Strong in Him
I met a woman this past week, who has seen God do many miracles. Tumours shrinking away to nothing. Disease losing its hold on a life, as God’s Spirit enters in and heals.
She spoke of the power of faith, and the power of prayer, and how vital it is that we cultivate God’s Spirit in our lives, so that we are sensitive to Him, so that we are strong in Him.
As if our intimacy with Him were a full reservoir within.
That as we come up against difficulty, as others around us come up against difficulty, we are full of His Spirit, strong in our faith.
That as He calls upon us to exercise that faith, and to come to Him with the needs of any situation, we are ready and able children of God.
Jesus Himself seems to model this connection between intimacy with the Father, and power in His life and ministry.
He consistently drew away to be alone with God. Refreshed and strengthened by Him. Renewed and focused in God’s will for His life. Strong in Him.
Luke tells us of the way
… He went up into a mountain to pray, and spent the whole night in prayer to God Luke 6:12 (Amp).
The next day, as Jesus comes down from this mountain and this time with God, we see that He is called upon to minister to overwhelming need, and all the while healing power was going forth from Him and curing them all Luke 6:19 (Amp). The account describes
… a vast throng of people from all over Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon … came to listen to Him and to be cured of their diseases. Even those who were disturbed and troubled with unclean spirits, and they were being healed [also]. And all the multitude were seeking to touch Him, for healing power was all the while going forth from Him and curing them all [saving them from severe illnesses or calamities].
It seems that as Jesus was strong in the Father, He was able to draw on that strength, and see the power of God.
God is so full of grace, and in my own life I have seen Him faithful to my prayers and quick to pour out His grace, in spite of my spiritual apathy. He is unconditional in His faithfulness.
But still, I am challenged by this idea of being strong in the Lord as Paul describes it Eph.6:10. I am inspired to seek God’s grace to grow in this strength in Him, that I might see, and be in awe of, the power of His might Eph.6:10.
… be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides] Eph.6:10 (Amp.)
Yes! As we draw near to Him, He draws near to us. We need to know Him and live by His life within us as He lived by His Father’s life within Him. I am looking forward to knowing Him better and better!
Love, Cindy
I’m so sorry. Praying for you. He remains strong even when we are weak, we can rest in the arms of the Saviour. With love and prayer
It’s so easy for me to be strong in Him when everything is going great! The rest of the time … well, we’re working on that – He and I. As usual, lovely post.
Dear Cindy, I love that promise of closeness with God that you mention here. That He responds with even more of His presence in our lives as we seek Him more and more :) I love that! Have a really lovely weekend Cindy, and God bless xx
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Thank you, Rain. And it’s so comforting what you mention here, that even when we are weak, He is our strength. Thank you for your prayer, love Birgit ox
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I so know what you mean Hope, I notice the same thing in my relationship with Him. I am asking Him for more of His presence in the hard times, that I would not get discouraged. Like you, He and I are working on it ;) Lovely to see you, friend xo