As women we love to be complemented and encouraged. This is something we all need to keep us motivated, loved, and feeling confident in ourselves and what we do, that is who we are. It is something that is important to us as women, and it truly gives us joy to give it to others as it is to receive it.

God created us and knew this about our personalities, he has provided countless verses in the Bible to not only encourage us but also to teach us the importance of lifting up those around us.

We all know what it can feel like to pursue something, to put your heart in it, whether it is starting out a new job, trying out a new creative hobby, or trying to make small changes in your life—and not get any feedback or encouragement.

As Christian women, God has placed in us everything we need to get any task done in life. He has uniquely designed us for it. We have been called to be a mother, wife, friend, we have a job. With everything we have to do on a daily basis, encouraging ourselves in the Lord is not on the list.

But you can encourage yourself in the Lord. We encourage everyone else, but we never think about encouraging ourselves. Because that is who we are. We are encouragers, but when it comes to us, we find it hard to do so.

We are unique. As women, we have been uniquely designed by God to fulfill a purpose that only we can fulfill. He only made one set of fingerprints that only belong to you. God has placed certain attributes in women that enable us to fulfill our purpose.

 You are unique,” “brave,” and “encourage.” Women are created in God’s image, and with that comes a call to represent God well through our uniqueness, our brave spirit, and our encouraging heart.

“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.” Hebrews 10:24-25

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What Does the Bible Says About Encouraging Yourself?

 I believe as women of God; we can speak to ourselves and encourage ourselves in the Lord. Learning how to encourage yourself in the Lord is so important to living a victorious Christian life.

We all go through hard situations and the encouragement we receive from friends and family is very helpful; but there will be times in everyone’s life when you must be able to encourage yourself in the Lord. 

We all know about David before he became king in the Old Testament, God brought him through many difficult trials, hardships, rejection, and pain. 

David had integrity of heart. His heart was pure, forever faithful to God in-spite of his circumstances. He had a heart after God. He was a man after God’s own heart.

In 1 Samuel, the Bible records that David made the decision to encourage himself in the Lord while he was in the middle of a huge crisis. David and his men had just returned home to find their city invaded by the Amalekites. Not only did the Amalekites plunder and burn the city, but they also took the wives and children captive. 

Can you even imagine something so tragic? The Bible records that they wept until they had no more strength to weep. David was experiencing incredible grief, and this was on top of the last thirteen years of his life being threatened, chased, and persecuted. This was a time in David’s life where it looked like he was facing complete defeat and severe consequences. 

Now David was distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. 1 Samuel 30:6

David’s men had turned on him and were blaming him for this complete tragedy. Can you imagine these men have been with David in every battle, they fought the enemies that came against them, they ate at his table, they laughed and wept together, then they came against David? I could imagine most people in a situation like this would call it quits, and give up. 

But, David chose to inquire of God, build himself up, and encourage himself. If he had not made this choice, his men would have killed him.

But because he chose to encourage himself in the Lord; his destiny and dream came to pass within forty-eight hours- he became the king, thirteen years after Samuel had anointed him. He finally saw his dreams fulfilled. 

If David would have given up, he would have quit within days of seeing his destiny. He never would have become king. 

Whatever is going on in your life, I encourage you to think about the situation that David was in. If it was possible for David to encourage himself in the Lord at such a trying, stressful time, it is possible for you too. If God say you can do it, you can do it.

 At the end of it all, David and his men ended up getting back all their women and children, all of their livestock, and even all the spoil of the Amalekites. Not only that, but David was also crowned king. David encouraged himself in the Lord and that is when he saw the breakthrough! He did not give up.

Related: Encourage Yourself in the Lord

How Do You Encourage Yourself in the Lord?

First and foremost, we need to learn how to encourage ourselves. 

We all have been discouraged, gone through challenges, heartaches, setbacks, and more. Encouraging ourselves is so far from us because we feel like we can encourage someone else when they are going through, then encouraging ourselves.

