Oftentimes, we pray for long life and health, forgetting strength. Life or health without strength detracts from their full benefits. So, Isaiah 51: 9 says, Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD. Among the instruments of God’s deliverance is his mighty arm hence Isaiah 33: 2 says O LORD, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble. Strength is the energy or the latent force which makes both spiritual and physical lives efficient and operational.
Jesus said of the role of strength regarding physical life in Matthew 26: 41; Mark 14: 38, the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Without strength, however willing the disciples were to pray, they could not. Regarding the role of strength in our spiritual lives, Luke 21: 36 says, be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man. While spiritual strength is thus fueled by prayer as Jesus said, physical strength or vitality may be predicate on medication. However, medication may fail us but prayer is eternal and without limits.
We pray for both physical and spiritual strength because Ephesians 6: 12 says, for our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Jesus who knew firsthand the effects of these forces mentioned above on physical events therefore said prayer is the key because physical events are not wholly insulated from spiritual events though invisible to the eye.
Who gives us strength?
God is the owner and giver of strength. Exodus 13: 14 says when in the future your child asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall answer, ‘By strength of the hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. Israel always knew that the strength by which they were delivered was by God’s hand. Exodus 15: 2 says the LORD is my strength and my might, and he has become my salvation. David also said in Psalms 18: 1, I love you, O LORD, my strength. No one can give what he does not have.
When Samson’s strength ebbed, he prayed in Judges 16: 28, “Lord GOD, remember me and strengthen me only this once, O God, so that with this one act of revenge I may pay back the Philistines for my two eyes.” Although Samson had life and was born strong by God’s will and plan, what he needed was strength which he exchanged for deceitful love and could be restored only by God. Samuel’s mother Hannah affirmed in her prayer in 1Samuel 12: 1 my strength is exalted in my God.
The strength of God opens productive avenues for us in spite of our weaknesses. 2Samuel 22: 33 says the God who has girded me with strength has opened wide my path. We are nothing without God’s strength. In spite of Job’s predicament, the fact of God’s strength did not elude him. He said in Job 12: 13, 16 “With God are wisdom and strength; he has counsel and understanding. Our strength may fail us one day but God’s strength surpasses all. 1Corinthians 1: 25 says God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. Is God through Christ Jesus the source of our strength?
How do we gain strength?
We gain strength by living the word of God. Deuteronomy 11: 8 says keep, then, this entire commandment that I am commanding you today, so that you may have strength to go in and occupy the land that you are crossing over to occupy. With Christ in us, what seems weak to others will be strong to us. Paul said in 2Corinthians 12: 10 for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
Our attitude towards God will determine the nature of our strength as is quoted in Judges 8: 21 “for as the man is, so is his strength.” When we open up to God, he will strengthen our weaknesses, failing which our weaknesses may overwhelm us. 1Samuel 30: 6 says but Samuel strengthened himself in the LORD his God. Quite often, we look for strength from outside God and what we get is rather weakness camouflaged as strength. Strength from the world is rather a weakness in Christ Jesus. So, 1Chronicles 16: 11 says seek the LORD and his strength, seek his presence continually.
The joy of the Lord must always be our strength as Nehemiah 8: 10 says, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. When we make God sad, we will lose our strength and vice versa. Prescriptions in Psalms 28: 7-8 say, the LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts. The LORD is the strength of his people. Our strength is measured by the depth of our trust in God. David said in Psalms 73: 26 my flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. When all fail us, our strength will remain in God, his word and in prayer. How is our strength revived and renewed?
Strength dries up and is disabled without prayer and faith and scripture. Strength like all other gifts of life is not permanent but fails when we are not content with God. Psalms 31: 10 says my strength fails because of my misery. Is your strength drying up? Renew it in Christ Jesus and may we always seek to make the Lord joyful from which will come our strength. Without him, we can do nothing.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, let your joy be our strength in all things. Let your arm be our strength in battle. In our weakness, may we find strength in you. May your word and faith revive our ebbing strength to stand for you. May you strengthen us in prayer so our faith will not fail. In trial and temptations, let your strength anchor in you as our shield. We pray in your holy name, Amen!!
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