“Lord, You are my true strength and my glory-song, my Champion, my Savior!”
Psalms 118:14 TPT
Whenever you hear the word strong or strength what is the first thought or image that comes to mind? If you’re old school
Probably Hercules lol if you’re into fitness maybe someone with nice muscles who can lift a lot of weights. Pretty to look at and admire or even envy. But flesh strength, no matter how attractive eventually loses its luster. But the title for today’s message has less to do with the body and more to do with the true Source of strength. Almighty God. “No muscle bound man could take my hand from my God,” so sang the nuns in Sister Act 1 lol
All throughout scriptures strength and might is attributed to God. He is dependable, loyal and faithful. He’s strength where we’re weak. He lifts us up when we’ve fallen. Carries us in His arms. He’s strength to the core. Our core. We gain confidence and strength from being with Him. Our boldness and authority comes from Him. Who knew that blood had that much power? Who knew that the blood of one righteous Man could cleanse and redeem an entire world? The core strength of that blood transforms the hardest hearts and strengthens the weakest spirits. Samson had no strength except when the Spirit of the Lord was upon him. Core strength.
Let’s look at other scripture verses that highlights these truths. We are nothing without Him.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
Psalms 27:1 KJV
Not only is He your light and salvation, your confident expectation of good, but He is the Strength, Protector and Guardian of your life in threatening situations.
“I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”
Psalms 18:1-2 KJV
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Psalms 46:1 KJV
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him. The Lord is their strength, and He is the saving strength of His anointed.”
Psalms 28:7-8
“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation.”
Isaiah 12:2 KJV
“Lord, be gracious to us; we long for You. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.”
Isaiah 33:2 NIV
Is your core(faith) being strengthened? It should be. We’re not alone in our walk with Jesus. No matter what lies the enemy or even some ignorant preachers may peddle. Some folks leave their assembly worse than when they went in. The doom and gloom being peddled as gospel is sickening. That’s why we must be diligent to study and read the Bible for ourselves. If their experiences with God is limited and lifeless that’s what you’ll be taught. If their understanding of God’s Word is skewed that’s what you’ll receive. We have a Core Strengthening force resident in us. But He cannot remind us of what we fail to know about God’s Word. Remember Jesus said the Holy Spirit would remind us of what He, Jesus, said. (John 14:26)What did He say? You have to go read to find out. We have core strength that cannot be found in a natural gym. This strength, as you’ve read so far, Helps us walk in confidence and victory.
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV
“The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to tread on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.” Habakkuk 3:19
(This one was written to be sung) go ahead and make melody in your heart, let Him give you a tune all your own. Sing to Him.
“As soon as I pray, You answer me; You encourage me by giving me strength.”
Psalms 138:3 NLT
Wow! As soon as you pray. Did you get that? So if we’re not praying then there’s no answer, no encouragement and no strength to overcome whatever it is that you’re facing.
“The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; He is their stronghold in time of trouble.”
Psalms 37:39 NIV
I mentioned in Bible Study that there isn’t anything we’re struggling with that the Bible doesn’t have the answer for. Our Heavenly Father left nothing to chance. He, through Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit, covered all the bases. If it’s strength you need, you’re being fed and encouraged today. Meditate on His Word, therein lies your core strength.
“I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of Thy righteousness, even of Thine only.”
Psalms 71:16 KJV
“Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.”
Psalms 73:25-26 KJV
“The Lord is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare Him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt Him.”
Exodus 15:2 KJV
“He said: “The LORD is my rock and my fortress [on the mountain] and my rescuer; My God, my Rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, My Savior—You save me from violence.”
2 Samuel 22:2-3 AMP
“In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might.”
Ephesians 6:10 AMP
Go ahead, flex those spiritual muscles, do those spiritual crunches and pushups. You have been endued with His core strength. By faith you can do any and all things through Him. Be weak no more, draw on His prevailing presence in you. Straighten up those spiritual shoulders, lift your head up. Go in His strength and not your own, therein lies your victory. He’s more than enough so you needn’t stress about your limitations. Fall into His strong arms He’s waiting to catch you. He’s all the strength you need.
God is the strength of my heart by don moen
Heavenly Father in You I find my strength. When the stresses of life try to pull me in help me remember that You’re all the help and strength I need. The psalmist reminds us that we can lift up our eyes to You our help. Psalm 121. We’re reminded to cast all our cares on Your Son Jesus. 1 Peter 5:7. We are truly loved and cared for. Thank You for fortifying us with Your Word. In Jesus Name. Amen
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant