You mentioned needing encouragement, and this passage encourages me when I'm not feeling particularly hopeful. It's about David, he's battling some army, but then he stops and "encourages himself in the Lord" (1 Samuel 30:1-6) before going forward. It was impressed upon me how we can "encourage ourselves," and that it isn't our external circumstances dictating our inner emotional state and frame of mind, but our heart that must be continually on guard to stay encouraged, hopeful and determined to walk in the Lord's will. Since we are supposed to know what the will of the Lord is (Ephesians 5:17) - it makes sense that this is something that the Lord would want for us: clarity of mind, heart, and having the wisdom to discern and know his will for our lives.
