I DEPEND ON YOU LORD FOR MY STRENGTH AND PEACE!
I DEPEND ON YOU LORD FOR MY STRENGTH AND PEACE!
The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. —Psalm 29:11
People may think they have strength, but we do not have much. The only strength we have comes from our Lord, Creator of all— “The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1). The strength that our Lord gives is beyond physical strength. Physical strength wanes— “Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures” (Psalm 90:10). But the strength our Lord gives leads to eternal life, a strength that will never wane— “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish” (John 10:28). Wow… one day sickness, weakness, old age and death will be gone forever! “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4). Glorious day that will be!
Our Lord also “blesses his people with peace.” Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Yes, fellow followers of Jesus, brothers and sisters, we can have peace in this world of trouble. So, “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2). This is the only way we can have peace. So, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). Proper perspective gives us understanding where our strength and peace comes from. So, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus!
I enjoy long distance swimming in open water. When swimming I keep focused on a fixed point to swim toward. As I keep my eyes fixed on that point I will swim straight toward it. If I were not keeping my eyes on a fixed point, I would surely go off course. So it is with us. If we do not keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, if we do not abide in Jesus (John 15:1-17), then we will be off course from the race He has marked out for us and we will not have the strength and peace that He gives “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). This dark “world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (I John 2:17). So let us focus on Jesus and do His will. Yes, Dear Father, may this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLDEt9KP2O0&list=RDMMBLDEt9KP2O0&start_radio=1