Sometimes You Gotta Do It Yourself!

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. (I Sam 30:6, KJV)

David found himself in a precarious situation.  He fled the persecution of King Saul and when people heard about it , his brothers and all his father's house went down to him as did everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented. (I Sam 22:1-2) David immediately became the leader of these people and responsible for their lives, something he was handling very well until the Amalekites attack the city where David and the people were staying while the men weren't there.   Not only did they attack it, but they also took captive the wives, daughters and sons of David and his men.

And just like with most situations, when something goes wrong, people look for someone to blame, and who better than the man they had chosen to follow. Not only did they blame David, but they spoke of stoning him.  Hence the precarious situation.  David was all by himself, with his mighty men of war talking about killing him; with no one around to encourage him, he did it himself.  David didn't run or cower, not did he complain about how unfair it was that everyone was against him.  No, David just encouraged himself in the Lord and I would assume he did that through recollections of past deliverances and a bit of self-talk.

"God, you helped me slay the lion and the bear!" "You gave me the victory over Goliath!" "You told me I was going to be king over your people!" "You delivered me from the hand of Saul!" "You..." The list goes on and one.  David, in a dangerous, possibly deadly situation, encouraged himself in the Lord his God and today this is we need to get used to doing.  Why?  Because you're not always going to have someone around to do it for you.  There are going to be times when it's you against the world and unless you want the world to defeat you, you are going to have to learn how to encourage yourself in the Lord your God.

How do you do that? You never lose site of who He is and what He's done. if you never forget who your God is and what he's done for you, you'll always be able to draw on past victories and deliverances in your time of need.  I had a problem with gambling at one tie and maybe a year after God had delivered me from it, I found myself tempted by it; just before I gave into the temptation, I remembered that God had already set me free from it. I had to not only recall that but I had to speak that to myself.  I had to encourage myself in the fact that God had already taken that from me,

In that moment, with no one around to hold me accountable and no one to encourage me that I didn't need to give in to the temptation, I did it myself and was able to walk away without indulging.  We all have this  power and it's something we need to start utilizing.  You, man or woman of God, are stronger than you think and you possess the same strength David did when he encouraged himself in the Lord his God.  You just have to realize it and operate in it.  When you find yourself in a precarious situation and there's no one to encourage you, do it yourself.  Remember the past times God has moved greatly in your life and let that encourage you and tell you that if he did it once, he'll surely do it again.

Prayer for the Day: Almighty and All powerful God, when we are alone and in need of your help, surround us with your Spirit and enable us to remember and draw courage from all the ties we have experienced your saving grace in the past.  Remind us that Jesus promised the disciples, when he sent them to proclaim the Gospel to the world, that he would be with them always.  We pray for this strength in Jesus' name. Amen.