Be Strong In the Lord

When I read Pastor Joyce's word for the day I could not remove from my head the powerful song written and performed by the band Petra.  

The song More Power to ya speaks to our weakness.  It speaks to when we are down, when we need help to stand our ground, or simply when we need help to stay the course in the face of all odds.  My favorite of the lyrics are included here.

So be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might

Put on all His Armour and fight the good fight

Instead of all of our weakness He becomes so strong

He gives us the power and the strength to carry on

More power to ya, when you're standing on His word

When you're trusting with your whole heart

In the message you have heard

More power to ya, when we're all in one accord

They that wait upon the Lord they shall renew

They shall renew their strength

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrBy-F0EWTE

As I read Pastor Joyce's word for the day I noticed it did not include anything from Isiah 40:31 or Ephesians 6:10-11 which are the verses from which the song was written. Equally, she did not include the traditional Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".  Instead, she shared some of the many other biblical promises allowed us when we stand on his mighty power.  How cool is that?  If you are not a bible reader I encourage you to look up the passages she included as well as Isiah 40:31.  It's amazing to experience the might of God through the power of his words.   And now I leave you with Pastor Joyce's word. 

Be Strong in the Lord

Paul did not ignore the enemy, he resisted him and he gave the followers of Christ a strategy for winning every battle.  In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 he states, “For though we walk in the flesh we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (flesh) but mighty in God for the pulling down strongholds, casting down every argument against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”

Attacks may come against us through people who are not submitted to the Spirit of God and attempt to stop our forward progress.  They are being led by the enemy of God and are out to destroy any work done through His people that would advance the Kingdom of God on earth.

The first line of attack is to discourage and intimidate believers by forcing a focus on weaknesses that leads to the point of saying, “I can’t”.  The enemy wants us to fixate on the impossibilities that stand before us until we cower in defeat.  BUT GOD! Says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

David declares in Psalm 18:32-34 “It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.  He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places.  He teaches my hands to make war.” In the previous verses he says, “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.”

In 2 Chronicles 20,  when Jehoshaphat went to war against impossible odds he found his confidence for battle in knowing that the battle belonged to the Lord. His victory shows that God fights for those who trust in Him, He is our protector that leads us into battle and establishes our rear guard.  Strengthen yourself in Him and watch discouragement and intimidation flee from you.