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.

David in this bible story (please read the whole story…on your time of course 🙂 ) was having a really bad week. His possessions and that of his men were taken and their wives and children were kidnapped. That’s about as bad as it gets…..well not really….I think the story of Job was worse…but David’s was right up there. He and his men were so heartbroken that they cried so hard they wore themselves out. You know for big grown strong warriors to cry like that it had to be a very difficult situation. Then they got so angry that they were thinking about doing David in…..so David now had a much bigger problem than he had just an hour before….he feared for his very own life. You know this would cause me to seek God in a hurry and David did.

I’m sure David did these 3 things:

1. Thessalonians P 5:17 pray without ceasing. David was a man of God and I’m sure the Lord was always on his mind and in his heart. I personally talk to God all day about everything….even small things. Constant fellowshipping with the Lord and abiding in Him all the time throughout your day has great benefits. Keep the Lord’s name on your lips and bless Him at all times. There are two times that I don’t do this as much and that’s when I’m shopping and after I bless my food and eat it and then some…yup that’s right…shopping and eating…..I’m human OK? LOL I’m working on this though…..my point is to stay prayed up as they say…..don’t wait until you need God……pray when you aren’t needy… so when need arises…you are there….with Him already.

2. 1 Peter 5:7  casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. It has taken me many years of trials and suffering to do this right away. In my earlier years of walking with the Lord…when sudden troubles arose I would call my mom, sister, friend, neighbor, church member, deacon, pastor, the mail man…just kidding about the mail man, but I called on everybody and then called on the Lord…..but God has trained me now to go to Him first before I consult with anyone else. In fact after I finish casting my care on Him I feel I don’t have a need to talk with anyone else about the situation….I know God cares for me and will answer my prayer.

3. Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. God will give you peace of mind and you will be able to deal with any situation. When I was told by my doctor that I had cancer…I needed this peace of mind and God gave it to me.  When my surgeon walked in my room after the surgery to check on me and saw me sitting up in the bed all happy and peaceful…. he started to cry. This doctor knew I was a Christian and my God had helped me to get through this.

You are not always going to have people around you to encourage you. You may be alone in your hospital room, you may be single and home alone, and you could even be around people and still be alone….. no matter what is your status of who is surrounding your space…it doesn’t matter because you will never feel alone when you have made Jesus the Lord and Savior of your life and you have maintained an ongoing dialogue with Him. You will be able to encourage yourself in an instant. Oh you do have to know something very important……what God can do for you …..And you have to have faith that He can help you. Knowing the word of God is very important in increasing your faith to believe what God has promised He can do for you.  KEEP YOUR MIND ON THE LORD AT ALL TIMES…..THINK ABOUT HIM ALL DAY LONG AND NIGHT LONG!!! SING TO HIM! WORSHIP HIM AND BLESS HIM!  LET YOU MIND BE CONSUMED BY HIM! LET HIM BUBBLE UP IN YOUR INSIDES! KEEP YOUR MIND ON HIM!

The next time something happens and you need God to help you…. say this to yourself…….. “God you have always been there for me in the past and I know you are a powerful God who created everything. You even know how many hairs are on my head and you know the exact count of every grain on sand on the earth. I know you will never leave me and that you have your heavenly angels watching over me. Lord your Holy Spirit is always strengthening me. God you watch after the sparrows and I know you watch over me so much more. Lord I need you this very hour and I praise you for what you are about to do. Father I put all my trust in you and turn all of my worries and problems over to you. Speak to my heart oh Lord and tell me what to do and I will obey. My ears are open to you…I’m listening for your voice. I will keep still until I hear from you and wait for my help and answer. You are my God and I thank you for what you are about to do for me and I give you all the Glory for all your blessing in Jesus Name I pray …..Amen”.

Message for today: This is one time that we have permission to talk to ourselves…..Encourage yourself in the Lord….tell yourself…God is good all the time……then answer yourself and say……and all the time God is good! Pat yourself on the back and say it’s going to be alright because I put God first and trust Him. See…you just encouraged yourself! I’m proud of you!

Please, please, please watch this music video on encouraging yourself in the Lord: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbEaftzaFWA&ob=av3e