I've got a question for the few of you that actually check out this blog.
A few days ago during my quiet time I was reading through 1 Samuel 30. Here's the background: The Amalekites came to Ziklag and burned down the entire city and took captive all of the women and children. They didn't kill them, but when David and his men returned to the city to find it burned and their families gone, they were in despair. Who wouldn't be?
Verse 6 says, "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." Later in verse 8 we are told that David inquired of the Lord.
So here's my question: What does it mean to strengthen yourself in the Lord? Practically speaking, what do you do?
I agree with Allyson. I was thinking tha same thing.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing that I was thinking when I read your question was... Do you know how sometimes you just are so overwhelmed and you are on your last straw and you just have to re focus and center your self and put your self back infront of the cross? You just weep and pray and put God right back at the front where he belongs.
Those are the two things I was thinking of. I could be wrong because i am terrible at reading comprehension... but thats what it sounds like to me.
I run to God's word. Scripture is the only objective truth by which we Christians can measure our circumstances. Our emotions, thought processes and the opinions of others are subjective and so perverted by our sin nature that if we rely on them we'll dispair. Whenever, I go into a funk (and depression is an old dependable companion of mine) I bury myself in the Bible. If I don't, I'm overwhelmed and succumb.
ReplyDeleteI'm similar to Allyson. When I'm discouraged, God reminds me to pray about it (sometimes it takes me a little while before I'm willing to do that) and when I do, He reminds me of truth from the Bible that applies to my situation...truth like, God is in control and knows all things and wants to bring Himself glory and loves me; truth like, I need to be cleaned from sin (a life-long process! Yikes!) and this situation (whatever it is) is God's way of helping that happen.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the blog, Tracy; keep it up!