Strengthen

2 Timothy 4:17 AMPC

But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the [Gospel] message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was delivered out of the jaws of the lion.

Like it or not, we all massively need God's strength.

How many times can we look back on our lives and testify how God has sent his strength when we were at our wits end and about to give up?

I remember how daunted I felt the morning after my dear mum passed away. I told Jesus, as I walked my dog: "This is my worst nightmare. I don't think I can cope going forward."

Then a lovely neighbour came in the other direction and gave me a big hug. She strengthened me with her compassion.

Many of you reading this have been a source of strength to me in hard times - each a channel of Jesus' love.

Stop and think of one time of your own need, or, may be you are at that point right now.

I want to encourage you that even Jesus needed to be strengthened during His earthly life.

In particular, we read how an angel came and strengthened Him the night before His crucifixion:

Luke 22:43 AMPC

And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him in spirit.

The human condition is finite, we have a limited amount of energy for each day and we need physical, emotional and spiritual sustenance and rest in order to maintain our strength.

But God promises His almighty power when we are weak and under stress.

In Isaiah 41:10 we read: "I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Jesus Himself prayed and prays for us:

John 17:20

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

There are times, however, when we need to strengthen ourselves. Humanly speaking, as we grow up, we stop relying on our parents for everything, but we work and feed ourselves. So we, as Christians, should learn to spend time alone with Jesus and be fed on His Word for ourselves in order to strengthen our own spiritual life.

Hebrews 12:12

Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.

Finally, we are called to strengthen one another.

Our hearts must go out to those who are suffering and need help and encouragement.

Romans 15:2 AMPC

Let each one of us make it a practice to please (make happy) his neighbour for his good and for his true welfare, to edify him [to strengthen him and build him up spiritually].

Is there someone today to whom we can reach out and strengthen?

Some may need a word of encouragement or prayer or help with shopping, a listening ear.

Ask Jesus to put someone on your heart right now who you can strengthen today.