As we continue our series on how to win in life, this week we look at how you can win when you have big setbacks and more problems than you know how to deal with. David, Israel’s greatest king, went through some exceedingly difficult experiences in his life. We often hear how David conquered nations and had many breakthroughs and blessings, but there was a time when he lost everything (1 Samuel 30:1-19). David not only lost his wives and children, but the people around him were also wanting to stone him to death. Where could he turn and what could he do? In these dark moments he discovered the victory that can come through encouraging himself in the Lord.
Sometimes you may be all on your own. You can find yourself in a position where there is no one else with you to help you; not family, friends, parents, or your pastors. What do you do when you have no support from others in your school or college or workplace? Who will encourage you in moments of isolation, when you are facing battles only you can face? The answer is that you must really learn to be your own greatest encourager. To do this you must:
1. Encourage yourself in the Lord (1 Sam. 30:6; Psalm 46:1; Psalm 43:4)
a. Speak words of life to yourself (Psalm 43:5; Psalm 103:1)
b. Remember God's goodness towards you (Psalm 105:5; Psalm 77:11)
2. Encourage yourself by seeking the Lord (1 Sam.30:8; Isaiah 55:6)
a. We can seek God through prayer (Jeremiah 33:3; Philippians 4:6)
b. We can seek God through studying the Bible (Psalm 119:105)
3. Encourage yourself by believing the Lord for total victory (1 Sam. 30:18-19)
Apply
Do you look to the Lord at all times and in all circumstances for your joy and strength, or do you seek others to encourage and comfort you? When David could not rely on other people, he learned to dig deep within and find his strength from the Lord (1 Sam. 30:6). The King James Version says ‘he encouraged himself in the Lord.’ When things are tough, we must find it within ourselves to encourage ourselves. We cannot look to others for the strength or joy only God can give (Psalms 46:1 & 43:4). When you can find no help from others or when the comforts of money or pleasure have gone, the Lord Himself is always there to give you strength. You must speak words of life to yourself like David did: David had a straight talk with himself and reminded himself to trust in God which gave him the confidence to praise God in spite of what he was going through (Psalms 43:5). We see that David took control of his feelings and commanded himself to praise the Lord (Psalm 103:1). How do you speak to yourself? Learn to speak words of life to yourself. You must also remember God’s goodness towards you (Psalms 105:5 & 77:11). Look back at the things the Lord has done for you and encourage yourself that if He has done it before, He can do it again. If we forget what the Lord has done for us, we tend to worry, fear, and doubt God. Looking back with thanksgiving will help us look forward with faith. Instead of giving up, David encouraged himself by looking up to God.
In times of trouble, do you turn to God or turn from God? Seeking God is to actively find or discover God for ourselves. It means coming into God’s presence and asking Him for his plans (1 Sam. 30:8 & Isaiah 55:6). We can seek God through prayer (Jeremiah 33:3): God has promised that when we call out to him, he will hear us and answer us. He gives us wisdom and revelation when we seek him. When we turn to God in prayer, we can leave all our anxieties with him and trust Him to sort it out for us (Phil. 4:6). We can also seek God through studying the Bible, the very Word of God (Psalm 119:105). When we take time to read and meditate on the teachings and promises of God’s word, we will always find the strength and answers that we need. David did this and when he received his direction from God, everything turned around.
Apply
Do you look to the Lord at all times and in all circumstances for your joy and strength, or do you seek others to encourage and comfort you? When David could not rely on other people, he learned to dig deep within and find his strength from the Lord (1 Sam. 30:6). The King James Version says ‘he encouraged himself in the Lord.’ When things are tough, we must find it within ourselves to encourage ourselves. We cannot look to others for the strength or joy only God can give (Psalms 46:1 & 43:4). When you can find no help from others or when the comforts of money or pleasure have gone, the Lord Himself is always there to give you strength. You must speak words of life to yourself like David did: David had a straight talk with himself and reminded himself to trust in God which gave him the confidence to praise God in spite of what he was going through (Psalms 43:5). We see that David took control of his feelings and commanded himself to praise the Lord (Psalm 103:1). How do you speak to yourself? Learn to speak words of life to yourself. You must also remember God’s goodness towards you (Psalms 105:5 & 77:11). Look back at the things the Lord has done for you and encourage yourself that if He has done it before, He can do it again. If we forget what the Lord has done for us, we tend to worry, fear, and doubt God. Looking back with thanksgiving will help us look forward with faith. Instead of giving up, David encouraged himself by looking up to God.
In times of trouble, do you turn to God or turn from God? Seeking God is to actively find or discover God for ourselves. It means coming into God’s presence and asking Him for his plans (1 Sam. 30:8 & Isaiah 55:6). We can seek God through prayer (Jeremiah 33:3): God has promised that when we call out to him, he will hear us and answer us. He gives us wisdom and revelation when we seek him. When we turn to God in prayer, we can leave all our anxieties with him and trust Him to sort it out for us (Phil. 4:6). We can also seek God through studying the Bible, the very Word of God (Psalm 119:105). When we take time to read and meditate on the teachings and promises of God’s word, we will always find the strength and answers that we need. David did this and when he received his direction from God, everything turned around.
Do you believe the Lord can give you total victory or do you ever settle for partial victory in your life? This story tells us that David and his men revived their spirits and got up to find and face down their attackers. When they found them, they had to fight for their victory. And we too must do all we can to turn our situations around. But with God’s help they won completely. In a monumental turnaround, David and his men recovered everything they had lost. They saw a resounding victory where nothing was missing (1 Sam. 30:18-19). You too can see a total turnaround in your health, in your emotions, in your finances, in your family and in every area of your life and ministry. Like the apostle Paul said you may ‘be knocked down’ but you are not knocked out! If you are down, don’t stay down. Get up and encourage yourself in the Lord who will give you all the strength you need. Encourage yourself by seeking for God’s help and guidance. Encourage yourself by believing for total victory. Never settle for partial victory. Jesus conquered over death and hell and with Him, you too can be more than a conqueror. Whatever setbacks you have had in your life, you can come back. Choose to come close to the Lord and encourage yourself in Him. Whether you have been a Christian for a long or short time, whatever you may be going through: remember to encourage yourself in the difficult times, to encourage yourself by seeking the Lord and to encourage yourself to see total victory.
