Some days don’t turn out the way we want them to, no matter how we try. Have you ever had a day like that? I had one recently. It seemed there were distractions and roadblocks on every turn. It felt like I accomplished nothing.
There was nothing I could do but go home at day’s end. I could have arrived home, went to bed and covered my head. But I didn’t.
When I walked into my house, worship music greeted me. Ahhh…
I began to listen to worship music. Then, I began to worship. I listened to preaching for a while. Then I worshiped more. I began to feel the stress of the day fade away. I prayed in the spirit for a while. Read my Bible for a while. Then I worshipped some more. Finally, I went to sleep in peace.
I didn’t think a lot about it until the next morning. As I sat at my desk thinking “God, please let today be better” He began to speak to me. He showed me the importance of how I ended a seemingly bad day the night before. He showed me that instead of remaining in a negative atmosphere, I strengthened myself in the Lord my God.
Because I strengthened myself in the Lord, I was able to come into work with a new hope and a fresh start. I was empowered to continue to press forward.
Just like David did.
Moreover, David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. 1 Samuel 30:6
David was in a hard place. His wife, kids and all his possessions had been stolen, along with the families and possessions of his men. They were ready to stone him.
They had followed the man of God, God’s chosen, and they had lost everything. They were beyond livid!
However, David didn’t react to his despair. He didn’t react to their anger. He didn’t even react to their threats. He chose to strengthen himself in the Lord on a very bad day.
You see when we react to what the enemy is doing, we set ourselves up for disappointment. We will become discouraged, frustrated and bitter. God cannot work in that atmosphere.
However, when we strengthen ourselves in the Lord, we create an atmosphere God can work in. In that place of seeking God, He speaks to us and gives us direction. He alone can deliver us. Therefore, it’s vital we seek His face amid the turmoil.
You know the old saying, “Don’t go to bed angry?” I say, “Don’t go to bed discouraged.”
Change your mind. Change your thinking. Get your mind off the stress of the day and back on God. As you do, you will change the atmosphere around you.
He promises to keep us in perfect peace as our mind is stayed upon him. Keep your mind consistently on Him.
We all have bad days. We all become discouraged. We all deal with daily issues that can be unpleasant. But we do not have to remain there. We can strengthen ourselves in the Lord and come out of that place. We can rise above it. We can get back into a place of worship and praise. We have the power and authority to change the atmosphere around us. To create one filled with the presence of God.
It is in that place that God can speak. It is in that place His peace comes. And it is in that place, deliverance comes.