So many of us has gone through what David did, when the enemies came up against him. He had to fight or be destroyed.

So, what happened to David when he returned to his home in Ziklag after a journey and discovered that his enemies, the Amalekites, had destroyed and stolen everything that was important to him–and his own men turned against him (see 1 Sam. 30).

However, we can imitate his response when we do face difficulties. How would you handle being in a position like this? David had a choice; David could allow grief and bitterness to conquer him; he could sink into the black hole of depression and give up and quit.

Or he could fight back. But before David could enter the ring and fight back, he would have to get his strength and courage back.

I believe once we position ourselves through spending time with the Lord, prayer, praise, and worship singing praises to the Lord, like David, He sang of the deliverer who had already given him improbable victories—victory over the lion, victory over the bear, and victory over the Philistine giant Goliath. That is truly encouraging yourself in the Lord.

Meditate on the Word of God!

Phil. 4:8 (NKJV)

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”

 Even in trying times, God has given us things to think about. Things that is lovely, what is true and noble. This verse tells us to look for the lovely. If we do this, we will be encouraged and strengthened.

Phil. 4:8 (The Message)

“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious – the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”

As you go through your day you may encounter things which may challenge you, make you cringe, or things that are wrong or ugly. Deal with them, but do not let them become your focus, or cause you to stumble. Remember that almighty God is with you. Can you hear Him say to you, “Look the right way?” Remind yourself of how faithful God has been in your life and set your gaze in that direction. God will be faithful again because it is his character.

Listen to God’s voice and follow!

Do not allow the enemy to tell you that you cannot hear God, or that God does not speak to you because God does speak to us. We have to tune our ear to His frequency by spending time with Him to recognize His voice.

John 10:4 (NKJV)

“And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him; for they know his voice.”

John 10:27 (NKJV)

“My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow Me.”

There are many voices that speaking in the world, do not listen to them. When you know God’s voice, that is the voice you will follow. God’s voice is peace. Listening to God’s voice becomes the first thing you do instead of the last.

Prayer!

Prayer will solve any problem when you are challenged in life. Whatever you think about the most, will become your God. Worries, if indulged, develop into idols. Anxieties will gain a life of their own like parasites infesting the mind.

Phil. 4:6 – 7 (The Message)

“Do not fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It is wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”

Guard your thoughts!

 Think the thoughts of God. Keeping our mind on God’s Word, keep us close to God. Guard your peace.

Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in You.”

When you are discouraged, your peace is gone. Hope is gone. Chances are you did not guard your thinking, or you are allowing circumstances to determine your mood. Circumstances come and go but God, and His peace, remain the same; always available to us.

 Line your thoughts with God’s Word, and it will bring you into His presence.

2 Cor. 10:5 (NKJV)

“Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

Do not allow your vain imaginations to grow above who Christ is in your life. Focus on God’s answers and not your problems.

Psalm 105:4 (NKJV)

“Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face forevermore.”

Spend time seeking the Lord. Seek His face.

It is time for you to look up, not down. It is time for you to expect great things to happen in your life,

Whatever You Are Going Through, Praise your way out.

I am sure this is one of the ways David encouraged himself in the Lord. David was a praiser. He could not help it. Remember he had integrity of heart. He was solid in who God was in his life. Praise came naturally to him.

Psalm 28:7 – 8 (NKJV)

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore, my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. The LORD is their strength, and He is the saving refuge of His anointed.”

When David was captured by the Philistines in Gath David cried out to God his heart and his praise.

Psalm 56:3 – 4 (NKJV)

“Whenever I am afraid, I will trust You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?”

Our victory is in God. Our very concerns, as we cry them out to God, can turn into praises because they express our need for God to intervene. They are truly a sacrifice of praise, and this is what God desires from us; to be real, and to know Who our source is.

Psalm 42:5 (NKJV)

“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of my countenance.”

Praise brings God’s help. When we are depressed or feeling down, we are encouraged to hope in God in this prophetic song. It lets us know that God’s countenance, His face, turns towards the one who praises. Then the praiser’s countenance is lifted by God’s love.

