‘Encourage Yourself in the Lord’

Often, what you need most comes when you least expect it.  The following devotional came in an e-mail from an dear friend and mentor of mine this morning.  It's just what I needed today and I thought it would help you as well.  

‘Encourage Yourself in the Lord’

even in the midst of

Excruciating Distress and Bitterness of Spirit

by William Burnside

            

Have you ever wept so long and so bitterly that you have no strength left to weep?! That was the situation with David and his men when they returned from a military maneuver to find that their wives and children had been taken captive and kidnapped. 

The story is in 1 Samuel 30:1-6 (ESV)
¹ Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire
² and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way. ³ And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. ⁴ Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. ⁵ David’s two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. ⁶ And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. . . .

    

What do you do in such a situation—or in any great trauma that you may be faced with some time in life? You weep until you can weep no more and then cry out to God in your distress. The rest of verse 6 tells us what David did: “David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” He encouraged himself in the Lord and inquired of the Lord what he should do next. 1 Samuel 30:8 (KJV) ^'And David inquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them?' And God sent His answer through His priest: 'And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.'

And they did. And God was merciful to them that none of them were lost.

But this story has an important application for us. In the midst of that crisis, “David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” 

And what does that mean? How do you “encourage yourself” in the Lord??

1. Remember who God IS! Meditate on the attributes and character of God.

2. Think of God's power. He is able to deliver thee. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all [contentment] in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

3. Think of God's kindness.

4. Think of God's wisdom.

5. Think of God's creativity—no matter how complex or confused the situation may seem.

6. Think of God's holiness and righteousness. He is the God of truth.

7. Think of God's compassion. He is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in ALL our tribulation so that we will be able to comfort others with the comfort wherewith we are comforted by God. Think of how God is going to wipe away all tears from our eyes. Surely if David had had that knowledge, it would have helped him and his men in their situation.

8. Think of God's beauty. He is the “God of glory” and we will see Him in all His glory.

9. Think of God's immutability. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not; As thou has been thou forever wilt be.

10. Remember God's faithfulness in the past—not only in Scripture, but to you personally.

11. Be thankful that God is infinite. That means that ALL of His attributes He has to an infinite degree and they are all perfectly interwoven.

12. Ponder God's works—in creation and in preserving His creation—from the skies above to smallest microbe, think of His infinite wisdom and understanding.

13. Be thankful for God's providence and His providential care.

14. 'Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.' Psalm 16.11

15. Rejoice in the promises of God and then recite some of them back to the Lord:
^'And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.' Rom.8.28

1 Corinthians 10:13 ^'There has no temptation [or testing] taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.'

16. Think about heaven and what you will no longer be bothered with. Think about heaven and the perfect fellowship we will have there not only with the Lord, but with all our brethren, all those whom we've loved here on earth. Think about the glories of heaven and how wonderful it will be.

17. Remember how much you loved just being with your wife and family and close friends? And sharing with them and talking to them often in an animated conversation. That was the best part of enjoying whatever you were doing and wherever you were. That's what we look forward to in heaven—that best kind of fellowship with Jesus and with those we love. And we'll love many more than we do now because we'll meet more people. And everyone in heaven will no longer have the Old Sin Nature, but will be like Jesus. We are 'predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ. Rom. 8.29 In the meantime the Holy Spirit is in the process of 'transforming us into His likeness with ever-increasing glory; as we gaze upon the glory of the Lord in scripture and with 'the eyes of our heart.' Eph. 1.18

18. Be thankful in as many ways as you can think of, especially for the daily strength God gives you so that you can take care of yourself and help others. So many people cannot even take care of themselves so be thankful that you can as God renews your strength daily. Take the promise from Psalm 27:14 that as you use the strength and courage God gives you, He “will strengthen your heart.” The outer person is perishing but the inner person is being renewed day by day by God. 2 Cor. 4.16

19. Day by day and with each passing moment,

Strength I find to meet my trials here;

Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,

I've no cause for worry or for fear.

He whose heart is kind beyond all measure

Gives unto each day what He deems best--

Lovingly, it’s part of pain and pleasure,

Mingling toil with peace and rest.

^'But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.' 2 Cor. 4.7