Friday Food for Thought: Encourage Yourself

"...but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God." 1 Samuel 30:6

Sometimes you just have to talk to yourself and be your own cheerleader. David did. In this passage of scripture, the Amalekites had burned Ziklag to the ground and captured the wives and children of David and his men. They wept until they had no more strength to weep and to make matters worse, there was talk of stoning David. Have you ever had a day, week, month, season like this? Everything but the kitchen sink is coming at you and it seems like no one cares?

David was distressed but he did something that we need to do more often. He encouraged himself in the Lord. The only true and living God. Maybe he took a walk down memory lane and recalled all of the previous victories that he won with the Lord's help. Perhaps he remembered the precious promises that had been spoken over his life. The Bible doesn't tell us but we do know that after he encouraged himself, he got up and enquired of the Lord concerning the Amalekites. The Lord told him to pursue and that he would recover all.

Well, how do I encourage myself, you say?

• Be still and know that He is God

• Know that you have access to the throne - you can come boldly

• Remember that "they that be with us are more than they that be with them"

• Remember that you are "more than a conqueror"

• Hope thou in God

• You will have help

• Your expectation is from Him

and that's just for starters....

Today, start learning the art of encouraging yourself. It will serve you well in the days and times to come.