How to Encourage Yourself
Jesus Christ is the world’s greatest encourager. Even on the eve of His execution He encouraged them saying: “Let not your hearts be troubled….”
There are times we all need encouragement.
The Latin word for “courage” is “cour.” It is a reference to the condition of the heart. The devil comes along and puts a prefix, “dis” before courage. God has a big eraser. He erases the “dis” and replaces it with “en.” Hence, encouraged.
King David is a case study in discouragement and resulting encouragement.
David had made a series of serious mistakes. The situation is described in I Samuel 30. David was back-slidden, out of fellowship, and wayward. Without the guidance of the Lord, David made some critically disastrous decisions.
He was turned down by the Philistines when he tried to make a pact with them. His army was defeated, his home town burned, and the wives and children carried off. Then his army murmured about killing him. What is a person to do under those conditions? First Samuel 30:6 tells what David did and I commend it to you: “David encouraged (strengthened) himself in the Lord his God.”
How did David encourage himself? The same way you can be encouraged.
- He retreated, it is essential to get alone with God and let your mind marinate in His Word and on His will.
- He recalled God’s Word. Encouragement comes when life is so overcast you can’t remember what the sky looked like when it was blue, and you wonder if the sun will ever shine again.
Encouragement comes when we open God’s Word and He shows us everything is going to be alright.
Proverbs 12:25 tells us that “anxiety in the heart of a man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.” Scripture affords such good words.
Scripture says, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
When you do, you will know “God is our refuge and strength…” (Psalm 46:1)
- He reflected. Reflect on previous occasions when you were discouraged and God encouraged you. Remember past times God helped you when you were helpless. David had many such occasions and so do you.
Encouragement needs good memories the same way a muscle needs exercise, the same way music needs notes.
Grateful memories of good things past feed encouragement.
Our encouragement in the present is rooted in our memories of the past.
- He requested of the Lord. He asked God what to do. Then …
- He responded to the Lord. He did so by doing what God instructed him to.
You can be restored and\or renewed using this same technique.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 ESV