Be Strong In the Lord

on Tuesday, February 3, 2009

David was a master at encouraging himself in the Lord, strengthening himself in the Lord. God provided David the motivational tool of His Word and David used it prolifically.

David would rehearse (recall out loud) what God had said and what God had done. With this he would strengthen his own heart and the hearts of those around him. And much of what David would recall is what God had said:

Psalm 119:49-50
Remember the word to Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.

David found life in God’s Word. His Word IS life! David turned trouble into opportunites for one more long, deep drink of the life of God in His Word. Through this, he was strengthened and encouraged all the days of his life.
When Things Were Tough

David knew that no matter what (Remember Mizpah? 1Samuel 30:6), God would set things right again. The whole history of David is of God doing that very thing over and over and over. Need we wonder how David kept going through all the trials he endured? Repeatedly he sought the Lord in His strength, recalled His mighty deeds, and remembered the Words God had spoken. David had a God-inspired motivational program going that brought him through chaos into victory.

1Samuel 30:6

Now Davis 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 his daughters. But David strengthened (encouraged) himself in the Lord his God

So, no matter how bad the situation became, David would turn to the Lord and what the Lord had said. God’s word brought him life and David could rise to his feet strong, courageous, established, fortified in the Word of Truth and mighty in the purposes of God.

We have the same opportunities today!

In the closing chapter of David’s life, he praises God for the abundant offerings of the people for building the temple. Before the assembly he says:

1Chronicles 29:12

Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all.
In Your hand is power and might;
In Your hand is to make great and to give strength to all
.

David was honoring God and reminding people to be strong in Him.

We have the same opportunities today!

* Encourage yourself with remembrances of what God has done in your life, in the lives of those you know and care about.

* Remember what God has done in the lives of Biblical characters like David, Moses, Joseph…

* Meditate on and memorized truth found in God’s Word.

* Meditate on and memorize promises found in Scripture. Get these on the hard-drive of your mind so they are immediately available in a pinch.

* Pray Scripture daily. This is one way to be “wrapped” in the Word.





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