The hardest thing I ever did was give birth to my son. A baby’s head usually lengthens to help them pass through the birth canal. Not my boy’s. He was a gentle giant with a whopping head!
It seems funny now, but when I was in labour, I worried that I would never get him out. In the midst of pain and pressure, I cried out: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” And Benjamin was born.
In the valleys
King David came home from battle to find his city destroyed, and the women and children taken captive. Reacting to the devastation, even his most loyal followers pointed the finger and blamed him for their loss. David was distraught.
So what did he do? “David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him… But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” 1 Sam 30:6 (Amp)
How do we encourage ourselves? The same way we encourage others. We speak words of hope and faith. Just like David, we need to strengthen ourselves by reminding ourselves of God’s promises. We must choose to reject discouragement and doubt.
It’s a choice
Refuse to think that you can’t make it and talk to yourself like you would a friend. Occasionally when I am really struggling, I imagine that someone has come to see me with my issues and I ask myself, “What would you say?”
Then I do my best to follow the wisdom God would give me for them! We need to learn to talk to ourselves. Deborah was another leader who spoke to herself in order to build up strength in the heat of battle: “Oh my soul, march on in strength!” Judges 5:21b
The soul refers to our mind, will and emotions. Deborah was telling her thoughts and feelings to be strong. She was telling herself to be like a soldier: immune to ups and downs and focused on fulfilling the mission.
Speak
The first time you speak to yourself it might feel strange. However, with practice, it will become your norm. We talk to our cars or computers when they won’t work (some of us may even kick them!). Let’s start speaking to our souls when they are weak or weary.
In Isaiah 27:5, we are commanded to take hold of strength and we are told to put it on. In Proverbs 31:17, we are instructed to gird ourselves with strength and in Joshua 10:25 we are briefed to be strong.
Can you see the pattern? Strength is a choice. It is what we decide to think, say and do. This blog is taken from an excerpt of 30 Day Detox for your Soul. Even if you’ve read it before, I encourage you to do so again. It will help set you up for success in 2019.
