The Sustaining Spirit

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22 

  

  We are all prone to weakness. Whether you are too weak to leave your sickbed, or have the muscles of Hercules, we are all weak in one way or another regardless of our physical condition. 

  Samson was one of the mightiest men who ever lived. A hero for the Hebrews, he killed his enemies and stacked their dead bodies like cordwood. Yet Samson had a moral weakness, and fell to the wiles of a deceitful woman. No man could conquer him, but a woman easily brought him to weakness and shame. 

  Those of us with chronic illnesses understand what it is to be physically weak, and if that were the end of the story, we would be objects of pity. Yet no one who believes in God and trusts to the strength of God is truly a weak man or woman. Indeed, the most physically weak believer who places their trust in God’s almighty power, the person who has faith and a strong foundation in the Lord, such a one can never truly be considered weak. 

  Through prayer, praise, and stirring up the spirit that is within us we are made strong. When we recall the great stories of faith in the Bible, and hold fast to those precious promises in scripture, and stir up our spirit in songs of praise and worship--we become a mighty army of believers. There are none weak among the spiritual soldiers of God. 

  The deaf, the blind, paraplegics, quadriplegics, the diseased, and even the dying Christian believer whose heart is filled with praise toward God can never be considered weak. 

  Our enemy has no fear of a muscle-bound unbeliever. Yet find the most ill, most afflicted, bed-ridden believer. Find one who has put their trust in God, and sends prayers continually before God. Those are the ones our enemy is grieved over and hates and resents. These afflicted believers are the warriors who spiritually destroy strongholds and bring down the walls our enemy places between humanity and God Almighty. 

  Never doubt your strength. Never doubt your ability. Read the Bible, pray, and simply believe. These are the weapons that make us strong above and beyond our physical abilities or limitations. 

  Prayer: Dear Lord, the world and our enemy say we are weak, beaten, and overcome. Yet you say we are strong, mighty, and well able to overcome all things through You. We believe in and trust You Lord Jesus! Amen.