Encourage Yourself Today!

And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day.
Judges 20:22

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 I have already written about this, please forgive me and indulge me, as I am led to write about it again.

A variety of negative images bombard our senses daily. The news alone is enough to discourage anyone.

Forget what society has to say about us--we potentially do enough damage to self! From body image to chastising ourselves for poor choices, we can really do a number on ourselves.

But we can turn things around. For starters, we can talk ourselves up, not down. In her book, The Silent Seduction of Self Talk, Shelly Beach, a writer acquaintance of mine, wrote that we speak to ourselves at a rate of 1,300 words per minute. Her entire book is about the power of self talk, and how we make constant assessments and judgments of ourselves.

So what are you saying about yourself? Are you highly critical or do you give yourself a pat on the back? Do you build up or tear down? If you have trouble "talking yourself up," ask the Lord to see you as He sees you.
I have had issues with anxiety, rejection and loss. I talk myself up with confessions or affirmations, looking up what the Lord says about His people, and then declaring it over myself. I whisper, speak, or post little notes up that remind me that I am valuable, lovable, worthwhile, unique, and the Lord's daughter. I am anointed. I am gifted. I am the woman for the job...etc.

Just for Today, I will focus on encouraging myself.
Just for Today, I will not rely on others to recognize the good in me. I SEE IT, and I speak it.
And I am more victorious than I was yesterday.

Dear Lord, You said in the Bible that there is power to my words, literally life and death (Proverbs 18:21). Help me to see myself as You see me, and to speak life, health, peace and healing over myself. Through Your power, my spirit is lifted and I am encouraged today! In the name of Jesus, Amen.