When we praise God, He comes. His presence saturates us, and we cannot help but receive joy.

Psalm 16:11 (NKJV)

“You will show me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Face to face encounters with God will always bring peace – this is what our praises do. Knowing this makes me want to always seek God’s face in every situation in my life. Actually, it draws me to want to spend time with Him because I am forever changed after being in His presence.

Psalm 105:4 (NKJV)

“Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face evermore.”

Numbers 6:25 – 26 (NKJV)

“The LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.”

Let it be your prayer that God will shine His face upon you daily. One true way of assurance that it will happen is to spend time every day in God’s presence. The peace of God is more valuable than all the riches in the world.

Meditate on the promises of God.

Reading God’s word and meditating on what it promises will lift our spirits. God’s word is truth. His word never lies. We will not be put to shame when we trust in God’s word.

Here are more promises in God’s word to stand on:

Psalm 22:5 (NKJV)

“They cried to You, and were delivered; They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.”

Psalm 25:2 – 3 (NKJV)

“O my God, I trust in You, let me not be ashamed; let not my enemies’ triumph over me. Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.”

The words “trust” and “wait” are interchangeable. Trust = Wait. This means we need to ponder upon it or roll around in it. Often trusting God requires waiting and waiting requires trust.

Psalm 25:20 – 21 (NKJV)

“Keep my soul, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.”

There are so many promises in God’s word. Find some which pertain to your situation and stand on them. Get them in your spirit so when the wind and waves come, you will not be tossed here and there.

Strength comes from covenant people in your life.

Covenant establishes an agreement that allows the spiritual reality that governs your life to flow to the other person, and vice versa. Therefore, it is so vital to develop friendships with people whose lives consistently display the fruit of the Kingdom. When we steward covenant friendships with people of faith, we stay connect4ed to a growing source of strength that often greatly determines our ability to persevere through difficult times.

Ecclesiastes4:9 – 12 (NKJV)

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

All this said, if you have sin in your life, this will always separate you from God and make you discouraged. Check your heart and ask God to show you anything that is not pleasing to Him. When he shows you, or you may already know, stop it immediately and turn away from it. The pleasures of sin are but for a moment, and the consequence can last forever.

I pray this has helped you to encourage yourself in the Lord and to walk with confidence and boldness to keep on with your life. Be your own cheerleader! If you do not who will? From one encourager to another,

Speak to Yourself

In Psalm 103, David instructed his own soul to bless the Lord. Again, in Psalm 62, he commands his soul to rest in God. You can speak to your own soul. Your soul is your mind, will, and emotions. 

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus

Keeping your focused on Jesus will encourage you. He is the author and finisher of our faith. 

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, Hebrews 12:2 NKJV

Remember Who You Are in Christ Jesus

We as women of God was created to

God personally created each one of us with intricate design and with meticulous care. He created us in His image which makes us entirely different within ourselves. We have a will and a spirit. We can come to know our Creator when we allow Him to indwell our spirit. Our will and our spirit make us unique in all of creation and we are the very pinnacle of the creation. The very authority of God has been delegated to you. You are not a victim and not powerless, no matter the circumstances. We are His chosen daughters.

Related: Encourage Yourself in the Lord Kindle Edition

25 Encourage Yourself Quotes

1. “Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the cross, cherish it for the treasure that it is, and cleave to it as the highest price of every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain. What was once foolishness to us—a crucified God—must become our wisdom and our power and our only boast in this world.” – John Piper

2. “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us” – Augustine

3. “God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile” – Max Lucado

4. “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supplies.” – Hudson Taylor

5. “God will meet you where you are in order to take you where He wants you to go.”  – Tony Evans

6. “Let God’s promises shine on your problems.” – Corrie ten Boom

7. “Christ literally walked in our shoes.” – Tim Keller

8. “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.” – Jim Elliot

9. “Remember who you are. Do not compromise for anyone, for any reason. You are a child of the Almighty God. Live that truth.” – Lysa Terkeurst

