Spirit of Strength

Spirit of Strength

Ephesians 3:16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being. (NIV)

            There are times in life when the believer faces many obstacles that can be challenging and spiritually draining. The death of a loved one, the illness of a child, the loss of a job, or even the foreclosure of a home can drain a person to the extent that they will suffer from depression, anxiety and loss of motivation to do the things of God. Even the darkness that is increasingly obvious on the land as shown through the local news, social media, radio, and newspaper can cause many to lose heart and become greatly discouraged. Luke 21:26 Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. (NIV) Nevertheless, those who hold fast in God and endure to the very end have a guarantee from the Father that they will be eternally saved. Matthew 24:12-13 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. (NIV)

 The Holy Spirit provides strength to those who are weary and brokenhearted. He lightens the load for those who feel as if they are burdened down by the storms of life. He helps the believer to be replenished in their time of need and reminds them that God is forever present and that security can be found in Him. Psalm 68:35 You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. (NIV) The Holy Spirit is there to be the pillar in our lives when we feel that we can no longer endure the trials that we will ultimately face.

Jesus never said that following Him would be easy. On the contrary, He let us know in His word that everyone must carry their cross in order to be deemed worthy as a true follower of Him. Luke 14:27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. (NIV) This means that we should expect trials and tribulation to come our way. Being a Christian doesn’t mean that we get a free pass to travel down a smooth road. Despite the trials that may come our way, every believer can have faith in knowing that the Holy Spirit is there to be our rock of stability. Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer, my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (NIV)

          The devil aims to discourage believers when they are at their lowest point in life. He tries to whisper in their ears that they are a failure, will never amount to anything, and that God isn’t pleased and doesn’t love them. However, the Psalmist, David, had to encourage himself when everyone had forsaken him and there was no one else around to turn to other than God. 1 Samuel 30:6 David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God. (NIV) Just as David found strength in God, there will be times in life when a believer will have no one else to turn to but the Lord as well. God is never to be our last choice, but always our first for He has given us strength through the power of the Holy Spirit.

            We cannot walk this road alone because we are subject to fall. Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit is there to give us a hand in order to get up again. Proverbs 24:16 For though the righteous fall seven time, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes. (NIV) All we have to do as believers is rely on His strength, not our own and allow the Holy Spirit will do the rest.