STRENGTH FOR THE BATTLE – 1: Introduction
It is another wonderful opportunity to share a thought with you, and I want to remind you that God loves you. It is often said that living life to be successful is a battle that must be fought. That is why the Apostle Paul, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, said:
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life...” (1 Timothy 6:12).
We must understand that Webster’s definition of a battle, in one word, is a fight.
Now, in life there are small battles and big battles, and we will all experience both at different times on our journey of life, especially as we climb to higher levels of success. However, it is the strength we carry within us that determines whether we will emerge victorious at the end of each battle. Furthermore, we cannot use the same strength we used for a small battle to fight a big one; doing so will certainly cause a person to wear out before the battle is over, resulting in defeat. The Scripture says,“If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.” (Proverbs 24:10).
Defining Strength vs. Power
Strength, in my own words, can be defined as the duration of a steady amount of power that can be outputted and maintained while doing something. Therefore, strength is not the same as power, though power is a component of it. Power is more about the amount of force, while strength is more about the duration of that power.
To illustrate: a man with great power and stature might only be able to carry a block for 1 kilometer before getting tired. On the other hand, a man with much less power and stature might not lift as much at once, but because he has greater endurance, he is able to carry it for 5 kilometers before tiring out.
This is the difference between a 100-meter runner and a 5,000-meter runner. A 100-meter runner might start fast, but they would not be able to finish a 5,000-meter race. This reminds us of the saying, "Slow and steady wins the race."
This is also what Jesus was referring to when He told His disciples that it is not necessarily the size of their faith that matters, but the strength and endurance of their faith. Even if their faith is as small as a mustard seed (one of the smallest seeds), as long as they can put it to work and maintain it, it will produce the desired result.
The Need for Enduring Strength
Strength is what maintains action. Since the journey of life is certainly not a short one, we need enduring strength to stay continually victorious. The Scripture says, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:13).
Today’s Reading:
Proverbs 24, Ephesians 6
Nevertheless, if you are not born again, you can accept Christ today by saying this simple prayer out loud in faith, believing that Jesus Christ died and rose again for your sins:
Prayer for Salvation
“Dear Lord, I believe Jesus died and rose again for me. Forgive me my sins and come into my life. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. Wash me with your precious blood. Thank You,Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.”
Congratulations! Your status has changed to that of a child of God if you said this prayer in faith.