Counting Your Blessings: The Model of Self-Encouragement [The Model Series, Part 3 of 3]

I Samuel 30:6

"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."

While David and his warriors were away, the Amalekites raided their town, burned everything, and captured the women and children. The story is played out in eerie similarity in the rape of the Sabine women, which is the account of Rome's beginnings. In any event, the people wanted to stone David because they charged David in leaving the Ziklag defenseless while he galloped off with Achish.

When David couldn't turn to anyone for encouragement, he turned himself to the Lord. Why? Because he found he couldn't place any confidence in his men or the people around him.

This is what David did instead: He exercised his faith on his God. He encouraged himself in the power of God; in the promises of God, and in the faithfulness of God. You see, David knew and understood God's promises in light of his covenant relation to God.

Oh, that we were like David, in remembrance of the grace, mercy, and goodness of God! If only our former experiences of God's hand in our lives would move us closer to Him rather than away because of doubt (instead of faith); because of unbelief (instead of believing that God will meet us in some way or another, and work salvation for us) and because of timidity in the face of fear (instead of drawing strength from the Word of the Lord).  A Christian's God is no figment of the imagination, but is the real and corporal God-man, the Christ, the living Word of God, whose power, whose might, and whose grace is found in Him, Yes, Jesus, is our All in all.

In times of trouble, Christian, do you consider God? Does He ever come across your mind? In your dire stress & adversity, consider Psalm 23 as your model of self-encouragement when no one else is around to encourage you or when you are under attack.

In verse 1, the emphasis is "LORD" and refers to Jesus Christ for Christians. David states that he shall not want (or, lack) because he acknowledges who his Shepherd is and that He shall provide for all of his needs according to His riches in glory (Phil. 4:19).

If you focus on the Lord's 10 Provisions in Psalm 23 and reflect how Jesus has personally met your need in each area, then you truly will be blessed with encouragement in the Lord!

1. SAFE REST

"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:"  (v. 2a)

Here the picture is of repose or resting safely while being fully fed. Confer Eze. 34:15. Can you remember the last time the Lord furnished you repose?

2. PEACE
"...[H]e leadeth me beside the still waters."  (v. 2b)

Not stormy waters or stagnant waters. These waters are still waters, deep waters that not even the strongest heat could steal your breath away or drain you of strength. See Isa. 49:10; Jn. 7:38.

3. REVIVAL
"He restoreth my soul:"  (v. 3a)

God brings back the soul from its errors and sinful wanderings. Oh, what joy one experiences when God delivers us from our evil ways, redeeming the soul from destruction! Check out Ps. 19:7a.

4. JUSTIFICATION
"...[H]e leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."  (v. 3b)

God shows us paths that are good and true and not false in any way because God does not deal treacherously with us. Confer Prv. 4:11; Rom. 3:28, 5:1. Also, being justified is not the sole purpose of your salvation, but that He may be honored & glorified! See Ps. 51:14-15; Eph. 2:8-9.

5. COURAGE
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:"  (v. 4a)

What more do you need than God's mighty hand? It was good enough for Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David and Paul, so it should be good enough for you! Not convinced? Okay, read these Scriptures - Isa. 40:28-31; Exo. 15:2; Jn. 10:27-29.

6. PROTECTION
" ...[F]or thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."  (v. 4b)

Even in the darkest of dark hours and deepest valleys, Jesus will never forsake you or abandon you (Heb. 13:5). Interesting note on the rod & staff: It seems to suggest that the staff refers to the part the which the shepherd used in walking, and the crook (or, rod) refers to the hooked part of the staff, which was used for guiding his flock. Thus, the Lord keeps you on the straight and narrow, if you allow Him! Please confer II Sam. 2:19; Ps. 48:14; Ps. 138:7.

7. PERFECT SUFFICIENCY
"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:"  (v. 5a)

Wow! In the heat of the battle, the Lord prepares a feast for his sheep. A sumptuous feast in perfect security in the midst of turmoil. Truly, if God be for you who can be against you? Christian, are you going to be at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9)? Are you encouraged just yet?

8. ABUNDANCE
"...[T]hou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over."  (v. 5b)

God not only fills you with the joy of gladness, it runs over. This, too, indicates an  abundance of  favors thus bestowed on His children. With the Lord, a believer is never left lacking or unfilled with spiritual joy and comfort. It overflows. See Lk. 6:38.

9. MERCY & GRACE
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:"  (v. 6a)

The hymnist sang, "Mercy there was great and grace was free, pardon there was multiplied to me, there my burdened soul found liberty. Where? At Calvary!" How so true for every one that believes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God! How very comforting to know that as we pass through this life, His goodness and mercy shall follow us every step of the way. Praise the Lord! Amazing grace, how sweet the sound! Need more proof? Go to Lam. 3:22-23.

