ENCOURAGE YOURSELF

1 Samuel 30:6 
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

It was one of the most challenging times of David’s life. While he and his men were away fighting in a battle, the Amalekites invaded their land, destroyed their homes, and took their wives and children hostage. When David and his army returned home, they were devastated at what the enemy had done. The first thing they began to do was weep over this horrific tragedy. Every man was looking for answers, but David didn’t have any. He was as confused and heartbroken as the others were. However, he’s the leader and leaders don’t get the privilege of crying as long as everyone else does. When they stopped crying, they wanted answers…when David stopped crying, he had to have a plan.

No one said, King, I’m here for whatever you need. Not a single man offered to help him, lift him up, or give him a word encouragement. David could have given up and said, God I can’t do this by myself, but instead, 1 Samuel 20:6 says, “But David ENCOURAGED himself in the Lord his God”. I don’t know exactly what he did, but I have an idea. To encourage himself I think he began to remind himself of all the times that God had brought him through. He thought about a sling-shot and five smooth stones. He remembered a lion and a bear that tried to destroy his sheep and he was able to kill both of them. He was reminded of when the Prophet Samuel took a horn of oil and anointed him to be king of Israel when the Lord had chosen him. Once he encouraged himself, it didn’t matter what anyone else said, or didn’t say; he was determined to get back what the enemy had stolen from him.

Is this you today? Are you waiting on a phone call, a text or an email? Perhaps you’re upset because no one has offered you a word of encouragement. Instead of waiting on someone to encourage you, why don’t you do what David did and encourage yourself! Nobody knows your story like you do. I would suggest that you remind yourself of all the times you didn’t think you were going to make it, but God came through! What about the car accident you were saved from? What about the disease that was suppose to kill you, but it didn’t? How about the fact that nobody believed in your dream, but thanks to God it came to pass? I could go on and on, but I think you understand what I’m saying to you today. You are where you are because of the mighty hand of God and sometimes the answer to your next move is not in what others say, but what you say to yourself!!

Encourage yourself in the Lord and make today AWESOME!!!