Day 5: Encourage Yourself

 

Please listen.  Your thoughts affect your feelings.  They affect your energy level. If you think you are about to get to your goal you find energy that you will never have to attempt to use if you don’t think the end is in sight.

 

Right now, please encourage yourself.  Start a gratitude journal or practice. Everyday begin your prayer with thanking God for at least 3 things.  Try to make it three things that are different than the last time you prayed.  

 

Take time to reflect on blessings that you have experienced.  Think about why you treasure your friends. Think about what you enjoy in life.  

 

Thinking about failure will drain you.  Thinking over and over again about the way you have been mistreated will depress YOU!!!  

 

When David was in a bad situation where those around him were angry with him he made a decision to encourage himself.

 

“ And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”

I Samuel 30:6

 

If you read the story the people had good reason to be unhappy.  Their dear ones had been taken from them. When people are depressed they usually have some good reasons to feel that way.  But the circumstance you do have power over is your choice of thought. Please don’t miss this. You may not be able to catch the person who stole your money but you can change your attitude about your situation.  You may not convince your wayward child to come home but you can change the language of your thoughts and prayers.

 

And your choice to do so in large part demonstrates that you trust your Creator.  Things might not look good today but tomorrow is coming. Heal by releasing the discouraging and pressing on to what’s possible.  I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. Romans 8:28 states:

“28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

 

Encourage yourself!  Healing comes from encouragement.

 

Today I will speak well of myself to myself.  My creator believes in me. I will honor Him by treasuring His gift to the world in me!