One of the most wonderful characteristics of our Lord is His Strength. As I meditated upon this characteristic of God, I saw that His strength is His alone as Almighty, Sovereign God and also that like other characteristics He desires to give His strength to us who believe in Him.

His Alone- Job 36: 5 “Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; he is mighty in strength of understanding.” 1 Corinthians 1:25 “For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” By His actions of Creation, judgment, and intervention in the plans of men over the generations we see His power and strength displayed.

His to pass on and share with us- this is preciously described in multiple ways in scripture. Moses proclaims his strength to lead the people comes from the Lord and He praises Him for it. Exodus 15:2 “The Lord is my strength and my song,
    and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”

David proclaims his dependance upon God many times in the Psalms. Psalm 28:7-8 “The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” Psalm 28:8 “The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed.” Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 73:261 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” I love reading these passages as it reminds me that I am not doing what I’m doing in my own strength!

Nehemiah reminds the people as they desire to celebrate where their strength to accomplish God’s work came from. Nehemiah 8:10  Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Isaiah gives us a No Fear message in Isaiah 41:10. “Fear not, for I am with you;
    be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you,
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” We are not to rely upon our own strength but lean into God as His righteous right hand = Jesus will always be there for us and with us!

Micah also points us to Jesus who will be our shepherd and guide and give us His strength for living! Micah 5:4 “And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.”

In the New Testament, the apostles often point us to how God uses His strength to enable us to live and work for Him. Acts 14:22 “strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” He strengthens our very souls!

Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” He gives us a portion of His might to sustain us in the trials of life.

Peter who knew the strengthening and restoration of Jesus first hand tell us in 1 Peter 5:10 “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can depend upon the strength of the Lord to see me through the trials and temptations of daily living as He alone can restore, confirm and establish me!

May your day be filled with His strength and power!

Linda