Strength

Christ’s Strength 

Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

2 Timothy 1:7  For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Because God has given you a fearless spirit, fortified by His Spirit of love and strengthened by His Spirit of resurrection power, you CAN do ALL things in Christ.   

You have a spirit of love, power and self-discipline given to you.  Welcome life’s overwhelming challenges in Christ’s strength.  There’s nothing you cannot do in and through Christ.  Do not be fearful or timid; be passionate in taking on life’s challenges, knowing God’s Spirit lives and moves and has His being in you.  

You have the same spiritual strength and cosmic power that raised Jesus from the dead.  You can overcome anything in Christ, who is passionately alive in you, empowering you to victory over life’s challenges!  You not only survive in Christ’s strength, you thrive.  

Photo: NYC 

 

God’s Word sets us free, independent of our feelings

John 8:31-32  …Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The truth is found in God’s Word, as taught and exemplified by Jesus Christ.  Our emotions are not truth; they come and go (listen to Richard Rohr’s “emotional sobriety” sermon).  God’s truth never changes and is not dependent on how we feel moment by moment. Though our emotions can try to enslave us, God’s truth sets us free.  Believe God’s Word and experience inner freedom from negative emotions, irrational fears, and persistent disappointment or worry.  Jesus Christ has set us free; we believe in Him and His Word, not in ourselves and how we are feeling. The truth is “it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1). Stand firm in Jesus and His Word! 

Photo: Barcelona, Spain

  


God’s all-powerful strength 

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (‭Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭10‬) 

God’s strength is all-encompassing and entirely uplifting.  He has the power to strengthen you to not fear anything, to not be disappointed by any circumstances, and to not ever feel alone.  He will hold you up by His right hand!  

Ephesians 1:19-21 tells us who is seated at the right hand of God. “And what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us, the ones believing according to the working of His mighty strength which He worked in Christ in raising Him from the dead, and He seated Him at His right hand in the heavenlies, far above all principality and authority and power and dominion, and every name being named, not only in this world, but also in the coming age.”

Because Jesus is seated at the right hand of God, we have all-powerful strength — the same strength which raised Jesus from the dead to ascend to God!  Rely on God’s strength, child of God!

Photo: Northwest Territories, Canada

  

Strength in Christ

Philippians 4:12 “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

What if we really believed that we can be completely content in Christ? We can feel full because of His living Spirit in us? We can do anything He asks of us by His Spirit’s strength? Fueled by faith, fed by the Word, and fortified by the Spirit, we are invincible in Christ! We can be content through hardship, suffering, disappointment, discouragement, joy, victory and abundance….because Christ strengthens us! Amen!

Photo: Tower of London