“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil.4:13; KJV). I am sure this is a very familiar verse to most of us. How often we hear it quoted when someone has a difficult task in front of them. However, do we really think about all that is implied in this verse? We tend to focus on what we can do: “through Christ” but today I would like to focus on how we are enabled to do that.

The word “STRENGTHENETH”, is not just a passive word in that we just get strength all on our own, but has more the sense of God actively filling us with his strength. This reminds me of two other scriptures. In 1 Corinthians chapter 3 and verse 5 we read that: “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God” and in Colossians chapter 1 and verse 11 it is written: “strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power”.

This means that we don’t have to depend on our ability but through the inner strength that comes from God alone. In order to be in a position to receive that strength we need to be abiding in the vine (John 15:5). Jesus is the vine and we need to have an intimate and ongoing relationship with him. Praise God that we don`t have to do things in our own strength; let`s meditate on these verses and use our faith to depend on God’s strength and ability.

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“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of Go: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph 2:8-10; KJV). Here we are told that we don’t earn salvation by our works, it is purely a gift by God’s grace that we receive freely by faith.

When Paul struggled with his thorn in the flesh, he pleaded with God to take it away but God replied: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). In other words, whatever the thorn was, God said his grace would get Paul through the difficulty.

God’s grace enables us to receive of his strength (power) for salvation and for every need that we have. The power word used here is Dunamis in the Greek; this is where we get the word dynamite.  We have God’s dynamite power by grace. The power that raised Christ from the dead is also that dynamite power and we contain it by God’s grace (Rom 8:11; Acts 1:8).

As we humble ourselves and come to the end of our own strength as Paul did, then God’s grace can get us through. If we think we can make it on our own and tough it out in our own strength then we are on our own and life gets hard. Let’s humble ourselves before God and seek his help; his grace is sufficient.

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“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:6-7; KJV).

We all get to worrying from time to time, but the apostle Paul tells us we don’t need to. He tells us to let our heavenly Father know our needs and requests, trust him and thank him for the answers. We need to allow God’s peace to overwhelm us and keep us through Christ Jesus.

In 1 Peter, chapter 5 and verses 6 and 7 we read: “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (KJV). If we approach our God humbly, we are told we can cast our cares on him and he will take care of them.  Jesus not only bore our sicknesses and carried our pains but he was scourged that we could have peace (Isa 53:4-5).

The definition of the word salvation in the Greek contains; forgiveness, deliverance, rescue, liberation, release, restoration, safety, healing, prosperity, preservation, soundness, happiness and general well-being.  What’s left to worry about?  Give it all to Jesus today and enjoy his peace of mind.

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Sometimes when I listen to amazing music I am moved, I imagine that the composer must have been inspired by God. I realize that I am not merely listening with my physical ears but with my heart, my spirit. So often we listen but we do not hear; we look but we do not see. Why is this? It’s because we only hear with our physical ears and see with our physical eyes (Isa 6:9-10).

We need to see and hear as God himself does, with our spirit, our heart (1 Sam 16:7; Luke 24:32). This is when God can speak to us Spirit to spirit (Prov 20:27; Rom 8:16), through his word (John 14:26; Rom 2:15), through people (Prov 11:14), his creation (Rom 1:20) and music he inspires; this is when we can be truly changed. How often we do not change when we hear so much of God’s word and see and hear so much of him but only with our physical ears and eyes.

For a few moments in our busyness we need to try to focus on God, on heaven, and leave our soul to rest. Allow God to arrest you, envelope you in his peace and love you, speak to your heart and change you from glory to glory, holiness to holiness. I encourage you to close your eyes, listen to some of your favorite music, gaze at a beautiful picture or simply enjoy the beauty of God’s creation and meditate on the goodness of God. Allow him to speak to you and truly impact and change you. My, how the church needs truly changed Christians, people sold out for him. 

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Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others. 

“That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col.2:2-3; KJV).

This is part of a prayer that Paul was praying for the Colossians; his heart’s desire was for unity in love and that they would have a desire to know Christ more. This is a prayer we can use today for our own lives, it’s also a good prayer to pray over others too.

To know Jesus more is certainly my desire. Of course, we don’t want to just know Jesus more for what we can get out of him. But nevertheless, as verse 3 says, when we do get to know Jesus we also tap into his wisdom and knowledge.

The apostle Paul desired to personally know Jesus more (Phil 3:10). If this is your heart’s desire then make these verses your confession today. And how exactly do we get to know God better?  Well, let’s allow the apostle Paul to show us: “I press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:14). How do we press? By spending time in his word, in prayer and in his presence.

Sound familiar?

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