As a continuation of part 1, I want to share with you some ways we can continually encourage ourselves. When you got no one but yourself in a moment, here’s what you need to do.
4. Recall the Word of God
Notice when you are going through something, there is not always a pull, but a resistance towards reading the Bible? There is often a war over you receiving insight during trials or challenging times.
The Scriptures contain record of situations that retell us situations often much worse than what we are going through. This helps put things into perspective. The Word also contains treasures that open up spiritual keys to grow us to the next level in this time of spiritual tension.
It is important to open up our spiritual hearing and be tuned into what God may be saying for our spiritual growth. When the Word comes, begin to speak those things out loud so that your attention gains focus. Your heart will become centered on what God is saying, not what the enemy would be saying.
5. Learn the art of speaking to yourself.
Psalm 43:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.
David in this passage is actually having a conversation with himself. In his down and out feelings, he asks, why are you in this funk? In that speaking to himself, he challenges himself to (1) change the focus onto the hope of God, (2) put energy into praising God and (3) let God change his countenance. Even his face received the affects of a changed perspective.
Here are some ways that I help speak and minister to myself:
Mirror ministry: I stand or sit in front of a mirror. I look at myself in the eyes and I speak words over myself. One of the things I say is “Mark, I love you and accept you completely, right now.” Looking at myself in the eye makes connection to my inner man to confront areas that need shifting. I speak the Word of God over myself and I speak to the potential of my day. I use this moment to affirm who God made me to be and even to renounce ways of thinking that are rising up as I look at myself in the mirror. This is a time to be nurturing to yourself. Don’t wait for someone to say these things to you—take responsibility and minister to your heart.
Confront negative self-talk: We all have negative self-talk that lulls as white noise in the background of our thinking—limiting ways of seeing ourselves that hinder our perspective.
We also have to confront the negative story that we have given into regarding our lives and gain a new story for our future. Too many, when they are stuck, often have a story they believe from the past that keeps them moving forward.
Confront the bad story. How do you find the bad story? When people talk about your inability to break free, what story do you give them? That’s the story that needs to be confronted, healed and rewired.
Bring to recall the testimony of God: During adversity, I often feel as though everything that God has done has faded from memory. This is a precise tactic that comes against us by our enemy—to keep us focused on what we may think that God has not done, versus focusing on what God has done.
This is why it is important to keep a record of every work that God has done in your life. If your only record of testimony is when you accepted Christ 20 years ago, then you need to add to record of what God has done.
In the Old Testament, God spoke to His people about remembering the ways of God. He told them to mark it in different areas of the house, whether it was marking on the doorposts or placing land markers as a reminder.
For your own life, make a record of everything that God has done in your life as a record of who He is in your life.
I seek to grow in leading myself. I do not wait for someone else to exhort me or to challenge me. I begin each day by learning to lead myself. I cannot lead others effectively if I have not learned the practice of leading myself.
Question: What practice can you begin putting into action today?