Pastor's Ponderings, November 19, 2018

Encourage Yourself In The Lord

Donald Lawrence wrote a song in 2008 entitled, “Encourage Yourself.”  Some of the lyrics are, “Sometimes you have to encourage yourself. Sometimes you have to speak victory during the test and no matter how you feel, speak the word and you will be healed. Speak over yourself, encourage yourself in the Lord.”  We live in a discouraging world where sarcasm, flippant remarks, and put downs are everywhere.  Many times when one hears someone give them an encouraging word, we immediately try to find their hidden agenda.

In the Bible, David, had been running from King Saul.  He had just suffered a crushing defeat and his followers were discussing killing him.  Yet David encouraged himself (1 Samuel 30:3, 6).  We should encourage ourselves in spite of our circumstances. When we come across challenging situations, we are not to pretend that the problems do not exist, but we are commanded to speak those things that are not as if they were.  We may have the symptoms of sickness and we have received a negative report, but we must say what God says and that is we are healed (Psalm 107:20).  We may be unemployed, but God says that we are rich in Him (2 Corinthians 8:9).

The Bible is full of encouraging words.  God says that we are overcomers (Revelation 12:11), whatever we do prospers (Psalm 1:1, 3), and He commands His angels to guard those who love Him (Psalm 91:11).  This week, let us explore God’s word and claim what we can do, what we can be, and who we are in Christ and not let our temporary setbacks define us.   Let us encourage ourselves in the Lord.

1 Samuel 30:3, 6
New International Version (NIV)

3 So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.
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.

Psalm 107:20
New International Version (NIV)

20 He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.

2 Corinthians 8:9
New International Version (NIV)

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

Revelation 12:11a 

New International Version (NIV)

11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…

Psalm 1:1, 3
New International Version (NIV)

1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.

Psalm 91:11
New International Version (NIV)

11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;