Inspiration

One of the battles that everyone faces at some time or another is the battle of discouragement. Our dreams don’t always happen on our timetable. We go through disappointments and adversities. With so much coming against us, it can be easy to loose enthusiasm and zeal for life. It’s good to have family and friends who encourage you. It’s good to have a coach, a teacher, or a pastor to cheer you on. But one thing I’ve learned is that other people cannot keep us encouraged. They may give us a boost. They may help us from time to time. But if you’re really going to live in victory, that encouragement has to come from the inside. You’ve got to learn to encourage yourself. When times get tough and things aren’t going your way and you feel like giving up on your dreams, deep down in your spirit there has to be a resolve, strength on the inside that says, “I refuse to settle where I am. I know God has a great plan for my life, and I’m going to keep pressing forward to become everything that He’s created me to be.” In the Bible, that’s what David had to do. At one point, he had suffered a major setback. It was one of the most difficult times of his life. His city had been destroyed, his family was kidnapped, and finally his own men turned against him. It looked like an impossible situation. David could have easily just given up and faded off into the sunset, defeated and depressed. But the scripture says i