If you have not read the devotional: Encourage yourself in the Lord you should. There are times in life when discouragement is constant.
Times when nothing seems to be going right.
At those times we can feel like God has forgotten us, but take heart my sister- God is always with you.
Here are 10 ways that you can encourage yourself in the Lord because sometimes it will be just you and God.
1. Sing songs of praise and worship
There are so many hymns of the faith and contemporary Christian songs that minister grace to the believer’s heart. You know what song moves you to worship.
Is there a particular song that gets you out of discouraging times like these? Sing with a loud voice without fear or inhibition because you were created to give God glory.
God inhabits the praise of his people and even though things are not good right now, joy will come in the morning.
When Paul and Silas were imprisoned, the situation looked bleak. There really was no escape and instead of giving in to discouragement and defeat, they decided to sing and praise God.
Their unexpected worship was so moving that God rescued them and saved the jailer and his entire family. Singing songs of praise and worship is guaranteed to encourage you in the Lord.
2. Pray
Sorrow is a part of the believer’s life, even though we are children of God, heartache can still find us. There are times when certain situations are so overwhelming, we can’t formulate words to offer a prayer to God.
In your distress, the Holy Spirit will relay your prayer to God and Jesus will answer. God understands every language, even the groanings which we ourselves can’t comprehend, he understands and he hears.
Prayer is a vital part of encouraging yourself in the Lord. Don’t just pray when things are good, pray when things are bad.
Pray, believing God will respond and help you in whatever valley you are in. He is willing to aid you in your distress, cry out to him with faith believing that he will answer.
3. Read the Bible
If there is just one thing to remember when you are discouraged and you decide to read God’s word it is this- you are not alone. The Bible contains the life and example of so many believers that experience sad and depressing times.
The Bible has the words of comfort that you need. It has the triumphant stories of those in dire situations that God turned around. It was written specifically for you. A manual for life that tells you everything you need to know.
I don’t know what you are facing but it is something that you are battling alone, use God’s word to shed light on your situation. Hear from God through his word as he comforts you, as he walks alongside you. His word, is his very voice, speaking and ministering to you because he is right there with you.
When you read about the life of Job, David, and anyone else that suffered from depressive thoughts, the Bible is a source of encouragement. Through God’s words, you realize that others have been there and best of all they have overcome.
4. Meditate on God’s promises
Another aspect of the Bible is to pick out the promises of God. There are many books written that focus on God’s promises.
You can meditate on a promise every hour as you go through your day. Every promise that God has made, he will keep. Our God is not a man that he should lie.
These promises are yours, they were made to you, hold on to them when you are going through the valley because they will encourage your weary heart when you feel like fainting.
- He will never leave nor forsake me
- God is not a man that he should lie
- He is always with me; I have no need to fear
- God is in control
- He will always answer me when I cry for help
- God loves me
- He is for me
- No weapon formed against me shall prosper
- God will protect me
- He will be my strength
5. Quote Scripture
There will be times when circumstances will be beyond your control and the Word of God will not be close by. There is also coming a day when the Bible will not be allowed all over the world.
It is at those times it will be best to have the word of God hidden in your heart. It not only helps you to not sin against God but it will be an encouragement to you during times of difficulty.
As you read God’s word and meditate on his promises, start memorizing verses and chapters of the Bible. I’m thankful for the country that I grew up in.
Bible memorization was a part of my school curriculum even though I attended public school. There are many passages that I know because of school and also Sunday school.
When Jesus was in the wilderness, he was able to defeat Satan by using the word of God to rebuke what Satan said. In your darkest hour, when your strength seems to be failing you, you can recite the word of God and encourage yourself in the Lord.
6. Remember your conversion.
My darkest hour might seem to be an exaggeration to yours but every one of us can recall the moment in time that we accepted Jesus as our Savior.
What a joyous occasion. One that brings warmth to our hearts when we recall where we were headed without Jesus.
It could have been a Sunday morning or evening but if you can think back to when you realized your need and accepted Jesus’ sacrifice, your mood will lift.
When you accepted Jesus, you didn’t earn any special privileges but what you did receive was grace and mercy that you didn’t deserve.
You received a down payment that can never be taken away in the form of the Holy Spirit. You became a child and daughter of God.
When I think of the way that God pursued me and rescued me from hell, my heart rejoices and my spirit is glad. It brightens my day and it can brighten yours as well. Jesus paid it all for you, you are now His and nothing you do can ever change that.
7. Think of the many times God has delivered you.
Do you keep a journal? I have tried to keep a journal for years but I write so sporadically I have totally given up on the idea. How about keeping a journal of all the things God has delivered you from? Things that you know of, of course.
I can remember at 14 years of age I got off on the wrong stop and had no one to pick me up. Stuck at the dead-end of an island I was unfamiliar with for about 6 hours well into the late hours of the night I pretended not to be afraid.
I took a chance and took a ride with a family I didn’t know and arrived safely to my destination without harm. God was with me that night. And there are many other stories and incidents that God has spared me from.
What about you? Can you remember any instance where God made a way when there seemed to be no way? Just like God delivered you then, he will deliver you now.
Israel would have arrived at the promised land earlier if they had pondered on everything God has delivered them from instead of all the negative. Write down those experiences, place them on the table of your heart, and encourage yourself in the Lord.
8. Think of eternity
One day you will walk on streets of gold, you will never grow tired, you will never get sick and life will end as we know it.
When this life is filled with trouble and heartache, you can encourage yourself in the Lord by thinking about eternity. Time will not exist there and troubles will be long gone. You can think about the place where you will one day reside forever.
With eternity in your view, the troubles and heartaches you are going through are diminished. Read Revelation and think about the description of heaven.
With over 12 precious stones and the measurements of each individual heavenly abode, heaven will be breathtaking. Heaven will be a sight to behold because it will be beautiful, but more so because Jesus will be there.
9. Think about God’s goodness
Who woke you up this morning?
How are you inhaling, exhaling, and pumping your lungs with fresh air?
Who provided the job that brought in your income?
Tell me who blessed you with wisdom and intelligence to perform so excellently on your job? God is good.
He is so good. You can sit and ponder on his goodness, and you won’t run out of things to thank him for because he is so good.
He sends the rain on His own and those not his as yet. Are you feeling down, hurt, depressed, anxious, or angry? Think about His goodness and bask in his amazing love. It is because of his unconditional love that you experience his goodness.
10. Think on Good things
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8
Don’t dwell on the situation. Think wholesome thoughts. Think about good things.
Can you give me another way that you encourage yourself in the Lord? List it in the comment section. We can use all the help we can gather.
Find more about encouraging yourself in this article.
