God is Powerful and Strong
There are days when we feel the weight of our failures more heavily than others. We may find ourselves reviewing situations from our past where we could not make something work, we could not seem to get any gains to stick, or we failed at something so many times we eventually gave up. This can leave us feeling extremely weak, even hopeless, and wondering why we can't get it together and make consistent gains in an area or two.
I've had two areas of my life where I have not been able to make and keep any gains. It seems I am able to take a few steps forward only to find myself right back in the pit of "failure" again in these particular areas. The other day, I was really struggling with feeling the heaviness of these failures and the stark reality of my human weakness. As my dark thoughts circled round and round in my head, something (or rather, SomeOne) interrupted my thoughts and I was reminded that this is how the enemy works. The enemy wants us to review all our failures and feel stuck and weak.
When I realized I was under spiritual attack, I put on worship music and began praising God. Within about 5 minutes, my thoughts had completely turned around and I was purposely listing, out loud, all the characteristics of God that He reveals to us in the Scriptures. I'm so grateful God prompted me to write a whole series of emails about God's characteristics because it served me very well that day.
When we focus on God and HIS abilities, HIS traits, it takes our negative focus off our weak human, fallen condition and it helps us focus on God's strength. Call to mind the truth that God has promised to never leave or abandon us.
Hebrews 13:5b " . . .God has said, "I will never leave you, nor will I forsake you."
God also promises the believer that He will complete the good work that He has started in us. If we can let go, trust God to accomplish what He wants to accomplish through us, and continue to ask Him for strength, He will give it to us.
The character trait of God to focus on when we feel weak is His STRENGTH and POWER. God is Powerful!
Jeremiah 32:17 says, "‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you."
Romans 1:20 says this about God, "For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."
1 Chronicles 29:11 says, "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all."
In Romans 15:13, believers are reminded that the Holy Spirit gives us power. "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."
These verses help us to see that it is God's power that accomplishes things, not our own. He will work through us and we will be given access to God's power as we obey His voice and guidance.
Isaiah 40:29 says, "He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength."
Ephesians 6:10 says, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might."
Colossians 1:11 says, "Being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;"
Next time you are feeling weak and you can't seem to make the progress you want to make, tell God you need HIS power and strength. Ask Him to use you for His glory. Then, watch and wait while you take your next steps. Over time, you will see God strengthening you and carrying you when you cannot seem to even put one foot in front of the other.