A Nugget from New Life Network
(by Bob Gass Ministries)
Scripture for the Day (September 16, 2016)
And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke 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 Samuel 30:6)
David had just won a string of spectacular military victories. But when he returned from battle and found his hometown destroyed by the Amalekites and all their families taken captive, he was heartsick. He and his men fell to the ground and wept, until they could weep no more. But he didn’t stay down. “David inquired of the Lord, saying, ‘Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?’ God answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all (1 Samuel 30:8).
David’s self-encouragement, coupled with God’s guidance, led him to his next victory. There’s a lesson here. You must learn how to talk to yourself the right way, how to quote God’s promises, and how to pray for yourself. Here’s a promise from the Psalms that you can stand on: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). Your joy will return. God has promised it! So look in the mirror today and declare, “This too shall pass. What doesn’t destroy me makes me stronger. In the meantime, I’ll let this situation drive me closer to You, Lord.”
Come on—start encouraging yourself! The biggest battles bring the biggest victories. Your weaknesses can become discovery points for strengths you never knew you had. Recalling the worst time in his life, Joseph said, “God turned into good what you meant for evil” (Genesis 50:20 TLB). And He still does that! Other people don’t control your destiny, God does, and He’s not like others. God can turn your pain into gain and your scars into stars!
Regroup, refocus, and resolve to press on. The word for you today is: Learn to encourage yourself.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance and my God. (Psalm 42:11)
