RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

TUESDAY, 18TH DECEMBER. http:///2dZqtLQ

THEME: HE’S YOUR STRENGTH.

OPENING SCRIPTURE:…the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1).

In the Psalm above, David wasn’t asking the Lord for strength; rather, he declared, “…the Lord is the strength of my life….” This ought to be your confession always; Christ is the strength of your life. If He’s the strength of your life, you don’t need to ask Him for strength, because if you have Him, you have strength. He doesn’t merely have strength; He is Strength. Hallelujah!

There’s no room for weakness in your life. The Apostle Paul, with this understanding, made an extraordinary claim in 2 Corinthians 12:10. He said, “…for when I am weak, then am I strong.” He knew His strength was the Holy Spirit that dwelt in him. No wonder He said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV).

The Holy Spirit is the source of all strength, and He lives in you. Therefore, never confess weakness. Romans 8:26 says, “…the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities…”; in other words, His strength is available to you, and takes over when you think you’re at your weakest.

Never pray, “O Lord, strengthen me”; that’s praying amiss. Someone might ask, “What’s wrong in praying that the Lord should strengthen us? Didn’t Paul pray for the Christians in Ephesus to be strengthened with might in their inner man by the Spirit?”

In Ephesians 3:14-16, you’d notice Paul didn’t pray that prayer for himself; he had a different understanding. Moreover, he was praying for the ministry of the Spirit to be fulfilled in the lives of the brethren at Ephesus. He wasn’t praying as a weak man and asking, “O God, please strengthen me”; no! The Word already says, “The Lord is your strength.” Therefore, yours is to consciously and constantly declare, “The Lord is my strength” and as you say that, you’re strengthened.

It’s like praying, “O God, give me more power”; He already said in Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you….”Therefore, having received the Holy Spirit, you don’t need to ask God for more power; the Holy Spirit, the power of God Himself, lives in you! So like David, declare, “I will love thee, O Lord, my strength…my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high-tower” (Psalm 18:1-2).

PRAYER
I exalt you, O Lord, my strength! Blessed are you forever, for in you I trust; you’re my glory, my shield and my defence! My strength is renewed in you always; you’ve set me on high. Glory and honour are in your presence; strength and gladness are in your dwelling! I rejoice in you forever, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Psalm 27:1-3 The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked, [even] mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this [will] I [be] confident.

2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

1-Year Bible Reading Plan
Revelation 10 & Micah 1-3
2-Year Bible Reading Plan
Revelation 15:1-8 & Habakkuk 3