WELCOME TO OUR DAILY DEVOTIONAL PAGE.  THESE DEVOTIONALS ARE ALSO FOUND ON FACEBOOK EACH DAY AT 
http://www.facebook.com/devotionalkjv
  
 
AUGUST 30
ENCOURAGED RATHER THAN DISCOURAGED

Scripture:   1 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.”

    As we look at the life of David, we see a man who found much trouble.  David had every right to be discouraged, but he wasn’t. The Bible tells us that he encouraged himself in the Lord his God.  A man who, returning home one day from the battle, found that everything he cherished was gone.  The city was burned.  The women and children were taken. His men became discouraged, but not David. 
    There are some reasons why David was not discouraged during such a trying time as this in his life.  First, I think it was because David had put his trust in God.  He was walking by faith.  He said in Psalm 7:1, “O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust:  save me from them that persecute me, and deliver me:” The first thing we need to overcome discouragement is a strong faith in God.  
    Then we see that he delighted in the Lord.  Psalm 37:4 “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”  It didn’t matter how many were against him, he was delighting himself in the Lord.  1 Thessalonians 5:18 says “In everything give thanks.”  
    Then we see that he had a desire for God.  Psalm 42:1 says “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.”  He was hungering and thirsting after God. His only desire on earth was to serve God.
    Then we see that he waited on the Lord.  Psalm 62:1 says, “Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.”  David waited on God. Learn to wait on the Lord, desire Him, delight in Him and trust Him and you’ll find that you will be encouraged rather than discouraged in the battles that we face.  Don’t let discouragement in your life, destroy the thing that God is trying to do in and through you!