So Be Encouraged

Devotion 2: Encourage Yourself

“The Word of God coming out of your mouth is stronger than anything that has ever been said to you.” – Joyce Meyers

Sometimes in life, you must be your own cheerleader. You are going to have to purchase your own pair of pompoms, throw your own pep rally, break out your best dance moves and begin to shout with loud praises with a voice of triumph. Learn to encourage yourself in the midst of your storm! For far too long, you have depended on what everyone else thinks is best, and you have depended on their words to carry you through instead of leaning on God’s Word. It is time for you to clothe yourself with His truth. Then, you will know that everything is going to be alright even though your circumstances do not seem like it.

Self-motivation and building yourself up is not prideful. It is about assuring yourself in God’s love and in His promises over your life, but with your own mouth. I am all for prophetic words and receiving words of affirmation from loved ones, but I believe there comes a point in time where you are going to have to speak those words back to yourself as a reminder that you are blessed and dearly loved. There will be times when your mother, father, best friends, or mentors will not be around to tell you what you need to do. They will not always be there to pray you through your hardest times. There are times in your life, I believe, God purposely does not allow your friends to pick up the phone in the late-night hours when you are in dire need of some help. In these moments, you are not alone. God is right there beside you and He is testing your heart and encouraging you to exercise the faith He has given you.

It is imperative that you develop a lifestyle of daily recitation and confessions of God’s faithful promises to increase your trust and faith in God. As you begin to do daily affirmations, you may not always believe that things are going to get better, or that God is going to see you through. But when you speak God’s Word out loud to yourself, heaven will come down and things will change. As a result, when the winds and hail storms of life come, you will become immovable and untouched. The Word of God is alive and active. It shifts atmospheres and it causes things to work out in your favor. Most of all, God honors His Word above His name. He has not forgotten the words He has spoken over you. In Isaiah 55:11 (NIV), the Bible says, “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” In the following verse Isaiah 55:12 (NIV), God says that, “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace.”

So be encouraged because in due time, you will see the harvest, blessings, healing, and breakthrough you have been waiting for. In the meantime, do not underestimate the power of your words, today. Joyce Meyers says it like this, “Line up your language with the heart of God, and enjoy the sweet, delightful healing it brings!” Speak words of life to promote a happy and peaceful day. Today, encourage yourself in the Lord and be made whole. Rely on Jesus to be your everything and He will make everything better for you.

PRAYER OF AFFIRMATIONS:

“I am affirmed in God’s love for me. I am a child of God. I am beautifully, fearfully, and wonderfully made. God’s love for me is based on who I am and not what I do. I am thriving in God’s love and do not have to strive for it through my works. I am a child of God and not just a servant. Everything I place my hands on will be blessed and successful. The Lord Jesus has set me free and I am walking in the fullness of authority, power, and victory He has for me. Today is going to be a great day full of blessings, joy, peace, and God’s daily surprises for me. I have rest in Jesus and no matter what comes my way, my peace will not be disturbed. Jesus is my rock, my fortress, the One I depend on, and the supplier of my needs. Yesterday is gone, today is here and I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. My spirit, body, mind, and soul are healed in Jesus’ name. My family, loved ones, and I are protected under the blood of Jesus. I declare for the glory of the Lord to be revealed in my life. I am walking under an open heaven, so Lord may your blessings fall mightily upon me and my family. May I always be in the right position to receive those blessings. I will choose to love everyone and to share God’s love, grace, patience, and His compassion towards everyone I encounter. Thank you for your mercies that are new every morning and great is your faithfulness towards me, Lord. The work God has begun in my life, He will bring it to pass. I stand in position this day to receive all you have for me, Lord. Lord, please remove every aggravation and scheme of the enemy, in Jesus’ name. Every trap the devil has planned for me and for my family, will all fail. I am victorious. I am more than a conqueror. I am the head and not the tail, above and not beneath, a lender and not a borrower. I am prosperous, bold, and dearly loved. I declare all these words of truth will come to pass in my life, in Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.”