In our study of the Proverbs 31 good woman with Good Morning Girls, we were reminded that: the joy of the Lord is our strength; that we
should do whatever our hands find to do with all our might; and that we can do
all things through Christ who strengthens us.
We
are to be strong physically, mentally and emotionally, and spiritually.
Yes but how?
We need to remember that strength comes from God:
it sounds obvious, but how often do we remember this? I know I don’t – usually muddle along a best
I can without particularly relying on God. In the day to day, I become
complacent.
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking
the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength
God provides, so that in all things
God may be praised through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 4:11
Colossians 1:11 says that we
are ... strengthened with all power according to his
glorious might so that (we) may have great endurance and patience...and Philippians 4:13 that we can do everything through him who gives (us)
strength.
Some
key verses to keep us going and give us strength: TRUST
Psalm
20:6-8 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed)
he
answers him from his holy heaven
with
the saving power of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but
we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
8 They are brought to their knees
and fall,
but
we rise up and stand firm.
Isaiah 12:2 says: Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and
not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has
become my salvation.”
This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy
One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness
and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for
help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in
the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of
Israel, or seek help from the LORD.
GOD TURNS WEAKNESS TO STRENGTH
In the great list of heroes, the writer of Hebrews talks of how God gave the
prophets strength (Chapter 11 v 34) and Paul (2 Corinthians
12:9)
said:
But he said to me, “My grace is
sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that
Christ’s power may rest on me.
GO IN THE STRENGTH YOU HAVE – as Gideon did. Things were bad,
and Gideon questioned God as to why they were, but God didn’t explain – just
told him how things were going to get better.
JOY
We do not
necessarily associate the strength of God with joy, yet David, in his great
psalm of thanks after bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem says:
Splendour and majesty are before him; strength
and joy in his dwelling place. 1 Chronicles 16:27
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food
and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is
sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
Zephaniah
3:17
The Lord your God is with you,
he
is mighty to save.
He will take great
delight in you,
he
will quiet you with his love,
he
will rejoice over you with singing.”
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to
those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve,
for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am
helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.
being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so
that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully
To
finish, let us echo the words of David in his Psalm of thanks:
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his
face always.
Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and
the judgments he pronounced.
...Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength, ascribe
to the Lord the glory due his name...Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
his love endures forever. (1 Chronicles 16,
vv 11 – 12, 28 – 29
GoodMorningGirls suggests: follow Phil 4.8 … and think upon things that are good, right, noble
…. even in the midst of pain and hardship. We need to flee to the basics of the
Christian faith, and set our minds on “the things above,” on Christ himself.
God is always good, he is always kind, he is never cruel, he has a perfect
plan, he is with us always.
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