Divine StrengthSpeaker: Sis. Stella Dhinakaran Gist: Do you stumble and fall often unable to bear the trials and tribulations that satan brings in your life? Do you lament saying, "How am I going to overcome such a terrible trial?" Do not be dismayed. The Lord will strengthen you. The angel said to Mary, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35)
In 1 Samuel 2:1-10, we read about a woman named Hannah who was scoffed to be barren. She was blessed by God with a son, Samuel and she sang rejoicing in the Lord, "No one is holy like the Lord, for there is none besides You, nor is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your mouth, for the Lord is the God of knowledge; and by Him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and those who stumbled are girded with strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, and the hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has borne seven, and she who has many children has become feeble. The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap, to set them among princes and make them inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and He has set the world upon them. He will guard the feet of His saints, but the wicked shall be silent in darkness. For by strength no man shall prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to His king, and exalt the horn of His anointed."
Dear friend, do not trust your own resources, when problems arise. Learn to lean on God's strength. He formed the mountains and created the wind. "He made the Pleiades and Orion; He turns the shadow of death into morning and makes the day dark as night; He calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the face of the earth; The Lord is His name" (Amos 5:8).
In the 6th chapter of the book of Judges, we read about a valiant young man named Gideon who was visited by the angel of the Lord. He said to Gideon, "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!" Gideon replied, "O my Lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, 'Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?' But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites." The angel of the Lord told Gideon that he would very soon see His miracles. The angel then told Gideon, "Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?" But Gideon argued, "O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." And the angel said to him, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man."
Gideon then built an altar for the Lord at the place where he met Him and called the Lord - Shalom. Girded with the Lord's strength, Gideon took with him three hundred men to the battle against the host of the Midianities, 'as numerous as locusts'. Standing at the outpost of the camp at midnight, Gideon and his men raised their voices saying, "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!" Strengthened by the Lord God, they vanquished their enemies.
We can see several such instances in the Holy Scripture. They have all been recorded to teach us to put our trust in God (Romans 15:4). That is why we should read the Word of God intently and meditate upon it. It is only through the Word of God that we can grow in steadfast faith. When we are troubled by danger and tossed by storms and strains in our lives, we put our trust in God.
"If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small." (Proverbs 24:10)
"He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength." (Isaiah 40:29)
"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)
The strength of God makes us victorious and more than conquerors. While reading the book of the prophet Habakkuk, we are encouraged by his trust in God amidst the worst failures and disasters. Despite them he could say, "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills. To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments." (Habakkuk 3:18)
In a certain women's college, a few students used to meet during the free time and pray fervently together. As the University examinations were fast approaching, they sought the help of the Lord Jesus. A few other students who had no faith in God made fun of them. They boasted that they were much cleverer and were sure to pass with great credit, and that those who wasted their time in prayer depending on God to write their examinations were sure to fail miserably. But the believers held fast to Lord Jesus. The examinations were finally over and the students were waiting eagerly for their results. When the results were announced, the students who placed their trust in Lord Jesus had passed with much credit and the students who leaned on their own merit were all ploughed down disgracefully.
"Here is the man who did not make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness." (Psalm 52:7)
"Therefore behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know My hand and My might; and they shall know that My name is the Lord. (Jeremiah 16:21)
With God as our strength, we, the children of God can fulfill great things for Him. So do not fear when satan brings fear, physical ailments and unwanted problems in your life. Face all trials and tribulations and overcome them by the divine strength that God gives you. He will make you more than a conqueror.
Prayer:
Loving Heavenly Father,
Many a time when satan brings many trials and tribulation in my life, I become weak and unable to go forward in my life. Strengthen me, dear Lord. Help me never to depend on my own strength to overcome trials and tribulation in my life. Teach me to lean on Your loving powerful arms for protection and comfort. Help me to overcome all my weaknesses and troubles with Your divine strength. I ask this through the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen. |