Christian strength comes with power and courage and use it to uplift others

Turn to God for strength. He offers us all we need. Often, as obedient Christians, we make great efforts with our feeble spiritual muscles. But ultimately, our own strength always fails. When Christ’s spirit works through us, the Christian life flows smoothly; in his power we accomplish his purposes. Let Christ bear our burden. Only he has the might we need in our lives.

When we rely on God’s strength, we tap into his mystery. Not some small pool of power that fails at a critical moment. The Christian’s strength is mighty, because God is mighty. He who created the universe does not have a short arm that cannot reach down to our situation. Shining stars testify to his authority. Galaxies in space are ordered by his hand. He can order our life too. Ask him to use his strength in our life, and we will have all we need.

Being a Christian can take lots of courage. As the world around us becomes increasingly hostile to God and our personal lives become tense because of our beliefs, we feel the challenge. But we are not defenseless. Christians through the ages have faced these troubles and triumphed. The Lord who supported them gives us strength, too. Let us stand fast for Jesus, calling on his spirit to strengthen our lives. Then we will be strong indeed.

So God has made us strong in some area-perhaps by experience, as we have struggled to obey him. Now we must respond to him. Don’t criticize those who have different experiences or other strengths, or carp about the failings of new, weak Christians. Instead, use our power to uplift others. Come alongside and help. Then God’s strength will have helped us both.

Sometimes we are unable to take on life. Paul knows how we feel. He didn’t see himself as the perfect apostle we often imagine he was. Knowing his own flaws and failures, Paul recognized the work Jesus did in him every day. God made his servant sufficient to his tasks. He’ll do it for us, too, as we walk in faith and seek his strength.

God promise success to Joshua if he obeyed his word. That promise works for us, too. But sometimes we may not feel that obeying God has brought us great prosperity. Just wait. It may take time, the success may not take the form we expect, or we may not see the results until we reach heaven, but God will prosper those who do his will. He promised it, and his promises never fail.

Faithfulness to God or success in the world, we may have to choose between them. Seeking the world’s goals brings short-term benefits, but only God provides abundant and on going blessings for those who put serving him first in our lives. Though worldly blessings last for a day, a year, or a few years, they cannot remain for eternity. When you consider success, think of the kind that really lasts.

God’s definition of success might be a profitable land that provides for it’s people and peace that provides a blessed life. Money and other possessions are important but not really necessary. But the peace of living in God flows freely to those who abide in him. We can call this success and apply it to our spiritual life.

It is not wrong to pray for success. The Bible connects success to God’s salvation. Prosperity or any other achievement means little when it’s separated from God’s will and our obedience to him. When we ask to attain something; we need to also seek God’s saving grace in that part of our life. Then, we’ll have real success-spiritual and temporal blessings.