Everyone needs encouragement. I don’t know anyone who is always positive about life, work, or ministry. We all have our moments of concern and sadness and discouragement.
Courage means “heart” (from the French word ‘couer”) or inner strength. Sometimes we lose that heart. It happens suddenly or little by little – the collapse of inner strength. The most courageous warrior in life can become discouraged.
The good news is that courage can be found again. It can be recovered. How? Here’s an example.
King David was a man who loved God, wrote psalms, played his music, and sang the songs of praise. He was a fearless warrior. He was undefeated in battle.
Then one day returning home to his town of Ziglag, he found his camp had been raided by the Amalakites. His family and all the Israelite families and possessions had been kidnapped and stolen. Not only was this overwhelming, but his faithful followers were so distressed that they discussed stoning him – putting him to death. Somehow he was to blame!
When courage is lost and you are down, the direction you turn will determine the impact of your present circumstances.
This was a bad day for David. We can relate; we all have some bad days. Not all of us recover well from bad days. For some of us, that bad day starts a thread of negative emotions and thoughts that can plague us for a long time.
David did something about his bad day. He encouraged himself in the Lord. He strengthened himself in God. The word for God in the story is “Jehovah,” which is the word describing the Creator in covenant relationship with His people. The God who says, “I can do anything. I will take care of you, I will provide, I will be your healer, I will fight your cause, I will be what you need today.” That was the God that David thought about and meditated upon. His mood changed. A plan evolved and he got his courage back. He went to war and recovered all that had been taken from him!
King Saul of Israel was once in a personal crisis. Courage lost, danger present, future unclear. Unlike his successor David, Saul did not recover his courage by strengthening himself in God. He went to the witch of Endor for advice. He turned away from the Lord. He eventually lost everything, including his life.
When courage is lost and you are down, the direction you turn will determine the impact of your present circumstances. You must “strengthen” yourself in God as David did.
How do you strengthen yourself in the Lord?
Review the promises of God. Go over them in your mind and be encouraged by the word of God and the specific promises God has given you.
Remind yourself how you got to where you are. Go over past victories. You have already overcome much through faith in God.
Reconnect with the Lord. Sometimes the loss of courage comes from being too busy to stay connected with God.
Restructure your life around what you know and not what you feel.
Renew your commitment to walk in God’s way without compromise. Rejoice in the Lord always. The best of the best have become discouraged. To rejoice is an act of faith stating your trust and faith that somehow, someway, the Lord will make a way.
Courage is coming! Be strong! Rejoice in God!
MEDITATE
Have you been courageous lately? Or are there more bad days than good? You could make today different – come to the Lord, and be strengthened in him!
STUDY
Psalm 27:13-14, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
Reading Plan: Genesis 8-14
PRAY
Heavenly Father, you are the stronghold of my life, my light, and my salvation. I choose not to fear, instead, I will take heart and be confident that you are ever present in all my troubles, and that soon, I will see your goodness.
LIVE
When you have a bad day, choose to come to the Lord first. Choose to remember who he is, and what he has done. He has not changed, though your circumstances do. Be strong, take heart, and wait for the Lord! #Courage #Strength #TakeHeart
