WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
AUGUST 29, 2021
TOPIC: MAKE THE LORD YOUR STRENGTH
BY T. O. BANSO
“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” (Psalm 84:5-7 New King James Version).
There are different kinds of strengths just as there are different sources of strength. One of the definitions of strength is “the ability to do things that need a lot of physical or mental effort” (Cambridge Dictionary). The same dictionary defines it as “the degree to which something is strong or powerful.”
David regarded the LORD as his strength. Therefore, despite all the problems that he faced, he made exploits. The secret of his exploits was the LORD, his strength. He said, “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” (Psalm 27:1-3 New King James Version).
The Hebrew word for the phrase “the strength of” in this scripture is ma`owz. According to Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, ma`owz means a place or means of safety, a protection, a refuge, a stronghold  (a) a place of safety, fastness, a harbor, a stronghold  (b) a refuge (used of God) (figurative) (c) human protection (figurative).
It takes more than ordinary strength to have victory in the circumstance that David found himself but the LORD, his strength, gave him victory. David said in Psalm 28:7: “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” (New King James Version).  The Hebrew word translated (my strength” is `oz. It means might, strength (a) material or physical (b) personal or social or political (Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon). David also called the LORD the rock of his strength (Psalm 62:7).
When Saul sent soldiers to watch David’s house to kill him, David expressed his faith in the LORD, his strength. He said, “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 LORD as his strength rather than trust in his own strength. In Psalm 54:1, he asked Him to vindicate him by His strength. According to him, the LORD will give strength to His people (Psalm 29:11a).
2 Samuel 22:3 records the words of the song David spoke to the LORD on the day He delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and Saul. Verse 2-3 say, “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; the God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence” (New King James Version). Take note of the phrase “The God of my strength, in whom I will trust.”  If the Lord is your strength, you can trust Him to be your salvation.
Psalm 18:1-2 records similar words of song David spoke to the LORD on the day He delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and Saul. It says, “I will love You, O LORD, my strength, the LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (New King James Version). David called the LORD his strength. Is He your strength? If He is, He will save you from your enemies as He saved David.
David continued in verses 33-34 of 2 Samuel 22: “God is my strength and power, and He makes my way perfect.  He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places” (New King James Version). Romans 9:16 says it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. David said God, his strength and power, made his feet like the feet of a deer and sets me on my high places. One of the features of a deer is that it has long and powerful legs appropriate for the forest terrain.
The Amplified Bible renders 2 Samuel 22:34 thus, “He makes my feet like the doe’s feet [firm and swift]; He sets me [secure and confident] on my high places.” This was the consequence of  God being David’s strength.
Who is your strength? In whom is your strength? Psalm 84:5-7 says, “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 his own strength or the strength of other people and so will wait on the Lord for strength from Him. “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).
After the LORD caused the Egyptians to perish in the Red Sea, Moses and the children of Israel in their song to the LORD, said, among other things, that the LORD was their strength and song, and He had become their salvation (Exodus 15:2).  The LORD cast Pharaoh’s chariots and his army into the sea; his chosen captains were also drowned in the Red Sea (verse 4).  Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Moses, sang, “Sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!” (Exodus 15:21 New King James Version).   Â
David said, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.  They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright” (Psalm 20:7-8 New King James Version). The Egyptians trusted in their chariots and they perished in the sea. Who is your strength? In whom is your trust for strength?
Don’t depend on your physical, financial, mental, or whatever strength you have. These can fail. Make the Lord your strength. He never fails. The apostle Paul says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 New King James version).
Make the Lord your strength and wait upon Him to renew your strength. 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 (Isaiah 40:31). Those who wait on the LORD shall renew their koach (Hebrew) – strength, power, or might.
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” (New Living Translation). In the place of waiting, those who wait for the LORD exchange their weaknesses for His strength. If you wait for the Lord, you will go from strength to strength.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (New King James Version). Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Make the Lord your 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, I make You my strength; I will not put my trust in my strength or the strength of any other person. I will not trust in chariots or horses. Father, I wait upon you; renew my strength. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
(For over 600 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, 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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