Christ Leads The Way

“That is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.” – Romans 1:12

Hey good people! Thank God for a new day. And thank God for you! I appreciate you reading and showing support, and I appreciate you!

Sometimes we all need a little encouragement. Others, we need a lot. But we can’t always sit around waiting on someone else to encourage and comfort us, because many times we’d be left lacking if we did.

It’s important that we encourage ourselves. Individuals have all kinds of ways to give themselves courage to face a new day. Some people leave sticky notes of encouragement on their mirrors or refrigerators. Others recite phrases that empower them, like, “I am kind; I am smart; I am loving; I am worthy; I can do it,” and so forth.

In 1 Samuel 30, we see David encouraging himself in a time of distress. The Amalekites had raided Ziklag and burned the city to the ground (1 Sam. 30:3). David’s two wives were taken captive, along with all the people of the city (1 Sam 30:5).

“Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.” – 1 Sam. 30:4

They were upset because of what had happened, so much so that they wanted to stone David. “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” (1 Sam. 30:6).

David was very sad and distressed, but he encouraged himself in the Lord. David went to the priest Abiathar and inquired of the Lord (1 Sam. 30:7-8). He wanted to know whether he should pursue the Amalekites. God answered him that he should. And he got up and went and got his family back and rescued all the captives (1 Sam. 30:18-19). David found encouragement in going to the Lord.

We, too, can find encouragement in seeking and inquiring of the Lord. The way that we do that is going to the Word of God and going to Him in prayer. It will strengthen us and give us courage when we are distressed.

David had lost his home and his family and was deeply grieved. He was able to encourage himself and go rescue his family. We can encourage ourselves, too. We don’t have to sit around and wait for someone else to do it. God gave us His Word to help us and the avenue of prayer so that we can go to Him.

I am thankful for David’s example. I find encouragement myself through reading, remembering, and recalling Scripture. It helps when there’s no one else to do the encouraging. I hope that we all can lift up and encourage ourselves in times when we need it most.

“That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ.” – Col. 2:2

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