Encourage yourself

David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.  1 Samuel 30:6

A little boy was asked to recite the 23rd Psalm.  His mother helped him read each verse, reciting it several times each day with him.  With each passing milestone the little boy grew more and more confident and gained courage that when his name was called he would be able to deliver all six verses.

The little boy grew confident, gained courage and in short was encouraged that he could.  The dictionary defines encourage as to inspire with hope, give courage, confidence or hearten.  It goes on further in Webster to say that to encourage is:

• to cheer and lift one's spirits
• to give support and advice to
• to make (someone) more determined, hopeful
• to instill life and energy.

From the scripture David said that he encouraged himself in the Lord.  David put hope in, made himself confident in, and became energized and supported by God.  What did God have, or what is it that God could do to cause David to be inspired by Him, hope in Him, or be heartened by Him?

First David looked at God's attributes.  The little boy needed encouragement and he took it from someone who had the attributes of love, concern, patience, and the ability to help, namely reading.  David looked at God's attributes:

• Faithful
• Holy
• Compassionate
• Eternal
• Almighty
• Mighty in battle
• Strong (like a tower, and refuge)
• Ever present helper
• Deliverer and provider

Second, David considered God's track record.  If is very hard to be encouraged by someone who has failed to come through.  But when David considered God, he saw a track record of proven success, proven love, proven faithfulness, and proven victory.  David considered the faithfulness of God to others:

• Abraham whom he promised and delivered land, prosperity, victory over kings, a son in his old age, and a son of promise
• Jacob who returned to his homeland, was delivered from Esau and Laban, and became a mighty nation
• Moses whom he empowered to victory over Pharaoh and led a nation through the wilderness
• Joshua who conquered Jericho, led victoriously into the promised land
• Job whom God strengthened and blessed his former years more than his previous

Third, David considered the proximity of God.  In a battle an army gains courage when reinforcements are near.  A struggling team in NY was energized by the appearance of their ailing star coming down the tunnel.  David was no different.  He was encouraged by the proximity and nearness of God and his presence with him.  David knew that God was near, present and always and everywhere.  He also knew that God showed up when you needed him.

What could you do to be encouraged today with what you are going through?

• Remember God's track record in ages past, and in your own past
• Trust that He is hear.  The Lord is an ever present help (Psalm 46:1)
• Rely on His power
• Remember that God loves you so much that He came near, lived, died and rose for you

When time came for the little boy to recite the 23rd Psalm before his classmates, he rose from his chair and made his way up front.  With a bright smile he declared, "The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know."  Encourage yourself with the knowledge that the Shepherd is always watching over His sheep, and you are his.

With love (& in triumph),
Cassius