Got strength? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 28:8,

"The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for
his anointed one."

Strength speaks of energy, force, might, virility, power and vigor. We
normally think in terms of having our greatest strength in our
biological prime, sometime in our twenties possibly. As a man in his
sixties, I can vouch that the energy and strength is not there as it
was forty years ago. But only in some ways. In other ways I feel much
stronger. Not a physical strength, but strength in other ways.

I readily acknowledge that kind of strength as having come from a
source outside me, nothing I have generated on my own. What we might
call "inner strength", as represented in patience, the ability to
endure things I couldn't have at a younger age, mental and emotional
strength, the strength of will power, tenacity and discipline, etc.
are part of a maturing process the Lord brings about in the lives of
those who are his. Paul speaks to this in his letter to the
Colossians, "We pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of
the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good
work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all
power according to his glorious might so that you may have great
endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who
has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the
kingdom of light." Colossians 1:10-12.

We can say with Paul, "I can do everything through him who gives me
strength." Philippians 4:13. He also acknowledges the strength the
Lord provides us that shields us from Satan, "The Lord is faithful,
and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one." 2
Thessalonians 3:3.

As believers our greatest strength resides not within us but is
available to us as we share in God's purposes. We are told, "The
foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God
is stronger than man's strength." 1 Corinthians 1:25. It is God's
strength and faithfulness that will abide with us through this life
and see us into the resurrection, "He will keep you strong to the end,
so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1
Corinthians 1:8.

In fact, it is our very weakness that becomes the canvas upon which
the Lord demonstrates his own strength. "He [the Lord] said to me
[Paul], 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect
in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my
weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for
Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in
persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
2 Corinthians 12:9-10.

Surely, "The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of
salvation for his anointed one."

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com