[I pray] that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Ephesians 3:16-21

You can trip up in life if you don’t understand who God is and who you are in Jesus. You can’t get in faith on your own—only by hearing God’s Word can we get strong in faith. When you read that you have been freed from sin by Jesus’ blood (Revelation 1:5), when you see in the Word how God is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4) and able to supply all of your needs (Philippians 4:19), faith rises up in your spirit and gives you an impenetrable advantage against the attacks of the devil.

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11

Take hold of the promises in the Word concerning who you are in Christ and what He has made available to you and write them down on the empty pages in the back of your Bible. Don’t be afraid to take those truths and march into your career, your marriage, and your future. An understanding of the promises in the Word will break generational curses, eliminate inferiority complexes, and straighten out distorted thinking.

If you feel ripped off, take back what the enemy stole from you (1 Samuel 30). If your joy is gone, get back in the presence of God and ask Him to revive you. If you’ve fallen into a pit, meditate on this scripture: “The law of the Spirt of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death” (Romans 8:2). God knows how to lift us out of the miry clay and put our feet on the solid rock (Psalm 40:2). If you’ve been through a thing or two lately, you’ve gained credibility to speak encouragement into others’ lives. Your answer to any challenge is found in seeking God and reading His Word—don’t back down!

Receive God’s strength,

Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2008 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and the justice due me escapes the notice of my God”? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:27-31

In these verses, the prophet Isaiah is rebuking those who say that God doesn’t care about them. The Creator, the Everlasting God, sees every detail of our lives. I know some of you ache from the pressure on you right now, but instead of thinking God doesn’t notice, draw close to Him to find the answers—He can meet every challenge. You’ll be drawing near to someone who never gets tired and never tires of your drawing near.

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29

Nothing is complicated with God. You may be going through some difficult times, where you don’t know what to do, and don’t even have the energy to look like you know what to do. But as you lean into God, He will take your weary soul and give strength and grace for every situation. I’ve watched the grace of God pour out on my fatigue, my inexperience, my lack of perspective, and on my bad attitude.

As you draw near to God and wait on Him, He gives you the strength to win the battle even when things in life aren’t the way they should be. “The lame will take the plunder” means that God is able to give you victory even when you are wounded by life (Isaiah 33:23b). Remember, it’s not by your might or power but always by His Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). And by God’s Spirit you can receive more than enough strength, new strength, to not only fix your situation but transfer the message to others. Because people need Jesus and they need to know that He wants to help them with every detail of their lives.

God is able,

Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

 
Copyright © 2008 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.