more than six degrees of separation—six friends of friends of friends. The point is that we are all more connected than we realize.

When it comes to mentoring and encouraging others, it’s all about discovering connections. When you begin to look intentionally for connections with others (not necessarily friends of friends, but universal experiences you may share with another person, such as dealing with depression or loneliness, making choices about a career, or striving for personal fulfillment), you’ll realize you have much in common. In any given conversation, relationship, or scenario, you are only a few degrees away from an opportunity to influence another person. If only you’ll be intentional. Consider the following creative twists on living a life of influence wherever you go.

• Inventory your life experiences. You don’t have to dig too deep into your basic life experiences to find something that could benefit another person. Have you graduated from college? Many young people need someone to walk them through the application process. On a deeper level, have you experienced infertility or infidelity? Marital difficulties or miscarriages? Bankruptcy or cancer? Many people undergoing the same things would cherish hearing from someone who has already been there. Let your pastor know your willingness to talk about these subjects with others.
  
  
• Email. Many informal mentoring relationships take place over the phone or in email conversations. Your goal is to establish a spiritual or emotional touch point with another person. For example, as a mother of teenagers, you may have noticed a mother with toddlers in your church. Remember how stressful that time was, and offer to email her encouraging verses once a week. Building on that, you may call her once a week to talk about nursing, pediatricians, discipline, etc.
  
  
• Use your personal testimony. You don’t have to sit down for an hour with someone in order to share your testimony. Instead, share with someone you see on a regular basis and simply make a comment or two that incorporates part of your testimony. Strike up a conversation, and share how your experiences relate. “So you’re stressed about your work schedule? I was stressed at work, too, but I found a way to deal with it that really works.” The next time you see that person, pick up where you last left off.
  
  
• Offer to pray. Look for those who are hurting. Every person you meet is fighting a battle of some kind. They may be sitting beside you on the bus or alone at church. Simply say, “I noticed you seemed [sad, lonely, upset, etc.]. May I pray for you this week?” You don’t have to pray right then and there, but take the initiative—it may be a divine appointment.
  
  
• Select and purchase a special Bible just for yourself! Zondervan has a large variety of Bibles that contain specially formatted study notes and reading plans that are suited for many people’s specific interests, reading goals, topics, and Bible study options. It’s as easy as that. Also, you will be pleased to know that every NIV and TNIV Zondervan Bible you purchase helps International Bible Society translate and give Bibles to people in need around the world.