"He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor 1.8
"I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for You saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place. Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief. My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak." Ps 31.7-10
"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord." Ps 31.24
"But as for you be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." 2 Chron 15.7
As a small notation, this last verse was a verse I memorized in first grade. It is interesting to me that the verse which has stuck to me the strongest is a verse most fitting for my life. (Or anyone)
We are changed, different people. We are no longer slaves of sin, but free-slaves of Christ. Rather like an indentured slave to a good Master--the sort that allowed the slave to have his own home and garden and such. Sin as a master has much more the attitude of beating us to near death for the slightest fault, rather than, through the covering of our sins, holding us near and dear.
Life is extraordinarily difficult. I cannot explain ever in words how trying I find my present battle---there simply are no words to describe it.
Yet we are told throughout Scripture to be strong, to hold fast, to refuse to give up. The best manner of not giving up is through the strength of God.
Exodus 14.14 is a fascinating verse: "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."
This makes me think, also, of the verses speaking on being still and knowing God. If we "still" our hearts before God, listening carefully to all He says as we read His words, listening to sound, godly authors and pastors, it is then we find the fullest of strength and peace. The Counselor He sent teaches us the parables of the Word as Christ did for the disciples, shows us the secrets hidden, the secret of Christ:
"No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began." 1 Cor 2.7
Be still, listen strongly with all your strength to the Words of God. His very Words spoke into being all that is about us and ourselves. We need remember that the Bibles we toss onto the kitchen table after piously carrying it to church is among the most valuable things we hold. If the Word of God gathers dust on the bookshelf, one's heart will gather the dust of misery and pain alone with no strengthening love of God pouring strongly through every particle of one's being. Reading the Word, focusing in on God is indeed a powerful, incredible thing. Turn to Him, and be not surprised at the change in attitude as you look about the world.
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