Strengthen Yourself

Yesterday afternoon I ran out of gas for the day.  I went to bed counting on God to renew my strength, and this morning He did so beautifully.  He reminded me how, “David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”  (1 Samuel 30:6).  At that time David’s friends were literally discussing killing him because of mistakes they felt he had made.  No challenge I’m facing is quite that intense!
 
So, this morning I asked, how did David strengthen himself in the Lord?  David immediately asked for God’s guidance, then received it and courageously obeyed it (1 Samuel 30:7-9). 
 
The songs or psalms he later wrote show this pattern in how David strengthened Himself: 
1.     He worshipped, reminding himself of Who God really is.  (Psalm 18:2). 
2.     He waited for the Lord to strengthen him, rather than trying to light his own fire through fleshly solutions.  (Psalm 27:14).
3.     He received the grace available to him and let his heart take courage (Psalm 31:24 & Hebrews 12:15).
 
Now I feel strengthened.  I don’t know about you, but I’m going to memorize some of these passages so that I’m ready to strengthen myself in the Lord again, and again, and again. 
 
My pastoral friends have urged me to rest this month.  That was already my plan, and I am doing do.  I’m home for six weeks, working a reduced schedule, and taking two weeks of vacation for a quiet holiday.