10. ETERNAL LIFE
"...[A]nd I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."  (v.6b)

Friend, where will you spend eternity? Christ said (three times, mind you) that you must be born again to enter the kingdom of God (Jn. 3:1-7). Are you saved? Are you washed in the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb? Are your garments spotless, are they white as snow? If not, don't reject the free gift of mercy of Calvary! Don't be left out in the dark where there will be gnashing of teeth (Mt. 13:43).

Reader, please consider this model for self-encouragement the next time you're struggling in your Christian walk and have no one to turn to at the moment. It might be a good idea to memorize Psalm 23 and meditate on each part of the psalm, reflecting how God has worked in your life in each of the areas that were noted above.

A final observation on David: He was brought low, only just before he was raised to the throne (read II Sam. 2). So, when things are at their worst with the church and the people of God, that's when they begin to mend.

David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. The soul of the people was bitter; their own discontent and impatience added to the affliction and misery. And, they acted upon their emotions. But David bore it better. Why? Because they gave liberty to their passions, but he set his graces to work; and while they dispirited each other, he, by encouraging himself in God, kept his spirit calm. Those who have taken the Lord for their God, may take encouragement from him in the worst times because God is still on the throne. To God be the glory!

During discouraging times, you need a Saviour. Sometimes you can't wait for the rescuers to arrive. Take matters into your own hands, literally, by praying and encouraging yourself with God's Word. In desperate times you need something solid. What you need is the Holy Bible. In calamitous times you need someone solid. Who you need is Jesus Christ.

Are you his and is He yours? I Want Jesus To Be My Anchor!

In times like these you need a Savior
In times like these you need an anchor;
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He's the One;
This Rock is Jesus, the only One!
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

In times like these you need the Bible,
In times like these O be not idle;
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He's the One;
This Rock is Jesus, the only One!
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

Send the Light

Galatians 5:24-25
"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

In 1838, when James Calvert went out as a Christian missionary to the cannibals of the Fiji Islands, the ship captain tried to turn him back, saying, "You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among [them]."

To that, Calvert replied, "We died before we came here."    

In a nutshell, that is the story of the missionary. However, it is a daily dying and not a one time proposition. Our church recently concluded a 3 day home missions conference. And it got me to think about how our missionaries are in the outer limits of their comfort zones all in the name of taking the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to lost peoples.

In October the church hosts a missions conference. In both conferences, there are missionaries who give their testimony on how the Lord is working in their lives and through their lives. What incredible stories of faith, courage, and love for the Gospel!

About courage, G.K. Chesterton said, "Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live, taking the form of a readiness to die."

It's obvious that Christian missionaries need our prayers. But, what to pray for? Here are some suggestions compliments of the pamphlet, "Praying for Missionaries" (Wonderful Word Publishers), which our church distributes:

1. Pray for their basic needs and missionary needs to be met. When you have an opportunity, talk to missionaries and find out about the country they're serving. Ask about the religion, language, culture and customs. Thus, your prayers will be more specific than just the generic prayer of "Lord, please meet their needs."

Consider these quotes -

"We talk of the Second Coming; half the world has never even heard about the First."
— Oswald J. Smith

"I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light"
— John Keith Falconer

2. Pray for Christian character during trials, troubles and temptations as well as during times of repose, peace and boredom. Pray for strength during physical trials and spiritual ones, too. Usually one type of trial leads to the other kind. After all, they are ambassadors of Christ.

Regarding strength, Hudson Taylor questioned, "How often do we attempt work for God to the limit of our incompetency rather than to the limit of God's omnipotency?"

Thus, prayer for strength and wisdom is very critical for the missionaries. I think about Zechariah 4:6, which states, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts."

3. Pray for victory over stagnation. The missionary may have little or no time for personal reading and studying.

4. Pray for freshness in prayer and Bible teaching.

5. Pray for  the recently converted soul, that he or she doesn't backslide.

6. Pray for deliverance from the temptation of pride. Because missionaries are looked up to, it may be easy for some to fall into conceit. So pray for humility.

7. Pray for wisdom in relations with other missionaries - victory over irritations, resentments, criticisms.

8. Pray for a saving sense of humor and to guard against becoming morbid or unbalanced, especially those in the midst of filth and terrible sin.

9. Pray for the nationals, many of whom the missionaries are training into assuming leadership roles. They need wisdom and grace.

