Encourage Yourself in the Lord—Two2Grow, Friday, November 6
“But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” 1 Samuel 30:6 NKJV
It is wonderful when the people in our social circle speak life and words of hope. But that isn’t always the case. There will be times when the only person who will encourage you is yourself. You may face big challenges that cause those around you to voice fear and unbelief—words that only bring discouragement.
As we grow in Christ, we will come to a point where, instead of relying on the encouragement of others—which isn't always sure to come—we learn to strengthen ourselves in the Lord.
David knew how to do just that. I guess he had learned that as a shepherd boy, alone in the field watching over the flock and having to fight off lions and bears. There was no one there to speak faith to him. He had to rely totally on God. He would need that later in life, too.
The background of today’s verse is that the men who followed David had become upset with him because their families had been taken captive and their city had been burned. They were so bitter that they wanted to stone David. So what did David do? He “encouraged himself in the Lord,” as one translation puts it. He found hope and strength to continue in his personal relationship with God—note that the verse says “his God”.
It is wonderful to have friends we can lean on when life gets tough, our prayers appear unanswered, and the promises of God seem far from being fulfilled. But at other times, you have to be the one who speaks life over yourself.
I’ve often stood in front of the mirror, pointed at myself, and quoted Scriptures that brought faith and hope.
Here are some Scriptures you can use to strengthen yourself today:
“He who is in [me] is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 NKJV
“No, in all these things [I am] more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:37 NIV
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 NKJV
Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD
It is wonderful when the people in our social circle speak life and words of hope. But that isn’t always the case. There will be times when the only person who will encourage you is yourself. You may face big challenges that cause those around you to voice fear and unbelief—words that only bring discouragement.
As we grow in Christ, we will come to a point where, instead of relying on the encouragement of others—which isn't always sure to come—we learn to strengthen ourselves in the Lord.
David knew how to do just that. I guess he had learned that as a shepherd boy, alone in the field watching over the flock and having to fight off lions and bears. There was no one there to speak faith to him. He had to rely totally on God. He would need that later in life, too.
The background of today’s verse is that the men who followed David had become upset with him because their families had been taken captive and their city had been burned. They were so bitter that they wanted to stone David. So what did David do? He “encouraged himself in the Lord,” as one translation puts it. He found hope and strength to continue in his personal relationship with God—note that the verse says “his God”.
It is wonderful to have friends we can lean on when life gets tough, our prayers appear unanswered, and the promises of God seem far from being fulfilled. But at other times, you have to be the one who speaks life over yourself.
I’ve often stood in front of the mirror, pointed at myself, and quoted Scriptures that brought faith and hope.
Here are some Scriptures you can use to strengthen yourself today:
“He who is in [me] is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 NKJV
“No, in all these things [I am] more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:37 NIV
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 NKJV
Pastor Mikael Stenhammar, PhD