David knew he had to do something to find strength. Since he couldn’t count on his men to uplift
him in that moment, he encouraged himself in the Lord. It wasn’t that those with David didn’t love
him, but they were dealing with their own distress. They lashed out and reacted emotionally. They
could not heal David's wounds with their words, because they were too busy nurturing their own
emotional injuries.
David, however, didn’t sit around and wait for his boys to pull themselves together so they could
encourage him; he talked to God on himself. And God gave him the strength he needed to recover
all.
You won’t always be able to call on your friends in your time of trouble. You aren't guaranteed to
have a confidante each time you face a difficult season of testing. This is why it is imperative that
we all nurture our personal relationships with the Lord, so He can strengthen our hearts. That way,
when no one is able to speak a word of encouragement into our lives, we can draw from the
strength of God's word, and do it for ourselves.
Sometimes, you’ve got to get face to face with yourself in the mirror and tell yourself I can make
it; I can get through this; I am more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus. Or better yet, get face
to face with God in your secret place and allow His spirit to encourage your spirit. That’s exactly
what I had to learn to do, and it’s a lesson that I will forever treasure.
As the lyrics to Donald Lawrence’s popular song says, “Speak over yourself, encourage yourself in
the Lord.
Did this article touch and minister to you in some way? Email lcollins@eewmagazine.com.
him in that moment, he encouraged himself in the Lord. It wasn’t that those with David didn’t love
him, but they were dealing with their own distress. They lashed out and reacted emotionally. They
could not heal David's wounds with their words, because they were too busy nurturing their own
emotional injuries.
David, however, didn’t sit around and wait for his boys to pull themselves together so they could
encourage him; he talked to God on himself. And God gave him the strength he needed to recover
all.
You won’t always be able to call on your friends in your time of trouble. You aren't guaranteed to
have a confidante each time you face a difficult season of testing. This is why it is imperative that
we all nurture our personal relationships with the Lord, so He can strengthen our hearts. That way,
when no one is able to speak a word of encouragement into our lives, we can draw from the
strength of God's word, and do it for ourselves.
Sometimes, you’ve got to get face to face with yourself in the mirror and tell yourself I can make
it; I can get through this; I am more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus. Or better yet, get face
to face with God in your secret place and allow His spirit to encourage your spirit. That’s exactly
what I had to learn to do, and it’s a lesson that I will forever treasure.
As the lyrics to Donald Lawrence’s popular song says, “Speak over yourself, encourage yourself in
the Lord.
Did this article touch and minister to you in some way? Email lcollins@eewmagazine.com.
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May 23-June 6
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When it came to that, I was like a fish out of water.
It took a lot of deprogramming, spending time
with God, and seeking answers in His word to
learn how to speak life into myself, without having
to count on others to keep me alive, spiritually.
I was greatly inspired by the story of David in 1
Samuel 30:1-6. When he and his men traveled to
Ziklag, they experienced great calamity at the
hands of the Amalekites. Their wives and
children were taken captive, and their homes
burned. In the midst of great pain, David's own
men began to speak of stoning him. Imagine how
difficult that must have been!
It took a lot of deprogramming, spending time
with God, and seeking answers in His word to
learn how to speak life into myself, without having
to count on others to keep me alive, spiritually.
I was greatly inspired by the story of David in 1
Samuel 30:1-6. When he and his men traveled to
Ziklag, they experienced great calamity at the
hands of the Amalekites. Their wives and
children were taken captive, and their homes
burned. In the midst of great pain, David's own
men began to speak of stoning him. Imagine how
difficult that must have been!
LaKeisha Rainey-Collins is a wife, mother
of two beautiful boys and inspirational
blogger. She believes that God has
purposed her to use her gift of writing to
share her experiences as a Christian
woman, wife, and mother, in order to touch
the hearts of other women just like her.
Email LaKeisha:
kcollins@eewmagazine.com
Connect on Facebook
Facebook.com
of two beautiful boys and inspirational
blogger. She believes that God has
purposed her to use her gift of writing to
share her experiences as a Christian
woman, wife, and mother, in order to touch
the hearts of other women just like her.
Email LaKeisha:
kcollins@eewmagazine.com
Connect on Facebook
Facebook.com
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I used to be the type that often needed A
LOT of encouragement from others. If I
didn’t have anyone to take me by the hand,
and pull me out of the slums, I’d stay right
there and wallow in my sorrows. I survived
off of the encouragement of others,
emotionally and spiritually, and if I didn’t
have it, I could not function and became
stagnant.
I had no idea how much my need for a boost
from others handicapped me. That is, until I
had absolutely no one to encourage me
during a rough patch in my life.
LOT of encouragement from others. If I
didn’t have anyone to take me by the hand,
and pull me out of the slums, I’d stay right
there and wallow in my sorrows. I survived
off of the encouragement of others,
emotionally and spiritually, and if I didn’t
have it, I could not function and became
stagnant.
I had no idea how much my need for a boost
from others handicapped me. That is, until I
had absolutely no one to encourage me
during a rough patch in my life.
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The ones who I could usually lean on were having problems of their own, and needed
encouragement for themselves. Without them, I didn’t know what to do. I felt lost, alone, and
neglected.
In my carnal mind, I felt that my encouragers had forsaken me. But what I failed to realize is that
God was trying to teach me a lesson that I desperately needed to learn. He wanted to teach me
how to encourage myself.
During that time, gospel singer Donald Lawrence had a hit song entitled Encourage Yourself. I
remember driving my oldest son to school one morning, and this song came on the radio. It was
the first time I’d heard it.
The very first line hit me right in the heart – “Sometimes you have to encourage yourself…”
Tears began to stream down my cheeks, because I realized that was exactly what I needed to do,
but because I’d depended solely upon the encouragement of others, I didn’t know how to
encourage myself.
encouragement for themselves. Without them, I didn’t know what to do. I felt lost, alone, and
neglected.
In my carnal mind, I felt that my encouragers had forsaken me. But what I failed to realize is that
God was trying to teach me a lesson that I desperately needed to learn. He wanted to teach me
how to encourage myself.
During that time, gospel singer Donald Lawrence had a hit song entitled Encourage Yourself. I
remember driving my oldest son to school one morning, and this song came on the radio. It was
the first time I’d heard it.
The very first line hit me right in the heart – “Sometimes you have to encourage yourself…”
Tears began to stream down my cheeks, because I realized that was exactly what I needed to do,
but because I’d depended solely upon the encouragement of others, I didn’t know how to
encourage myself.
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