Are you strong in the Lord during the battles of life?
Have you been in such a tight situation and you figured that there was no way to get out of it?
In those times, I’ve heard, “Buck it up, sister!” I told myself this many times when I started to have a pity party.
OK. I’m a pity party hostess. How about you?
How can you buck it up when everything is falling apart – when there seems to be no answer? When you know you’re going down and it’s impossible to change direction.
“God, I don’t care anymore about what I’m praying for, I just want more of You!”
I prayed that prayer for myself after many years of praying for healing. God miraculously healed me of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Have you prayed, “God, I don’t know what to pray. I don’t know what to do! You take it!”
I prayed that prayer when my Mama was dying, and I did not know whether to pray for healing or a quick entrance into heaven. In heaven, God healed.
Even the Bible tells us to be strong.
The Command
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10-11
The word for “strong” means to “be strengthened, to receive strength, increase in strength in union with the Lord.”
Be strengthened in union with the Lord. Unity in the Lord. That takes time, doesn’t it? Time alone with the Lord.
How much time are you spending alone with the Lord? How deep is your unity?
Stand Strong in Union with the Lord.
But that’s not all! “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” The word for “strength” is “power, force, strength, dominion.” The word for “might” means “capability, force, strength.”
We’re to be strong by increasing in strength in union with the Lord, resting in his power, dominion, and force or ability.
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Stand in the Power of His Might.
How do you do that?
Put on the whole armor of God!
How To Put on the Whole Armor of God
- Gird your waist with truth, Ephesians 6:14. To put on the belt of truth in biblical times, soldiers needed to stand up before they strapped on that belt. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, John 14:6. In our walk through this world, we encounter truth, half-truths, and false ideas. It is important to know Jesus, for He is the truth. That takes time in studying the Bible, praying, and spending time with Jesus. How are you doing?
- Put on the breastplate of righteousness, Ephesians 6:14. We’re sinners. In our own works, we are not righteous (without sin). But Jesus paid the price for our sins and gave us a right standing before God when we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior. The breastplate of righteousness protects our hearts and vital organs.
- Ready your feet with the gospel of peace, Ephesians 6:15. Our foundation is the Good News that brings us peace with God. Because we have the truth of Jesus and His righteousness, we can walk in the gospel of peace.
- Take up the shield of faith, Ephesians 6:16. Faith in the finished work of Jesus. Faith that God will work in our lives. Faith because we have seen God work in the past. When the devil lobs half-truths and lies at us or slings evil temptations, we lift up the shield of faith in God, and the threats are extinguished. Ask God to bring ways He has worked in your life and to increase your shield of faith.
- Take the helmet of salvation, Ephesians 6:17a. Jesus saved us from ourselves, our sin. He saved us from slavery to sin and freedom to live righteously. The helmet of salvation gives us hope and protects us from being discouraged.
- Grip the sword of the Spirit the Word of God, Ephesians 6:17b. In the Word of God, we find truth and how to stand firm in the Lord in union with Him and the power of His might.
- Pray always with all kinds of prayer and requests, Ephesians 6:18. Prayer wraps the armor of truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and guidance in a God-centered focus. We can use group prayer, individual prayer, silent prayer, wailing prayer, fervent prayer, listening prayer, praising prayer, pleading prayer, thanksgiving prayer, kneeling, walking, and unceasing prayer. A state of prayer in all and through all that we do.
We know the truth of our righteousness, for our foundation is not our own strength but God’s, and we are at peace with God. We have faith that God will continue to work in us, and our helmets of salvation give us hope that protects us from discouragement. The Word of God gives us power-filled promises, guidance for living, the way to eternal life.
Soldiers intentionally and carefully put on their armor, for they knew it protected them from the arrows and firey darts of the enemy.
What if we prayerfully and intentionally put on the armor of God each day?
We would be able to stand strong in union with the Lord and stand in the power of His might.
Mordecai and Esther stood strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. To learn how, view the video below. The worship is amazing, please enjoy it. The teaching begins 24 minutes and 10 seconds into the video.
Father, we want to stand strong in You and in union with You, and in the power of Your might. Shower Your strength and might upon us. Thank You for Your armor, for we are safe and wrapped in Your strength and might. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Share a time that God worked in your life in the comments.
Did that time strengthen your faith? How?
Featured photo by Henry Hustava on Unsplash