Devotional - 21st August 2026

STRENGTH FOR THE BATTLE – 3: Types of Strength

Bless God for another wonderful day. Today, we want to continue our discussion on strength. We already pointed out the relevance of strength and the fact that when our internal strength is greater than the external pressures of life, we are able to easily carry and overcome those pressures of life. Today, I want to focus on the different kinds of strength before we discuss how to build them.

Before we can understand how to build internal strength, we must recognize that there are three types of strength: physical strength, mental strength, and spiritual strength. Most people are accustomed to and have access to the first two, but not everyone taps into the third kind—though some humans attempt to access a counterfeit version through demonic powers, such as seeking protective charms from witchdoctors. However, that is a foolish way of introducing the devil into one's life, but that is not our focus today. Let us look at the first two types of strength individually:

1. Physical Strength

Physical strength comes from training the body to endure certain things so that it can perform much better than that of an average individual. For example, a 5,000-meter athlete must spend months, if not years, training to go all the way and finish well. A person cannot just wake up one day and run 5,000 meters without ever training for it, unless they are Superman.

Physical strength comes when we exercise our bodies to build stamina. No matter how spiritual we are, we ought to add a little exercise into our weekly routines to build physical endurance. The Scripture says, “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:8).

So, let us add that little physical care to our deep spirituality.

What we eat also matters greatly when it comes to physical strength. If we do not eat healthy food that converts into muscle when we exercise, our bodies will start burning existing fat and muscle, making us weaker instead of stronger. Similarly, eating junk food builds fat rather than muscle.

Consider this: Jesus had just finished preaching to several thousand people and casting out devils. The last thing He might have been expected to think of was food. But realizing that feeding them only spiritually while neglecting their physical needs would weaken them, He said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far” (Mark 8:2–3).

Jesus recognized the importance of physical food. That is why He also commanded a family to feed their young daughter whom He had just raised from the dead, in order to strengthen her physically (Mark 5:43). We must not be so "spiritually minded" that we neglect what and how we eat.

2. Mental Strength

Mental strength is more powerful than physical strength in the sense that it can accomplish the same work better and in a shorter time, reducing the amount of physical energy required. Furthermore, mental strength enables the mind to control the body, forcing it to keep going even when it wants to give up. The Scripture says, “Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength…” (Ecclesiastes 9:16).

Mental strength is built from knowledge and wisdom acquired over time in a person's mind, making them better informed and equipped to act. This is what made Solomon a wiser king than others; he was well-informed, and everyone wanted to hear what he had to say. The Scripture says, “A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength” (Proverbs 24:5).

Women often exhibit a high degree of mental endurance, as they are uniquely wired in that area, while men frequently lean heavily on physical strength. For instance, the pain of childbirth is said by scientists to far exceed the standard pain threshold of the human body, yet women endure it. If a typical man went through that level of physical pain without mental fortitude, he might pass out. This mental endurance is also why women caught in abusive situations sometimes try to endure it for a long time without acting, which can be dangerous. Under extreme physical torture, most men might confess quickly, whereas a person with strong mental fortitude lasts longer.

However, when we introduce the third kind of strength—spiritual strength—we begin to understand why Peter, the other Apostles, and countless believers were willing to suffer intense pain and persecution for Christ, even if it cost them their lives.

Mental strength is the first component of the inner strength we need to cultivate. We should seek it not just in any book, but in the Scriptures and materials that help us view and balance life from a spiritual perspective rather than a carnal one. Many books published today labelled as "religious" lack solid scriptural foundations, so we must be careful what we read.

By God’s grace, I will see you in the next devotional as we dig deep into discussing spiritual strength. Have a blessed day!

Today’s Reading:

Matthew 4, Mark 8

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: