WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
MARCH 14, 2021
TOPIC: DIVINE STRENGTH
BY T. O. BANSO
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 New King James Version).
There are different kinds of strength depending on the mode of classification. We have natural or earthly strength, which could be broken down into other types of strength such as physical, financial, moral, intellectual, etc.
Furthermore, we also have what is, evidently, the opposite of natural or earthly strength: supernatural strength. This is superior to natural strength. But supernatural strength could also be viewed from two angles: the supernatural which is of God and the supernatural of Satan. My focus is the supernatural strength of God otherwise called divine strength.
Every child of God needs divine strength. Natural or physical strength is not enough. It has its weaknesses! It must be helped by divine strength. Â Obviously, a child of God should have nothing to do with the strength that comes from Satan. We have only one option if we are not going to fall, faint, or falter because of the limitations of earthly strength. This is to receive divine strength.
The Bible says of Joseph that the archers bitterly grieved him, shot at him, and hated him (Genesis 49:23). But what happened to Joseph despite this vicious attack against him? “But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel)” (Genesis 49:24 King James Version). What Joseph enjoyed in this passage was divine strength. God made his arms strong. The enemy couldn’t prevail against him. Someone could be weak physically but receive divine strength that makes him strong.
The Bible also says concerning Sarah: “By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised” (Hebrews 11:11 New King James Version). In other words, Sarah received divine strength to conceive despite having passed menopause.
Grace is the divine strength that causes one to do more than one’s natural ability. It is the help of God that will enable you to stand and withstand temptations. Without His grace, the most disciplined, the most spiritually sensitive person, will still fall. Without God, you can do nothing (John 15:5). Receive divine strength.
Charles Spurgeon says, “That strength which God gives to His Josephs is real strength; it is not a boasted valour, a fiction, a thing of which men talk, but which ends in smoke; it is true—divine strength. Why does Joseph stand against temptation? Because God gives him aid. There is nought that we can do without the power of God.”
In the place of waiting, those who wait for the Lord are able to exchange their weaknesses for the strength of God. Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (New King James Version). There is no weariness or fainting for those who wait for the Lord or upon the Lord. “They will fly high on wings like eagles” (Isaiah 40:31b New Living Translation). Divine strength.
Nehemiah 8:10 says the joy of the LORD is your strength. And that is why the devil always wants to steal your joy. Joy is not dependent on your circumstances. In Matthew 5:3, the Amplified Bible  (Classic Edition) explains the word blessed as “(happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous -– with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions).”
Jeremiah 17:5 says the person who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD is cursed.  He will be like a shrub in the desert, and not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited. Don’t trust in natural strength – yours or others. You need divine strength.
Divine strength! Hear this sweet testimony from Paul: “The first time I was brought before the judge, no one was with me. Everyone had abandoned me. I hope it will not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength, that I might preach the Good News in all its fullness for all the Gentiles to hear. And he saved me from certain death. Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly Kingdom. To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen” (2 Timothy 4:16-18 New Living Translation). Please take note of that phrase: and gave me strength.
The Lord will give you strength even when you are weak physically or in any other form. He stood with Paul and gave him the strength to preach the Good News in all its fullness for all the Gentiles to hear. He will give you strength where are you are lacking.
You can make the Lord your strength as David did. He regarded the Lord as his strength, no wonder the exploits he made despite all the problems that he faced. The secret of his exploits was God, his strength. He discloses this secret in Psalm 27: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident” (verses 1-3 New King James Version). Take note of this phrase: The LORD is the strength of my life. Make the Lord the strength of your life, too.
One needs more than natural strength to have victory in the kind of situation that David was in. But the Lord who was his strength gave him victory. David says, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him” (Psalm 28:7 New King James Version).
David calls the Lord “The rock of my strength” (Psalm 62:7 New King James Version). When Saul sent soldiers to watch David’s house in order to kill him, David expressed his faith in the Lord, his strength, thus: “You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me, for you, O God, are my place of safety” (Psalm 59:9 New Living Translation).
David was a man who depended on the strength of the Lord rather than trust in his natural strength. David says in Psalm 54:1, “Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your strength” (New King James Version). He was also was a man who appreciated the strength of the Lord. He says again in Psalm 29:11, “The LORD will give strength to His people; the LORD will bless His people with peace” (New King James Version).
Psalm 84 is a Psalm credited to the sons of Korah and one of the Psalms that speak on the strength of the Lord. It says in verses 5-7, “Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, They make it a spring; the rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion” (New King James Version).
A wise person will depend on the strength of God rather than any other type of strength. “No king is saved by the multitude of an army; a mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; neither shall it deliver any by its great strength” (Psalm 33:16-17 (New King James Version).
You need divine strength. Paul says, “I can do everything in the strength of him who makes me strong!” (Philippians 4:13 Twentieth Century New Testament). The New King James Version renders the verse thus: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” You also will be able to do all things that are in the will of God for you when you receive divine strength.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, You are my strength. I am blessed because my strength is in You.  I can do everything in the strength of Him who makes me strong. I receive divine strength to conceive and bring forth new things in my life. I receive divine strength to fulfil my destiny. I receive divine strength to run and finish well the Christian race. I exchange my weakness for God’s strength. I shall not be weak or weary in Jesus’ name.
(For more inspiring messages, visit: www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
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