I've written quite a bit lately about the turbulent times we are living in. It's not often that we experience a worldwide pandemic, civil and racial unrest and the upheaval of a contentious election season all at once! However, it's important to remember that even though the events of 2020 may have caught us by surprise, none of these things have been a surprise to God. There is nothing that we face that He hasn't equipped us to walk through. Today, is part two in a three part series on some of the "tools" in the toolbox that God has given us for turbulent times.
Strength
Seek the Lord and His strength; yearn for and seek His face and to be in His presence continually! 1 Chronicles 16:11 AMPC
...And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold. Nehemiah 8:10 AMPC
The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my keen and firm Strength in Whom I will trust and take refuge, my Shield, and the Horn of my salvation, my High Tower. Psalm 18:2 AMPC
The Lord is my Strength and my [impenetrable] Shield; my heart trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song will I praise Him. Psalm 28:7 AMPC
May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. Ephesians 3:16 AMPC
I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. Philippians 4:13 AMPC
One of the enemy's favorite tools to use against us is weariness-he loves to wear us out and wear us down to the point that we just want to give up. This is especially true in times of trial and trouble. God is well aware of this and continually reminds us in His Word that our strength comes, not from trying to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps, but from Him.
Dear Father God,
Thank You that Your Word reminds me where my strength comes from. My strength comes from You. Father, I need you to infuse me with Your strength every day. Holy Spirit, I ask for You to strengthen me today in my innermost being and personality.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Endurance
For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised. Hebrews 10:36 AMPC
For whatever was thus written in former days was written for our instruction, that by [our steadfast and patient] endurance and the encouragement [drawn] from the Scriptures we might hold fast to and cherish hope. Now may the God Who gives the power of patient endurance (steadfastness) and Who supplies encouragement, grant you to live in such mutual harmony and such full sympathy with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus Romans 15:4-5 AMPC
[We pray] that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy, Colossians 1:11 AMPC
If you look up the word endurance in a Bible word search, it's actually quite surprising how much God has to say about it. Endurance is a quality that God promises to reward. But, He doesn't ask us to manufacture our own endurance. God gives us the power of patient endurance. It's up to us to lean on Him when we are tempted to give up and to ask Him for the patient endurance that He promises.
Dear Father God,
I want to be a person who endures through the end. I want to stand before You and to receive the reward promised to those who endure and overcome. I am dependent on You to help me to have patient endurance.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Peace
In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust. Psalm 4:8 AMPC
The Lord will give [unyielding and impenetrable] strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace. Psalm 29:11 AMPC
Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] John 14:27 AMPC
As the stormy times rage around us, our innermost being can be at peace. Inner stillness is our inheritance from Jesus. Before He went to the cross He said that He bequeathed peace to us. Living in fear and turmoil, anxiety and stress does not have to be normal for us. We can live in supernatural peace even in tumultuous times.
Dear Father God,
Thank You for Your promised peace.Thank You, Jesus, that supernatural peace is my inheritance from You. Fill me, infuse me, with Your peace. Let Your peace and stillness rule my heart and mind no matter what is happening around me.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Next week we will conclude this three part series on being equipped for turbulent times. I hope you'll join us!
Thank you, Elizabeth, for bringing much needed encouragement in the midst of these challenging days we are all facing. Our Lord will indeed infuse us with the strength we need to endure and fill us with His peace.
ReplyDeleteIt seems especially important to lean on him and find peace through him in these times. The world may seem as if it is falling apart but He has conquered the world.
ReplyDeleteI needed this today - not on a state, city or global level - but just on a personal, daily level! This - I am holding to this all week: "The Lord will give [unyielding and impenetrable] strength to His people!" I don't have to pull it out of my figurative hat - I just need to trust and lean into Him! Thank you so much for this today! ~ Maryleigh
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