Encouragine Your Life

 

Are you discouraged? David, the writer of most of the book of Psalm, knew discouragement. Saul, his one time friend, sought his life. In hiding David cried out in his misery. “My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and sticks to the roof of my mouth” (Psalm 22:15a). But David, in the midst of his despair and fear, developed a valuable trait. When there was no one to build his strength, David encouraged himself with the Lord's faithfulness. “You hear, O Lord,” he declared, “the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry” (Psalm 10: 17).

 

 

David had the faith that God would encourage him, and give him the strength he needed for whatever he faced. “But you, O Lord, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me” (Psalm 22:19)! Do you seek to know that kind of faith ? It is the kind of faith believes no matter what hardship surrounds you. It is the kind of faith that sustains when fear threatens. It is the kind of faith that trusts in His encouraging promise when all is dire and dark. It is the kind of faith that hears the Lord’s encouraging voice when there is no one else to encourage you.

 

“I will declare your name to my brothers,” David promised God. “In the congregation I will praise you” (Psalm 22:22). Praising God before others increased David’s faith.“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name” (Hebrews 13:15). Speaking of God’s faithfulness increases your faith. Praising God no matter what you face is a sacrifice. It is a sacrifice of praise that can only come through faith in His unfailing love. God honors your surrender by encouraging you.

 

If you feel overwhelmed and face great discouragement today, it is time to focus on His Word and learn of His faithfulness. It is time to take all the energy that you place in worry, and place it in Him. He rewards those who seek Him with their whole heart. You will be encouraged when you look for Him like a drowning man needing rescue. He is there just waiting to encourage your heart, your mind, your spirit, and your life.