I want to encourage us in the words of Paul that we can do all things through Christ who is able to give us the strength (Philippians 4:13). Paul was one of the disciples who was well learned and experienced. He was also one who travelled extensively to spread the gospel and as he did so, he encountered many circumstances, including being beaten, shipwrecked, stoned, and imprisoned.
He was also no stranger to suffering, grief, pain or other human frailties. He experienced seasons of lack as well as abundance. He knew how it felt to be well-fed as well as hungry, yet in all these circumstance,s he discovered one important thing, that one thing that was constant in all seasons: God. He discovered the strength to sustain him in all situations, a strength in God to enable him to do all the things that were in God’s will for him to do.
It is the same strength that Jesus Christ of Nazareth pulled from in moments of weakness when his human capacity could not sustain Him as he retreated to the garden of Gethsemane to pray to the Father. Even in the weakest moments when He cried out, “Father, if it is possible let this cup pass from me,” it is the same strength that allowed Him to say, “Nevertheless, it is not my will but yours.”
JESUS’ STRENGTH IS OURS TODAY
This same strength is available to us. May we draw from this source of strength that comes from the almighty God today, recognizing that when we are weak, He is strong. When we feel like we are at the end of our human capacity and capability, that is where God’s possibility begins. When we have nothing more than our empty vessels, that’s when He is able to fill us up beyond measure. That is when the Author and Finisher of our faith is able to continue our story so that He can get the honour and the glory.
Let us pray:
Abba Father, we cry out to You in our weaknesses today, just as we are. Recognizing that though we are weak, You are strong, and that in our weaknesses Your strength is made perfect in us.
Strengthen us we pray, Father, emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually. Strengthen our mortal bodies, strengthen our spirits, strengthen our souls. May there be a collision and seamless immersion in You in every area of our lives; our whole being impacted by Your strength.
Help us to overcome every obstacle that is allowed on our path to strengthen our faith in You, almighty God. Thank you for carrying us and for being our present Help that we can call on at all times. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, we pray. Amen.