Provoke a deity outside (4)
I believe the answer is:
goad
'provoke' is the definition.
(I know that goad is a more specific form of encourage)
'a deity outside' is the wordplay.
'deity' becomes 'god' (a deity is a god or divine being).
'outside' is an insertion indicator (some letters go outside others).
'a' going inside 'god' is 'GOAD'.
(Other definitions for goad that I've seen before include "that provides motivation" , "A dog to urge on" , "Cattle-driving spike" , "Cattle prod" , "Act as stimulus - with pointed stick?" .)