I hope we all want to be strong!

Lately, I've been noticing how strong I'm not. I walk up the stairs at work and my legs cry out in protest! I try the shake-em up bar bells at Alco the clerk has just demonstrated to me, and I can't get it to shake. My little friend to the left may well be stronger physically then I!! But there is another strength that I just as well, if not more, want to be found possessing, and that is spiritual strength. And as I read the scriptures I see that God desires that we - all of us -would be made strong. Strong in Him. Strong that we persevere. Strong that we can be encouragers and help the weak. Strong for good deeds. Strong strong strong.

In Romans 1:11-12 Paul addresses the church and says that he wants to see them "so that he may impart to them some spiritual gift to make them strong.....that they all may be mutually encouraged by each others faith." The Lord desires that we operate in spiritual gifts! Why? For the building up of the body (the church) and encouraging one another. I hope we all want this! Seek the gifts, God will impart!

Another way the scriptures tell us to be strong is in Ephesians 6:10--- where we are told to put on the armor of God. It says, "be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power, putting on the full armor of God that you can stand firm against the devil's schemes." This strength is the result of us choosing to take up several things .... Christ first and most all, and also faith, the Word, prayer, having godly character, and more. The armor, he tells us, is for standing strong against our enemy the devil. I know we all want to be strong this way! After all, it is a matter of will we walk in defeat or walk in victory! Ah, this is having strength by having godly wisdom to know our enemy and being Christlike in the battle remembering we are not fighting against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities.

Another strength the Bible talks of is strength gained through trials and strength given for trials. It is summed up in that beautiful word, GRACE. Our job is to be humbe before God in that time of need...that His grace may be poured in. Thank God for His grace! Thank God for that strength that one can't explain but to just give Him the glory for it. This is the fabric of testimonies that lifts Him up! This is how we make it through the divorce, the loss of loved ones, difficult pregnancies, illnesses and family crisis.

Lastly, I look to that strong lady of Proverbs 31.

"She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. .... She is clothed with strength and dignity. She can laugh at the days to come. "

I look at this and I see a woman who doesn't complain about what she must do, and need do. She just does it and does it with all her might. I see a woman whose character is not that of a wimp. No whining no griping at her husband. I see she walks in the ways of the Lord, not the ways of the world. She has dignity...which to me means she is not ashamed of her ways and choices. She knows she is committed to being one God is pleased and happy with and is not ashamed, doing right in his sight. Because she loves God she is strong! Verse 30 tells us:

"Charm is deceptive, beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

Let us walk in the fear of our Lord; honor him, listen to him, worship him and know him. Let's run after being made strong, whether it be by impartation of gifts, growing in the word, getting through trials by leaning on Him or other ways he makes his children strong. The times ahead surely will require that we are. May we grow in Him more, and yes, shake those bar bells (or whatever they are) if we must !

Love you all.