God – My Strength
God, All I Need [10]
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Now is come salvation and STRENGTH..
Rev.12:10
Be STRONG and of a good courage…
Have I not commanded thee – Be STRONG….
Josh.1:9
MY STRENGTH is made perfect in weakness…
2Cor.12:9
Have you ever run a marathon ? – - – and finished first ?
Those who do rejoice greatly, “..like a strong man to run his race” Psa.19:5
Oh there is much joy and satisfaction in moral and in physical strength.
But the man that is perfect in physical strength depends on many things:
Nourishing food to replenish and build up the power of sinews and muscles..
Sufficient sleep and a carefully constructed workout – to maintain peak fitness.
And how we love to look fit and sleek and how we love to confidently complete the race –
– and – Oh-how we wish we were even fitter, fleeter and faster !
The Psalms abound with references to strength do we not rejoice with Joshua..
“Be strong and of good courage … be strong and very courageous,
Have I not commanded you?
Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, do not be dismayed,
for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Josh.1:9
Yet in his wisdom Paul admonishes us that:-
“bodily exercise profits a little,
but godliness is profitable for all things.” 1Tim.4:8
And in the leading of the Spirit, he reminds us;
“My grace is sufficient for you,
for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2Cor.12:9
OH my! What a total paradox – what a contradiction – what an oxymoron
And soon we discover that the references to strength are not quite what they seem…
In Revelation we read:
“Now is come salvation and STRENGTH… the power of His Christ have come.”
While in Joshua we read:
“Be strong and very courageous …. for the LORD your God is with you.”
Oh Yes – “MY STRENGTH is made perfect in YOUR weakness…”
The power of every David and Deborah – the strength of every Samson and Joshua..
Is ALL and ONLY dependent on the strength of the Lord.
The sweet Psalmist of Israel reminds us that God is our strength:
The LORD is their strength,
And He is the saving refuge of His anointed.” Psa.28:8
And Nehemiah rejoices..
“for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Neh.8:10
It is not the brawn of the mighty man nor the speed of the marathon runner ..
– that is the thing that we should desire to develop and the discipline in our lives….
But His strength being perfected in and through me… through MY weakness.
The fit and healthy athlete is a physical picture of our spiritual endeavor.,And as we run this earthly race we needs must run to obtain a prize..
And as we live in the spot where God has placed us, we must be spiritually disciplined.
It is UTTER dependence and TOTAL trust in HIM that He desires from you and me,
For He desires that it is HIS and not our strength that is our supply and staff.
The widow’s mite is an economic picture of His strength being made perfect in me..
She has nothing – so that He could provide everything…
But this is one of the most difficult lessons for any Christian to learn
For we thrive on independence and feel all the responsibility is on OUR head…
But only as we submit to His training and instruction will HIS strength be shown.
The spiritual muscle and might that He desires to be built up in our hearts..
Is love, joy, patient endurance— gentleness, goodness… meekness and mercy.
Run the straight race through God’s good grace,
Lift up thine eyes, and seek His face;
Life with its way before us lies,
Christ is the Path, and Christ the Prize.
Cast care aside, upon thy Guide,
His boundless mercy will provide;
Lean, and the trusting soul shall prove
Christ is its Life, and Christ its Love.
Faint not nor fear, His arms are near,
He changes not, and thou art dear.
Only believe, and thou shalt see
That Christ is all in all to thee.
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- God – My Strength
Elizabeth Haworth
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Today's Devotionals
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