Be Strong...

This morning I was studying Ephesians a bit and read a section that I’ve read before but, as is usual, something stood out to me that I hadn’t really taken in before. Here’s the scripture: “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10-11 This year has been a difficult one to say the least, so I have been reminding myself all year of the verses that tell me to “Be Strong”! We’re commanded to “Be strong!” However, what stood out to me this morning and what was the most important part I’ve been missing is “...in The Lord and in His mighty power...” I’ve been trying to be strong through so many avenues and thought processes, forgetting to tap into the strength of God!! In order to do this, we must be vulnerable enough to admit our weakness and struggles, then we must be willing to hand them over to God and trust Him with it. As Christians, we can sometimes have a bad habit of stuffing our emotions and struggles and pasting well-meaning scriptures on top of it. The problem is, we never deal with the core issues causing the problem. Being strong in the Lord takes both yours and Gods participation. We have to be willing to fight with Him against depression, anxiety, sin, addiction, etc. Through His mighty power, we are more than conquers! “... in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:37 “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 I encourage you, get with God and tell Him what’s weighing you down, lean on Him and His power and strength to help you through. I find the most practical way for me to do this is to journal a note to Him. Kind of like a diary, but instead talk to God! It’s amazing how much relief you can feel just by admitting to your struggles and releasing them to God. So today, let’s “...Be strong in The Lord and in his mighty power”!!