TDE JANUARY 2017 Edition

JANUARY
THE DAILY ENCOURAGER
January 7
Today's Scripture:
"...but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God"
(1Samuel 30:6)
ENCOURAGE YOURSELF IN THE LORD
One of the battles that everyone faces at some time or another is the battle
of discouragement. Our dreams don't always happen on our timetable. We
go through disappointments and adversities. With so much coming against
us, it can be easy to loose enthusiasm and zeal for life. It's good to have
family and friends who encourage you. It's good to a teacher, or a pastor to
cheer you on. But one thing I've learned is that other people cannot keep us
encouraged. They may give us a boost. They may help us from time to time.
But if you're really going to live in victory, that encouragement has to come
from the inside. You've got to learn to encourage yourself.
In the Bible, that's what David had to do. At one point, he had suffered a
major setback. It was one of the most difficult times of his life. His city had
been destroyed, his family was kidnapped, and finally his own men turned
against him. It looked like an impossible situation. David could have easily
just given up and faded off into the sunset, defeated and depressed.What a
horrible day in the life of this anointed man of God. But the scripture says
in I Samuel 3:6, "David encouraged himself in the Lord his God." See, David
wasn't depending on his family, his friends, or his colleagues to get him
through. He knew how to draw strength and encouragement from within.
How did he do it?
He began to replay the victories that God gave him in the past. He
remembered how God chose him from His other brothers when he was
just a shepherd boy. He remembered how he killed a lion and a bear with
his bare hands. He remembered how God helped him defeat Goliath and
how He protected him when King Saul was trying to kill him. As David
rehearsed the goodness and faithfulness of God, strength began to fill his
heart. He got a new vision of victory. As he thanked God for all that He had
done, David went from being depressed and defeated to rising up with that
warrior mentality!
Perhaps no one in the entire Bible is a greater example of being able to
encourage himself in God than David. When you read some of his Psalms
you are amazed that he starts writing a song while he’s discouraged and
ends the same song encouraged!
May we like David learn how to see the light in dark days. Amen
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