Encourage Yourself
Last week I wrote about the power of encouragement. (Click here to read it.) I gave a challenge for all to arise to the calling of cheerleader and to be spirit-raisers for one another. We will probably never know the impact of our encouragement, but it is a wonderful privilege to be a part of Hebrews 12:24-25.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
After the last writing some questions began to surface within.
What if there is no cheerleader in your life? What if there is no one around speaking truth and telling you it’s going to be OK? What if you never receive an encouraging text? What if those closest to you are speaking death instead of life?
You can listen to the lies and give in to the sadness, despair, and even have a pity party, but the truth is, there is a cheerleader within you.
David gives us the example:
David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”
(1 Samuel 30:6)
There it is. Don’t wait for the cheerleader to show up, be your own cheerleader. We can encourage and strengthen ourselves in the Lord. Sometimes I just have to put myself in the chair and preach the sermon to me. Actually, I have been doing this very thing throughout this pandemic.
I had never done a live Facebook video until we were sheltered in place and I desperately wanted to communicate the encouragement of the Lord to all my listeners and readers. As I hit the “Go Live” button there I was staring back at myself. I couldn’t see any of my people, even though I could see their names popping up on the side of the screen. I knew they were there, but it was Martha that I was preaching to. If you have joined me for any of these videos, can I tell you a secret? You were just allowed to listen to me encourage and strengthen myself in the Lord as I desired to encourage and strengthen you.
So how do we do it?
We put ourselves in the chair and speak truth to ourselves. You are the cheerleader! Don’t wait for the text. Don’t allow the sadness, loneliness and even pity to overtake you. Grab the Living Word and let the spirit raising begin.
Run into the presence of the Lord and inquire of Him.
Praise Him. Worship Him.
Fill your thoughts and words with gratitude. Go ahead and speak it out loud. Your spirit will respond to hearing God’s word.
Preach truth to yourself. (It’s OK to turn on your camera and stare into your own face and speak truth.)
Counsel yourself.
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Ps. 43:5
“The psalmist had hope of God’s redemption and deliverance, but it had not come yet. In the meantime, he would not surrender to his feelings of depression and discouragement. Instead, he challenged those feelings and brought them to God. He said to those cast down and disquieted feelings, “Hope in God. He will faithfully answer again, because He has before.”
(Enduring Word Commentary)
Self? Put your hope in God. Self? Praise Him. Self? Listen to Truth.
Self? Give thanks. Self? Declare the goodness of God.