Encourage Yourself: How to Find Strength and Hope in God
Have you ever felt discouraged, hopeless, or overwhelmed by the challenges and trials of life? Have you ever wondered where God is in the midst of your pain and suffering? Have you ever felt like giving up or losing faith?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are not alone. Many people, including Christians, struggle with discouragement and despair at some point in their lives. The Bible is full of examples of people who faced difficulties and hardships, such as David, Job, Elijah, Paul, and even Jesus himself.
But the Bible also shows us how these people overcame their discouragement and found strength and hope in God. They learned to encourage themselves in the Lord, which means to remind themselves of who God is, what he has done, and what he has promised. They learned to trust in his love, power, and faithfulness, even when they could not see or understand his ways.
How can we do the same? How can we encourage ourselves in the Lord when we feel discouraged? Here are some practical steps that can help us:
Pray: Prayer is our lifeline to God. It is the way we communicate with him and express our feelings, needs, and desires. It is also the way we listen to him and receive his guidance, comfort, and peace. When we pray, we acknowledge our dependence on him and invite him to work in our lives. The Bible says that God is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18¹). He hears our prayers and answers them according to his will (1 John 5:14-15²).
Read the Bible: The Bible is God's word to us. It is the source of truth, wisdom, and instruction. It reveals who God is, what he has done, and what he has promised. It also shows us how to live according to his will and purpose. When we read the Bible, we feed our minds and hearts with God's truth and perspective. We learn to see ourselves and our situations from his point of view. The Bible says that God's word is alive and powerful, sharper than any double-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12³). It can penetrate our souls and spirits and expose our thoughts and motives. It can also correct, rebuke, train, and equip us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Worship: Worship is our response to God's greatness and goodness. It is the way we express our love, gratitude, and reverence for him. It is also the way we align our hearts and minds with his will and purpose. When we worship, we magnify God and minimize our problems. We focus on his attributes and character rather than on our circumstances and feelings. We declare his praises and promises rather than our complaints and doubts. The Bible says that God inhabits the praises of his people (Psalm 22:3). He dwells in our midst when we worship him in spirit and truth (John 4:24).
Remember: Remembering is a powerful way to encourage ourselves in the Lord. It means to recall what God has done for us in the past, how he has delivered us from trouble, how he has answered our prayers, how he has blessed us with his grace and mercy. It also means to remember what he has done for others in the Bible or in history, how he has shown himself faithful and mighty on their behalf. When we remember God's deeds, we renew our faith and confidence in him. We realize that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He does not change or fail (Malachi 3:6). He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
Speak: Speaking is another way to encourage ourselves in the Lord. It means to declare God's word and promises over our lives and situations. It means to confess what we believe rather than what we see or feel. It means to speak life rather than death, blessing rather than curse, victory rather than defeat. When we speak God's word, we activate its power and authority in our lives. We agree with God's will and purpose for us. We resist the enemy's lies and accusations (James 4:7). We release faith into the atmosphere (Romans 10:17).
These are some of the ways that we can encourage ourselves in the Lord when we feel discouraged. They are not magic formulas or quick fixes, but they are biblical principles that can help us find strength and hope in God. They can help us overcome our discouragement and experience his joy and peace. They can help us grow in our faith and maturity as Christians.
LISTEN BELOW!!Artist: Donald LawrenceSong: Encourage Yourself |
Remember, you are not alone. God is with you and for you. He loves you and cares for you. He has a plan and a purpose for your life. He will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). He will complete the good work he began in you (Philippians 1:6). He will turn your mourning into dancing, your sorrow into joy, your ashes into beauty (Psalm 30:11-12; Isaiah 61:3).
Encourage yourself in the Lord today and every day. He is your hope and your salvation. He is your refuge and your strength. He is your God and your King. He is worthy of all praise and glory. Amen.
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