Giving encouragement is vital.
But I believe that the most important person you should ever encourage is YOURSELF!!

Before you think I have lost what little plot I still possess, let me assure you that this is an entirely Biblical stance.

When tragedy struck his life, we read: ‘David encouraged himself in the Lord…’ (1 Samuel 30:6). How did he do this?

We read that although he was greatly troubled that the men in his own army were threatening to stone him for the deaths of their wives and daughters, David did not panic. Instead we read,
“Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him, and David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?”
He went straight to God, instead of straight to others.

He inquired of the Lord. First. Get it?

We need to learn how to do that too. We need to learn to go to God and ask Him what He thinks of us and what we are doing.

Jude writes: ‘…building up yourselves…praying in the Holy Spirit’ (Jude v. 20). To succeed in life you and I must learn to encourage ourselves, to pray and build ourselves up.

So where do you need encourage today?
Is it in your prayer life? Your work? Your relationship with a difficult person? Your eating? Your spending? Your time? Your health?

Take some time to pray for yourself right now and ask that God would build you up in that area to fight against any enemy assignment. It matters greatly how you see yourself.
Are you a kitten or a LION?
ENCOURAGE YOURSELF!