Life is full of hard work. We get weary. We get tired. When renewed strength has been delayed, we can even become weak.
What power do we have over whether or not strength comes to us? Where and how can I find strength for my soul?
Ancient societies didn’t have the constant barrage of stressful news and events coming at them on every side. If we own a television, computer or smart phone, current events are hard to avoid, especially when the news captures our attention and keeps it by the intense happenings that are hard to look away from. In some countries—maybe most, maybe all—the news tends to glorify and magnify the worst of events. Fear mongering is a thing, and the media is good at it.
The Bible isn’t a book to simply read and gain strength from, although it is that too. But we can find strength by following the guidance of what the Word tells us to do. We may be powerless to change the negative things that are happening around us, but we are not powerless to how much we allow it to affect our lives.
Ephesians 6:12-13 (KJV) says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
Understanding that a great deal of our battle comes from spiritual things we cannot see gives us a greater understanding of what we fight. It points out the importance of being fully equipped with the armor of God, in Ephesians 6:14-18:
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”
Once we apply the knowledge and understanding of what we are fighting to our minds spiritually, with equipping ourselves with God’s armor, we have begun to find what will strengthen us.
We need to immediately apply Philippians 4:8 to our physical lives in addition to our emotional and spiritual lives:
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. ”
To think about the above list, we need to turn off the news. Avoid social media as a steady diet. Distance ourselves from slanderers and drama. Read and meditate on God’s Word. Pray. Reach out to others in friendship. Soak in the sun and nature.
While these things may sound small, if we step out on faith and try this method for one week, we are guaranteed to feel renewal in our minds and emotional strength.
Let us try the Word of God and prove that it is true. Let’s take that step of faith today!
