I am weak. You are strong. Be strong in me.

October 09, 2019

Lord, I am weak. You are strong. Be strong in me. Amen.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
- Philippians 4:13

Strength. The perception of strength from the vantage point of our flesh is an interesting concept. Depending on your enneagram type, you likely view strength as:

Type One: Perfection
Type Two: Being needed and helpful to others
Type Three: Success
Type Four: Being unique and special
Type Five: Understanding others
Type Six: Wisdom
Type Seven: Avoidance of pain
Type Eight: Self-protection
Type Nine: Harnessing stability

I will be strong when I (insert enneagram descriptor above here) _______________________.

The beautiful truth is strength does not come from:
Performance
Characteristics / skills
Overextension
Experience / wisdom

Our GOD is our strength.

Does that take some pressure off today? I know it does for me. I see an immediate difference in my ability to show up to my daily grind the moment I shift my enneagram three personality of:

success = strength
to
knowing my God = strength.

Judges chapter 16 illustrates the story of an emotionally and physically broken Samson who sought the Lord’s powerful strength when he had none. “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.” Judges 16:28

The Lord answered Samson’s prayer and filled him with strength to accomplish His Will.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. - 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10

The Bible tells us that we are filled with the same Holy Spirit that filled our Savior. We have access to that same strength when we recognize it’s not accomplished by our own doing but by trusting and knowing the one that provides our strength. We must acknowledge our weakness is a strategic part of our testimony. Our weakness is used for good when we recognize it, surrender it, and ask for His strength and sustainment.

Can I challenge us to think of a quality today that we believe is a strength we encompass? I also want to challenge us to identify an aching weakness we feel. List them out on a piece of paper where you can see them every day this week. Once we’ve identified a strength and a weakness, let’s get on our knees and give them to our God. Below is my example.

Lord, I thrive off opportunities to love your daughters and fall to the ground in my constant striving to perform. Thank you for blessing me with the gift of encouragement and with the aching desire to perform. I surrender my desire to love to you knowing only you can meet me in my weakness and desire to accomplish your Will. Lord, would you equip me to be your vessel, to love as you love and to be used for your Kingdom? Help me to hear your guiding voice as I enter this day, seek to understand others and love them right where they are. God, would you fill me up with your truths and set my heart on fire for you daily? Thank you for making me unique and strong in you, God. Amen.

We are praying over our community of women walking through STAY: An Invitation to Purposefully Focus on God’s Presence and Promises. We pray you would be touched uniquely to know our God more intimately over these 12 weeks of promises. We pray you would complete each section with a renewed strength and courage to walk your path knowing you have a God that is fighting for you and has made a way.

Music pick for this week in hope, healing and seeking

Pure Exaltation by Jon Egan
We want to give You
Pure exaltation
Open the heavens
Receive what is Yours, Jesus

Worthy are You, God
Worthy is Your name
Worthy of our praise
We worship You
Here we stand in awe
You deserve it all
Jesus evermore
We worship You

You silenced fear and all shame
You conquered death and the grave
To You the glory, Jesus
You broke the curse of our sin
The life of heaven begins
To You the glory, Jesus

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