10. “If you can’t fly, then run, if you can’t run, then walk, if you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

11. “Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” – Francis Chan

12. “If God is your partner, make your plans BIG!” – D.L. Moody

13. “You are the only Bible some unbelievers will ever read.” – John MacArthur

14. “We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face…we must do that which we think we cannot.”  – Eleanor Roosevelt

15. “He who lays up treasures on earth spends his life backing away from his treasures. To him, death is loss. He who lays up treasures in heaven looks forward to eternity; he is moving daily toward his treasures. To him, death is gain.” – Randy Alcorn

16. “God does not give us everything we want, but He does fulfill His promises, leading us along the best and straightest paths to Himself.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

17. “The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, ‘O God, forgive me,’ or ‘Help me.’” – Billy Graham

18. “Always, everywhere God is present, and always He seeks to discover Himself to each one” – A.W. Tozer

19. “If you believe in a God who controls the big things, you have to believe in a God who controls the little things. It is we, of course, to whom things look ‘little’ or ‘big’.” – Elisabeth Elliot

20. “There is no one who is insignificant in the purpose of God.” – Alistair Begg

21. “Relying on God has to start all over every day, as if nothing has yet been done.”  –C. S. Lewis

22. “This is our time on the history line of God. This is it. What will we do with the one deep exhale of God on this earth? For we are but a vapor and we have to make it count. We are on. Direct us, Lord, and get us on our feet.” – Beth Moore

23. “The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time.” – Abraham Lincoln

24. “Your potential is the sum of all the possibilities God has for your life.” – Charles Stanley

25. “The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard but must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller

How to Encourage Others in the Lord?

Paul put it this way, “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” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Paul reminds us to “encourage one another daily” (Hebrews 3:13). And in his letter to the Ephesians, Paul recommended saying “what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29).

With all the challenges and trials that believers and non- believers are going through today, will help if we can encourage them in the Lord. Encourage them in the Word of God.

 God’s promises are so powerful and life-changing, enabling you to reassure, strengthen and inspire others, as well as yourself. Combine His wisdom and truth with other spiritual and physical help to truly support others.

Before you learn how to encourage others in the Lord and practice it in your life, you need to explore the source for encouragement — the Word of God. It’s the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17), a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Psalm 119:105), a living and active way to pierce the soul and spirit while understanding the heart (Hebrews 4:12) and a foundation of faith: “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17). The Word will teach you how to encourage others in the Lord.

God may not audibly encourage us like He did with Joshua. However, we have access to His promises and truth in the Word of God. It provides one of the most natural ways to encourage others in the Lord.

I believe to encourage others, begin with:

• Spiritual Support: to let the person know that you love them, and that you are praying for them. Pray for the person you want to encourage. Letting someone know you have prayed for them can be a great way to start a meaningful conversation, and it is powerful for the person to know that you have taken their situation to God. Simply talking to someone can be meaningful and give you the chance to be there for that person and offer any help.
• Physical Support: helping them with whatever they need: Running errands or help with childcare? Dropping off food or sending a gift card/flower to let someone know that you are thinking about and praying for them? Even a simple kind act can go a long way to demonstrate Christ’s love and make a difference to that person.

Encouraging others in the Lord should be an important part of any Christian’s life. This is what we do as Christians.

Video; Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers – Encourage Yourself

Prayer:

Lord, 

Teach me to encourage myself in You. Not to expect something from others that only You can give. You are my life’s hope. I put my trust in You. I will encourage myself in You and rise again as Your child. Thank You

Amen 

FREE PRINTABLES

I pray that you enjoyed “How to Encourage Yourself in the Lord”.  Here you will find a free printable that you can download by clicking on the highlighted link.

You are welcome to use this printable for personal use or in small group Bible studies.

Have a Wonderful Day! Enjoy!

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With So Much Love!

Joyce!

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