10. Pray for strength to overcome the temptations of loneliness.

And while you're at it, please be mindful and prayerful about missionaries needing encouragement from us. So, when they visit your church, please let them know how much you appreciate them. If you can't financially support them, at least keep them in your daily prayers.

With respect to missions, there are only three kinds of Christians: burdened goers, burdened senders, and the disobedient. Which one are you?

Final quote:

"If you found a cure for cancer, wouldn't it be inconceivable to hide it from the rest of mankind? How much more is it inconceivable to keep silent the cure from the eternal wages of death?"

— Dave Davidson

Let us not grow weary in the work of love,
“Send the light! Send the light!”
Let us gather jewels for a crown above,
Send the light! Send the light!

Send the light, the blessed Gospel light;
Let it shine from shore to shore!
Send the light, the blessed Gospel light;
Let it shine forevermore!

To find out why missionaries are burdened about telling others of Jesus Christ, Click Here!

The Tiger, The Man and God

I John 2:15-17
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."


A man was being chased by a tiger. He ran as hard as he could until he was at the edge of a cliff with the tiger in hot pursuit. The man looked over the edge of the cliff and saw a branch growing out of the side of the cliff a few feet down. He jumped down and grabbed the branch just as the tiger reached the cliff. The tiger growled viciously as the man sighed a great sigh of relief.

Just then a woodpecker lighted on the branch and began pecking furiously. The man looked down to what was a drop of a thousand feet and sure death and looked to the heavens and yelled out, “Dear God, if you are there, please help! I will do anything you ask but please help!”

Suddenly a voice came booming down from heaven, “Will you do anything I ask?”

The man shocked to hear a reply to his plea yelled back, “I will gladly do anything you ask, but please save me!”

The voice from heaven then replied, “There is one way to save you but it will take courage and faith.”

The branch began to weaken and creak from the woodpecker's tapping and the tiger was still growling a few feet above the man, pawing at him, “Please, Lord, tell me what I must do and I will do it! Your will is my will!”

The voice from heaven then said, “All right then, let go of the branch.”

The man looked down to a fall of a thousand feet and certain death. He then looked up at the hungry, growling tiger a few feet away and saw that the woodpecker was still pecking away on the branch.

Then he looked up at the heavens and yelled, “Is there anyone else up there?”

* * * * *

Isn't it something: When there's a crisis or tribulation, we cry out to God. When He answers our prayer in a way we're not expecting then our reaction is typically the same type of reaction we see in the joke you just read.

God is sovereign, which means He's in control, which means He calls the shots, which means that even when things appear out of control (to us) they're all part of God's plan, which means that we may not understand at all what's going on upstairs in heaven.

We may even secretly ask in our hearts, "God, what are you doing?" when things are falling apart.

I don't know about you, Mr. Christian, but I've never gotten an answer from God outside of His word. When the Lord has answered me, it has been through the Holy Bible. In fact, the Scripture that has spoken to my heart and bears worth noting comes from Romans 8:28:

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Thus, God's working it all out for me because I love Him and He loves me. But, why should I go through hardships? Romans 8:29 continues by explaining that the purpose to be conformed to the image of His Son.

Also consider James 1:2 "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations."

Notice the 3 keywords: "When" and "joy" and "temptations"

Point #1 - Temptations will come and knock on your door. It's not a question of if, but when. And, you'll get a variety of them, kinda like assorted nuts, to keep things interesting.

Point #2 - When temptations arrive, count it, reckon it as joy. Don't sulk, whine, complain or suck your thumb. God hates complainers. At my job, there's a bevy of grumblers. Their litanies drain the lifeblood out of the workday, which is why I avoid them at all costs! So, why be joyful? Hold on and you shall see the dividend and pay off.

Point #3 - There will be temptations that you and I as believers will fall into. Here's the good news: Falling into temptation is NOT the sames as falling into sin. Therefore, rejoice because temptation does not equal yielding to temptation.

In I Corinthians 10:13, it states and promises: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

By the way, in case you're wondering how to fight temptation, prayerfully read over and study Matthew 4:1-11. This is how Jesus fought the Devil and this is how you should do as well.

You might still be wondering: What's all this got to do with joy? Well, James 1:3-4 clarifies:

"Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

Isn't that reason to rejoice!? God is conforming you to the image of Jesus Christ and He's perfecting you! An "Amen!" goes right there.

Therefore, do the right thing, obey God, trust Him and take Him at His word. After all, obedience brings blessings (James 1:22-25). Plus, if you've already trusted Him with your soul in eternity, why aren't you trusting Him with your life now?

Continue here: I Want to Trust Jesus!