Self-encouragement

We all need some encouragement. There will be days we face conflicts, misunderstandings, challenging conversations, impossible deadlines or struggle with finances. Whatever the case is, we can thankfully go to God’s promises and declare them over ourselves. Many of the psalms that King David wrote were prayers of encouragement to strengthen himself in the Lord.

(See Chinese versions: 简体中文 > 自我鼓励 | 繁體中文 > 自我鼓勵)

1 Samuel 30:6 ESV  And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

A prayer of self-encouragement

“Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you that I can come before Your holy throne and lay down all my worries and burdens. I thank You for the privilege to come into Your holy presence, because of Your Son’s sacrifice for me on the cross. I am so thankful and grateful for Your amazing love. Right now, I really need to be reminded of Your great love in the depths of my heart and my soul.

Psalm 86:13 ESV  For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead.

Thank you that I can be like a child in Your presence and that You promise to never abandon me, even if other people forsake me.

Psalm 27:10 ESV  For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in.

As a child who gets lost easily, I find myself fixating on the things of this world and forgetting that You have not given me a spirit of fear. Thank you that You made the entire universe with Your mighty power and Spirit – and You put this same Spirit of power, love and self-control inside me. 

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV  for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Thank you that when I am stained by the dirt in this world, You are willing to stoop down and wash my feet so that I can be refreshed and cleansed again. Thank you that You are always faithful and generous, even when I forget that You are right by my side during difficult times.

John 13:8 ESV  Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”

Help me to see everyone around me for their brokenness and their equal need for You. Please remind me that other people are not my real enemies, but it is Satan who is the one that wants to destroy both myself and those around me. 

1 John 3:8 ESV  Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

I choose not to judge others because they are Your children too. You are the One who watches over all of us and knows all our needs. I will therefore praise You for the work You will do in all our lives when we turn to You. What rejoicing, glory, and praise there will be, both for them and for me.

In the meantime, as I get bruised from walking through the brokenness in this world, I confess and surrender my wounds to you for Your gentle healing. Thank you that You are close to the weary, troubled and brokenhearted. Because You first loved and forgave me, I choose to forgive those who have hurt me and speak blessings over them in Jesus’ name instead.

Ephesians 4:32 ESV  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Luke 6:27-28 ESV  “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

Help me to walk above all the rocky waves of this life as I learn to fixate my eyes on Jesus, the Perfecter of my faith. I know I will not sink into the water when I look towards You for my help, comfort and encouragement.

Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV  … let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

I declare You are a good and faithful God, worthy of all praise, wonder, and awe. As I walk as Your child in the shelter of the Most High, who can be against me? I will lift my eyes to You, oh Father, and thank you for Your unfailing and perfect love. Thank you You continue to help me in my weakness and that You will bring Your good work in me to completion for Your glory.

Philippians 1:6 ESV  And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

In Jesus’ name, I thank You, amen!”