ESOCS Devotional 14 November 2024 – Encourage Yourself
MEMORY VERSE: “But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.” Job 4:5.
TEXT:: JOB 4:1-5
hen Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
2 “If one attempts a word with you, will you become weary?
But who can withhold himself from speaking?
3 Surely you have instructed many,
And you have strengthened weak hands.
4 Your words have upheld him who was stumbling,
And you have strengthened the feeble knees;
5 But now it comes upon you, and you are weary;
It touches you, and you are troubled.
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Realistically, one of the most difficult persons to encourage is oneself. We have perfected the skills and strategies of encouraging others. We have severally memorized lines of thoughts and words that have brought comfort and solace to many troubled souls out there, many of whom will remain eternally grateful to us for helping them out when it mattered most. However, when peradventure, we find ourselves in the same situation, some level of difficulty is experienced trying to put ourselves together.
This was the case with Job who was a master in the act and ministry of bringing relief to the down trodden, instructing the hopeless, strengthening the weak and feeble hands, as well as preventing them from falling. Unfortunately, he was hit by mysterious multiple calamities but he could not find words to console and encourage himself.
While this may be a very difficult reality, we must, however, consciously pattern and build our minds to making it part of our lives. The truth is, at one point or the other in life, troubled times will come. In such situation, there is no amount of what anyone will tell you that will make any sense if you don’t tell it to yourself first, or thereafter.
It is the truth you say to yourself first that will form the foundation upon which all other words from sympathizers and friends will be built. The Bible says, “And David was greatly distressed, for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved … but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God” (1st Samuel 30:6). To encourage yourself is to escape any form of mental disorder, psychological effect, depression and suicide attempt in the face of devastating challenges.
We must warn that while encouraging yourself, don’t give in to alcoholism or drugs. Don’t submit yourself to sexual depravity or dangerous destiny-destroying addictions. Encourage yourself in the Lord by His word. Let God’s word guide you through such seasons while you remain with the Holy Spirit always.
- Study and retain God’s word in your heart; it will help you in times of difficulty.
- Be a friend of the Holy Spirit always.
- Develop a shock absorber with God as your helper.
- Father, thank you for the gift of the word and the Holy Spirit. No matter what comes my way, help me, Lord to be strong and encourage myself in you, in Jesus name. Amen.
Further Reading: Job 5:6-end; 2 Corinthians 1:15-24
ESOCS Devotional 14 November 2024
