By Pastor Mario Ford
Often we make a note to remind others; however, sometimes we need to make a note to remind ourselves.
The Bible says “…David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” 1 Samuel 30:6
Within context, David and his men returned to Ziklag to find their homes burned and families captured by Amalekites, David was greatly distressed and faced threats of stoning from his followers. Instead of breaking down, he encouraged himself and we have to do the same.
There are some would be psychiatrist, shade tree therapist, who will tell you talking to yourself makes you psychotic, schizophrenic, or just plain crazy.
However, I have lived long enough to know there are times when no one else is around, nobody understands, people don’t feel where you are coming from, don’t know what you are going through, don’t really care how you are doing and you have to talk to yourself.
If nobody else believes in you, believe in yourself; if nobody else lifts you, lift yourself up; if nobody else encourages you, encourage yourself.
I remember my kindergarten schoolteacher, from Montview Elementary, Sis. Martha Gardner, who belongs to Douglas Tabernacle, told us about the Little Engine that Could.
The little engine although small in size, had to carry a big load up a mountain; the entire time he kept saying “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can” and when it got to the top of the hill, dropped it’s load, coming back down the mountain it “ I thought I could, I thought I could, I thought I could.”
The Little Engine that Could reminds us that sometime you have to talk to yourself.
There ought to be somebody who can testify you wouldn’t be here today if you didn’t talk to yourself, encourage yourself, pray for yourself, shout for yourself, have church by yourself — sometimes you have to talk to yourself.