“Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, 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”. Isa. 40:29-30
By Michael Adekoya – Dear Readers, one truth that most preachers of today will not tell us is that “God does not tell us how He will answer our prayers, and even when, but He does promise those who wait on Him for answer one thing – Strength.”My friend, you need the strength of God to wait until you receive the answer to your prayers. What are you going through now? What are your expectations? What are you trusting the Lord for? Do you want the perfect will of God and not His permissive will concerning that situation or matter? Then, you need to wait upon the Lord. Isaiah said, “Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength…” (Isa 40:31).
David said, “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage (encourage yourself in the Word and promises of God), and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord” (Psa 27:14). He further said, “Wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him” (Psa 62:5). Solomon said, “The strong spirit of a man will sustain him in bodily pain or trouble” (Prov 18:14). My friend, did you hear that? Do you need permanent and divine solution to your problem? You need to renew your strength by waiting on God more. One word, one idea, one revelation, one connection, one directive from Him is enough to sort you out. Listen! You don’t have to wait for God to act when you are in doubt, in unbelief, envy, sin, murmuring, complaint, jealousy, bitterness, unforgiveness, or in sorrow.
My friend, you can only get through to God for permanent answer to your prayers by the strength of joy in you. Nehemiah said, “…the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh 8:10) …the joy that comes from knowing that Jesus is Lord of every situation…the joy that comes from knowing that if Jesus can carry the sins of the whole world, He can carry you through the trial, failure, defeat, hardship, bondage, discouragement, oppression, depression, temptation, addiction (drug, alcohol or pornography), confusion, physical or emotional sickness, fear, worry, unemployment, troubled relationship, failing business, financial crisis, singleness, loneliness, pressure, stress, bareness or the pain that comes from a rebellious child, unfaithful partner and unsaved loved one. You can get through to God for solution by the strength of the joy that comes from knowing that because Jesus lives and still on the throne, you can face tomorrow no matter the pressure of life and stress that are facing you today. You may ask, “And where can I draw from the well of such joy?”
My friend, the Bible has the answer. It is only in the presence of the Lord (Psa 16:3). Are you facing an extremely distressing situation? You need to draw strength from the Lord in His presence using praise and prayer strategy. Listen! It is time to rise up to the situation or problem with joy and with great audacity. After all, Paul said, “No temptation (problem, situation, trial, challenge) has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Cor 10:13). Stop making a pyramid out of that problem. It is common to mankind. But the Good News is that God is faithful. He will not allow you to face the trial or temptation you cannot handle and He would make a way of escape – salvation, deliverance, resurrection, restitution, restoration and solution for you. David knew the need and how important it is to develop a strong spirit and to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Eph 6:10). He had been a veteran warrior, a true and spirit filled worshipper in truth and a violent intercessor. He knew that godliness is a lifestyle of warfare. He knew that in a battle weakness, discouragement, distress, confusion, ignorance, timidity or fear is no good. As a matter of fact, he had faced extremely distressing situations himself countless times. For example, there was an occasion when the Amalekites came against his camp at Ziklag, raided it and carried all they could get away, including his people, possession, and power (weapons). But, he gained strength from God’s presence to face the challenging situation
My friend what has the enemy stolen from you? – Is it your joy, your peace, your gifts, prayer life, your dream, your ministry, your service to God, your wife, your husband, your child, your home, your health, your wealth, your freedom of movement, your business or your success? You need to draw strength from the Lord in His Word. When David and his men came, the camp was empty. The men were so distressed that they wanted to stone David and David was so distressed too. Is that where you are today? Perhaps, people are mocking you because of your present predicament? Listen to what David did. The Bible says, “But David strengthened himself (encouraged himself) in the Lord his God “(I Sam 30:6).
That is what you must do today because it is not yet over until God says it is over. As long as God still allows you to breathe, there is hope! My friend, you need to speak to God and speak to yourself everyday. Speaking to himself, David said, “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Saviour and my God!” (Psa 42:5) Hear me! Do not let your present circumstances overwhelm you! Strengthened yourself in the Word of God, praise Him at all times for the help that is coming your way and pray to Him to strengthen your inner man by His Holy Spirit. It is then you can do all things through Christ who strengthened you (Phil 4:13). Receive God’s strength to go through everyday and that situation – it’s a step to new level of growth. One of the seven spirits of God is the spirit of might – inner strength and tireless energy to face any challenge. (read Isa 11:1-3)
My friend, you need it in the days we live in. No vision can deliver results without unique strength to face attacks and weather the storms. You cannot walk in dominion if you are down today and up tomorrow. You need strength to run the race of life already set before you. You need to know the Almighty God and have personal relationship with Him to gain strength. You need strength to do exploits (Daniel 11:32). Every great accomplishment requires great strength. Jesus taught for three days at a stretch doing His Father’s business, yet He never broke down.
My friend, you need such strength to do the work of God (your ministry) or your business and to complete it. In his song tittled, “Everlasting God”, Chris Tomlin wrote, “Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord. We will wait upon the Lord…Our God, You reign forever; our hope, our strong Deliverer. You are the everlasting God, the everlasting God. You do not faint, You won’t grow weary…You’re the defender of the weak. You comfort those in need. You lift us up on wings like eagles.” What an insightful song! But my friend, can you hear what the Spirit of God is saying to you through this song? You need strength! Strength will rise as you wait upon the Lord, our God, in praise, in prayer and in joy knowing fully well that God is able to do exceedingly more than we ask, think or imagine! Remain blessed!
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