August 15, One Something

Today’s reading: Psalms 71-75

“We are given no signs from God; no prophets are left,
and none of us knows how long this will be” - Psalm 74:9.

One time I was in a tough place financially, and the phone rang for someone to schedule me to consult for them three months later. I was discouraged before the phone rang and was greatly encouraged after the call. Then I thought, “Hey, there won’t be any money from that call for three months. Why do I feel so much better?” Then I reasoned, “If I could feel so much better after the call, how can I feel that way before the call?” When you are in a difficult season, the toughest part can be not knowing how long the season will last. Therefore, it is important to encourage yourself today by thinking, “I am just a phone call, unexpected event, chance meeting, sales call, test score, or doctor’s visit away from my breakthrough” and then to live and behave like that breakthrough has already taken place. David did this before he went into a battle to recover his loved ones: “But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6b KJV). Do you need to encourage yourself today rather than wait for others to do it? Can you encourage yourself with the thought that you are only “one something” away from victory, while not knowing when that one something will occur? Lord, it’s difficult to live in faith at the moment when nothing seems to be happening. Yet You are the God of the turnaround, and You can change my situation overnight with just one act of Your mighty hand. Therefore, I have decided to enjoy today in anticipation of what You will do.