Encourage yourself even when it hurts

Encourage yourself even when it hurts

Read 1 Samuel 30: 1-7

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 43:5

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11


A fear filled life

Life can hit us like a ton of bricks. The sudden impact of life on life's terms can shift our focus from good to all that is bad  which opens the doors of our spirit to all sorts of negativity and self-doubt.When those times come, and they will, what can we do to encourage our spirits even when it hurts? 

David's discouragements 

David had a dilemma. His troops wanted to stone him. David had decided to take his troops into battle 1 Samuel 29. By doing so he left home based unprotected.  As read in 1 Samuel 30, David’s camp was destroyed by fire, their wives, children, and elderly captured 1 Samuel 30:2.

Through out David’s life he was tangled up with situations that could cause depression, pain, and sorrow.  

1. When his friend and mentor Saul wanted to kill him
2. The lost of his first child with Bathsheba
3. Finding his family captured

When faced with unforeseen mishaps David mourned and even wept but he also found strength in his God.  

The power of encouragement

Everyone needs encouragement from time to time. Often family, friends, and co-workers speak words of empowerment which can get a person revved up.  But what happens when no one is around? How does a person encourage and jump-start self?

Life has thrown a curve ball and no matter how hard you try to speak victory into your life the tears keep flowing. Decisions didn't turn out as planned. The once dream job turned out to be a living hell – unfair treatment by supervisor, no possible promotion, no pay increase, and no one is hiring. When prayers appear to go unanswered doubt and frustration begins to manifest. How does a person encourage self when pain won’t go away?

Encourage yourself

There have been days of discouragement in my life where I found myself filled with the Monday Blues.  It was my past encounters with God which became the fuel of self encouragement.  When that feeling of despair hit me like a brick wall I got up and shook out the cobwebs. Once composed the transformation began.

Pray – ask God to pull you from this pit

Praise – find a song to sing unto his name

Gratitude – count the blessings one by one

The past – think of where God had brought you from

Creative ways to encourage

Here are a few more creative tips from Jacob Cass – Just Creative – 

Idea #71 - Finding inspiration in what other people have done and what has succeeded (or failed) is a great way to get your feet off the ground again.

Idea #72 - Take a moment to do something that makes you happy; that brings you joy; that you love; that centers you

Idea #73 – ‘Get in the zone‘. Give full attention to whatever you are doing: eating, washing dishes, etc.

As you begin these steps of positive process one cannot help but to encourage self and be overwhelmed with joy!

The enemy hates dancing

Remember the enemy creates barriers he wants to see you downtrodden. Take on a spirit like David and celebrate. Become undignified and humiliate yourself before the Lord and Dance like David Danced. Find ways to encourage and recapture the joy in your life again!

Let us pray: Heavenly Father your children hurt. Their pain is unbearable. Their days seem colder and darker. There is nothing to hard for you Lord give them strength to climb out of the pits of despair. Give them a song to sing and vision to recount the blessings you bestowed.  Father in your name I claim victory in the lives of your children who are suffering.  This I pray in your son Jesus Christ name. Amen.

PRAYER REQUEST:

People are experiencing hardship, distress, doubt, and worry. To combat the perils of life we offer comfort through prayer. Your life concerns are important  to us.Click the link to be added to The Souls Remedy Prayer List