How to encourage yourself in the Lord!  🙌

The contents of each day provide us with opportunities to get discouraged, and if you allow your focus to be diverted from Jesus and His Word to anything else you will be sure to take advantage of those opportunities to be discouraged. The pit of discouragement is a dangerous place to be because it can lead to a downward spiral of depression which will birth passivity, apathy, prevent your spiritual growth and immobilize you from walking in your destiny. It’s great to receive encouragement from other people but we can’t wait for others to pull us out of the pit of despair, we need to know how to encourage ourselves in the Lord and we need to do it.
 
 “Then I will say to my soul,
“Don’t be discouraged; don’t be disturbed,
    for I fully expect my Saviour-God to break through for me.
    Then I’ll have plenty of reasons to praise him all over again.”
    Yes, living before his face is my saving grace.”
Psalm 43:5 The Passion Translation (TPT)

Sometimes you won’t have anyone else to speak to you and encourage you. In times like that you need to be like King David and “encourage yourself in the Lord” (1 Samuel 30:6) – talk to yourself!
 
“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.”
Lamentations 3:21-22 King James Version (KJV)
 
When we remind ourselves (recall) the truth about who God is – His love, grace and favour – it will encourage us! When we remind ourselves of His promises and His faithfulness we will be strengthened, and hope will be restored!
 
“I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.”
Psalm 77:11-12 King James Version (KJV)
 
There is such a power in remembrance. Why not try it now? Think for a moment and remind yourself of something good that happened in your life. Remind yourself of the day you received Jesus or received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Remind yourself of how you received a miracle or how God came through for you. If you can’t think of anything specific, then just remind yourself of how much God loves you – and that His love is without any condition!
 
I am pretty sure that your heart will be encouraged and strengthened, even after 2 minutes of remembering. There is a power in remembering things – even the bad, but we need to choose to forget things which are not edifying! Jesus told His disciples that when partaking in communion we should “do this in remembrance of Him.” (1 Corinthians 11:24) In other words, the power is not in the elements but in the action of remembering; taking time to focus in on what He did for you and in your place! Powerful!
 
I encourage you to talk to yourself, today! Remind yourself of God’s goodness and encourage yourself in the Lord!