| Does your life in Christ give you strength? ~Philippians 2:1 (NCV) This question posed by Paul in Philippians is an important one! He goes on to point out that it is only when this is true that our attitude can become more like our Lord, Jesus Christ. |  |
In 1 Samuel, David and his company of six hundred men had been serving in the military of King Achish of Gath and in the process had left their wives and children in Ziklag unprotected. A raiding band of Amalekites came down on the village, capturing the women and children for slaves, looting the place and carried of everything of value, leaving behind nothing but a smoking pile of rubble.
And David 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 for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. ~ 1 Samuel 3:6
But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
Some translations translate this, ‘but David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.’
There was nothing about the circumstance that was encouraging, and if David had limited his focus to the present circumstance, he would surely have gone into a deep depression. But David encouraged himself in God.
How do we do this? From the Psalms that David wrote, we can learn how. We have to learn to H.O.P.E.
Hold on to truth.
Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me.
~Psalm 43:3
Circumstances can tell us that God isn't with us; not working
in our lives; doesn't love us. Truth tells us otherwise.
Observe what God has done and is doing.
You, Lord God, have done many wonderful things...
No one is like you!
I would never be able to tell all you have done.
Psalm 40:5
Praise God for who He is and what He has done.
O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
~ Psalm 34:3
When we praise God for who He is and what He has done,
we “magnify” Him. We remind ourselves that He is BIGGER
than our circumstances.
Expect that He will encourage and strengthen us.
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you. ~Psalm 55:22
God will strengthen you with his own great power. ~Colossians 1:11
Learning together to be strengthened by Him...
And David 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 for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. ~ 1 Samuel 3:6
But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
Some translations translate this, ‘but David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.’
There was nothing about the circumstance that was encouraging, and if David had limited his focus to the present circumstance, he would surely have gone into a deep depression. But David encouraged himself in God.
How do we do this? From the Psalms that David wrote, we can learn how. We have to learn to H.O.P.E.
Hold on to truth.
Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me.
~Psalm 43:3
Circumstances can tell us that God isn't with us; not working
in our lives; doesn't love us. Truth tells us otherwise.
Observe what God has done and is doing.
You, Lord God, have done many wonderful things...
No one is like you!
I would never be able to tell all you have done.
Psalm 40:5
Praise God for who He is and what He has done.
O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
~ Psalm 34:3
When we praise God for who He is and what He has done,
we “magnify” Him. We remind ourselves that He is BIGGER
than our circumstances.
Expect that He will encourage and strengthen us.
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you. ~Psalm 55:22
God will strengthen you with his own great power. ~Colossians 1:11
Learning together to be strengthened by Him...
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