Encourage Yourself In the Lord

1 Samuel 30:5-6 (New International Version)

⁵ David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. ⁶ David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.

Depression tried to overtake me. Negative thoughts, voices speaking into my ears, whispering criticisms and everywhere I turned… everybody was going through something .  There was no escaping!  I wasn’t getting a breakthrough at church or from reading scripture.  Finally, I gave into depression and decided to go to bed and pull the covers over my head. 

 Has this ever happened to you?  Have you ever felt like giving up and surrendering to defeat?

As I laid on my bed it occurred to me;  maybe instead of laying here feeling sorry for myself…I should pray.  Just as I began to pray the Lord spoke to me.  He said, “if you continue to lie here, you will become even more depressed, get up and get moving.  I have already overcome for you and the only way you’re  going to lose, is if you continue to lie here and remain in this state of mind.”  So I got up!  And, I began to ” encourage myself in the Lord.”  I started speaking to myself.  “You can’t change anything by staying in this bed.  In fact, some situations you can’t change at all.  The only way you’re going to change anything is by getting out of the bed and moving,  Moving toward the change; causing the change, and/or pressing on in spite of the circumstances.”  The more I spoke to myself the better I began to feel. 

The circumstances around me didn’t immediately change, but I changed the way I felt about them.  Yes, depression was all around me.  But, I determined that I wasn’t going to let it dictate how my day would be spent.  Or, how I would respond to what was happening around me.  It was all up to me.  I could remain depressed or remember that God has everything under control.  And He is working it all out for my good and the good of others.

Perhaps,  you’re going through a situation that has you depressed or discouraged.  Just like David, you can encourage yourself in the Lord your God.  David sought the Lord’s guidance and God told him that if he “got up”  he was going to be successful and recover all.  You should not only seek the Lord’s guidance but remember what He has done for you in the past.  He brought you out before, He’ll bring you out again.

PRAYER FOCUS:  Father, right now I am faced with a difficult situation.  But, I refuse to give into depression or discouragement.  I seek Your guidance and encouragement.  Thank you for ALL the times you worked it out in the past.  IN JESUS’ NAME, AMEN. 

Why Bother?

Mark 5:35-36 (NIV)

 ³⁵While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher any more?”

 ³⁶Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

Have you ever had someone discourage you at a time in your life when you were doing all you knew to do?  The situation seemed so bleek and hopeless. All you may have had was one last bit of hope and they tried to take that  away. 

Well, such is the case with Jairus (the synagogue ruler)whose daughter was sick in bed.  Jairus fell at the feet of Jesus begging Him to come to his house and lay His hands upon her that she might be healed and live.  Jesus followed him.  Along the way a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years stopped Him by touching His garment.  Jesus turned and asked “who touched me?”  Keep in mind, Jairus’ daughter is at the brink of death.  Jesus, (doesn’t seem to be in any particular hurry) takes the time to minister to the need of this woman.  I don’t know about you but, I would have been just a little anxious at this point.  In verse 32, it says that Jesus actually began looking around for her.  The woman falls to His feet, begins to tell Him the “whole” truth.  Which may have taken even more time.  Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from you suffering.” 

Jesus took so long coming;  while He was still speaking to the woman, some men came up to Jairus and said, “Your daughter is dead, why bother or “annoy” the teacher any more?”  Sometimes, in some cases–you just have to “bother or annoy” Jesus.  Even though others may think its a waste of time.  Jesus is not “bothered or annoyed” by our prayers.  Someone may be dependant upon you reaching Him on their behalf.  Just think,  if Jairus had listened to those that said, “why bother,”  he could have been discouraged and given up all hope of his daughter being healed.  But, instead he listened to Jesus, who ignored what they said. He turned to Jairus and said,”Don’t be afraid; just believe.  Jesus spoke to her and she rose up from the bed, …HEALED.  Glory to God!

WHY BOTHER?

Don’t give up!  Jesus is on the way!  Just keep on believing! Take courage and don’t let anyone talk you out of your blessing. 

Habakkuh 2:3   ….This vision-message is a witness
   pointing to what’s coming.
It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait!
   And it doesn’t lie.
If it seems slow in coming, wait.
   It’s on its way. It will come right on time.

PRAYER FOCUS:  Heavenly Father,  give me the strenth to wait on Your perfect timing.  Let me not grow weary or faint.  In spite of all the negative reports that others might bring to me.  Help me to “keep on believing.”  IN JESUS’ NAME, AMEN. 

A DREAM FULFILLED!!

JUST IN CASE YOU MISSED IT!

THE 44TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES–BARACK OBAMA