Speak to yourself and encourage yourself

The Bible says that a word spoken in due season is good and a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver (Proverbs 15:23 and Proverbs 25:11). We all like to hear good and positive words, either as a compliment, as appreciation for something we have done or simply as an expression of love or friendship. There are times in our lives where we particularly need a word of comfort, encouragement and support from the people around us. Those are times when such words really sound sweet to the soul and can bring healing to a wounded heart or to a broken spirit. But the truth is that we don’t always have somebody to speak such words to us when we need them the most.

That’s why as children of God, we must learn to encourage ourselves in the Lord by speaking the word of God to ourselves. That’s what David did as he was faced with a major crisis that we can read about in 1 Samuel 30: 1-6: “And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way. 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. Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 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.”

In this crucial time of great despair, David had no other place of refuge and he did not look for another alternative as a source of encouragement than the Lord his God. But what does it really mean when it says that David encouraged Himself in the Lord his God? It means that David chose to rely on his knowledge about God based on his personal relationship with the Lord to get strength and courage. He recalled his past experiences and troubles and how God had faithfully delivered him. He knew that if God had delivered him from Goliath and from the persecution of king Säul, then He would surely deliver him from the Amalekites. That confidence gave him the courage to hold fast to God when everybody around was against him and wanted to kill him. So we see that it is important for us to remember what God has done for us in the past and to recall the victories that we gained in Him. As the story goes on, we see that David was able to get back everything that the enemy had stolen away. His God gave Him the victory because he found the strength and the courage that he needed in Him. We can also lift ourselves up and encourage ourselves in the Lord just like David did. As we do so, we will not depend on anybody for comfort and encouragement when we face a crisis and are left alone. Moreover, we will not be depressed when we cannot find somebody to speak a word of comfort to us. As we remind ourselves who God is and what His Word says about us, we find the courage and the strength to move on and stand fast in the faith. So speak to yourself and encourage yourself in the Lord your God just like David did. mt

Recommended scriptures: Psalm 121; Psalm 23; Psalm 91; Psalm 27:14; Habakuk 2:3.