You can encourage yourself with God alone!

 "But David found strength in the Lord his God.” (1 Sam. 30:6b NIV)

Have you ever been discouraged?

I know I have, many times over the years! I have lost jobs, been involved in accidents, lost loved ones, and had business losses and setbacks. The fact is, life can have many negative twists and turns. Bad stuff just happens sometimes and you must remain strong and weather them through with God’s abundant help.

David’s terrible day

In the Bible there is the story of David and what was a disastrous day for him. While he and his men were away, the enemy attacked his camp, set everything on fire and robbed them of everything they had, including their wives and children. His men wept bitterly, blamed him for what had happened and were talking about stoning him. He was greatly distraught with no one to turn accept to the Lord alone, which he did.

David finds strength in the Lord his God!

“When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.” (2 Sam. 30:3-6 NIV)

While in prayer, he became encouraged again and God gave him a plan to get everything back, plus more!  So, he followed God’s directions, pursued the enemy, found them, fought them, won the battle, got everything back and more, without suffering a single casualty!

“David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives.  Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back. He took all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, ‘This is David’s plunder’”. (2 Sam. 30:18-20 NIV)

Encourage yourself in the Lord!

• God has wonderful plans ahead for you. "'For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” (Jer. 29:11 NLT)
• There’s joy in seeking Him! “Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! (Psalm 34:8 NLT)
• Hope and praise to God will encourage you! “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again--my Savior and my God!” (Psalm 42:11 NLT)
• You are safe when you run to the LORD! “The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” (Prov. 18:10 NIV)
• God will renew your strength when you trust in Him! “But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” (Isa. 40:31. NLT)