S.Scripture | that He would give you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man. Ephesians 3:16
O.Observation | Paul was concerned for the church that met in Ephesus. He didn’t want them to lose heart because he was in chains (3:13). If we had a pastor or friend go to jail for preaching the truth of faith and repentance, we might shrink back and get discouraged to speak the truth too.
Four amazing lessons about God’s strength in discouraging or hard times. One, He gives us strength! In other words, if we lack strength to get through hardship we seek Him. In prayer like Paul. In His word. In our secret prayer room (Matt 6:6). “Seek and you shall find” Jesus says (Matt 7:7-8). So it is true in hard times too. Seek Him first, not after exhausting all other options.
The second lesson is how He responds. “According to the riches of His glory.” How rich is God’s glory? Infinitely rich. Abundantly. Never ending. So according to God’s glory and for the credit of His inexhaustible glory, He will give those who seek Him strength.
The third lesson is how He strengthens through His Spirit. Our God does not sprinkle dust on us, or recite some magical incantation over us. No, something greater is in the working of God. He lives in those who have true faith in Jesus! The strength He gives then is through His very presence in us.
I have a son who struggles to sleep at night without mom, dad or his older sister nearby. Our presence gives Him inner strength and security. What a small and limited picture this is to the Spirit of the Living God residing in us always!
The last lesson is where the strength comes. This is in the inner man. Our spirit is given strength when our bodies may fail us. There is an inner reality to our lives and our faith that is not visible to the outer world until we express it or bear the fruit of it. An inner strength from God in us will bring us through the worst of discouragement and hardship as we seek, trust in and obey our Savior and King.
A.Application | What has brought me low recently? Life not playing out the way I would have thought? How have I attempted to find encouragement, contentment and strength? Has it been in the Lord? How will I seek and find the One who can give me strength today?
P.Prayer | Father, I confess I have turned to many “broken cisterns” for strength and help. I have neglected to seek you and look to your glory and presence in my life. Today I turn from man-made solutions and paths of self-help, self-medicating, self-centeredness, and all man-centered strength. I turn right now to seek You alone! You are the aim of the ancient path I long to follow. Let me follow it today. Grant that by your glory I am strengthened in the inner man. Let it be for your glory alone. Amen!
