1 Samuel 30:6 David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the LORD his God.  (New Living Translation)

I wasn’t feeling particularly strong this morning physically, emotionally, or spiritually.  So, I thought of 1 Samuel 30:6.

A literal translation of that last sentence would be “And David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.”  It was something he did to himself.  (For Hebrew students, the verb translated “strengthened” of “found strength” is a hithpa`el.)

We are told in 1 Samuel some of the things that had taken place up to this point.  David had been on the run from King Saul for years.  He had finally taken refuge with the Philistines, but they did not altogether trust him.  He had offered to go to war on the side of his Philistine host.  We are not told whether the offer was sincere or not.  As is often the case, David’s motives are opaque.

David was sent back to the town he and his marauders had been given by the Philistines, Ziklag.  However, as they drew near, all they saw was a pile of burned rubble.  The Amalekites had raided Ziklag, and taken all the possessions and family members of David and his men.  David’s men seem to have been very loyal to him generally, but loyalty has its limits.  They were so devastated that “they began to talk of stoning” David.

But then, we are told that “David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.”  We are not told how he did that, just that he did it.

How do you strengthen yourself in the LORD?  I don’t really know, but I do have some suspicions.  Here is what works for me.

1. I strengthen myself by reading and meditating on the Scriptures.  I am committed to reading the entire Bible through twice this year.  Sometimes, the Word of God encourages me, sometimes it brings me up short, sometimes it just puzzles me, but it always strengthens me.
2. I strengthen myself by other readings.  I am rereading The Narnia Chronicles, for example.  I also find Martin Buber’s Tales of the Hasidim to be a continual source of strength.  The Jesuits have a very helpful (and free!) “Three-Minute Retreat,” which you can sign up for through Loyola Press.
3. My twelve-step meetings and brothers and sisters are extremely strengthening.
4. I like Christian music.  I like old hymns and modern Christian music, monastic chants and Promise Keepers’ favorites, instrumental and vocal music.  I find that listening to such music makes me stronger.
5. I remember what God has done in the past for others and for me.  I am strengthened by these memories to believe that God will take care of my present struggles.
6. I try to be of service to others.  It may seem counterintuitive, but when I serve others, I find that my strength is not depleted, but rather that my strength is strengthened.
7. Gratitude is also a wonderfully strengthening activity.
8. Prayer can help a great deal.  Prayer isn’t primarily about getting answers, at least it isn’t for me.  Prayer is about acknowledging the reality of me and the Reality of God.  When I am in touch with my reality and with the Reality of God, I find myself strengthened.
9. The final way I strengthen myself in the LORD is to remember that weakness is not the problem.  Indeed, weakness is a wonderful opportunity for God to work in my life.   The Apostle Paul writes in NLT  2 Corinthians 12 about a thorn in the flesh that he had.  He doesn’t tell us precisely what that thorn was, but he does tell us that he earnestly prayed to God that it would be taken away.  Thorns in the flesh are no fun!

How did God answer Paul’s prayer?  “Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”

Weakness, when acknowledged and submitted to God, is the strongest form of strength.