We Are Strong | Qualities of Women Who Trust Jesus
Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” - Ephesians 6:10
As daughters of God, we have a beautiful inheritance to claim. Some of it we won’t lay hold of until we enter eternity, but there are aspects of it that we’ll certainly enjoy this side of heaven. Here and now, from the moment we trust in Jesus, we gain a new identity with its own set of characteristics, distinct traits that belong to the children of God simply because we are his. These qualities are inescapable pieces of our new selves, guaranteed to be ours, not because of anything we have done, but because of the work of Jesus. In him, we are different than we were apart from him; the old is passed away and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17). One of the qualities of our new identity is this:
We are STRONG.
It’s in our DNA now. It runs through our veins: a capability to hold up under heavy weight, accomplish demanding tasks, push against resistance, and respond to pressures with skill and power. This is what being strong means and this is who we now are, Sisters.
But how can we believe we are strong when we regularly feel so weak?
Life sucks the wind out of our lungs and makes it seem like our experience is more true than the promises in God’s word. I’ve had plenty of I can’t days to show for it. I can’t do this. I can’t handle this right now. I can’t deal with this person.
Listening to self-talk that says I can’t deceives us into thinking we aren’t strong enough to handle what is right in front of us. As women who trust Jesus, we are strong enough because our strength comes from him. Period.
Are we believing the lie that tells us we’re weak? Are we doubting His power to make us strong enough for the things we’re facing in our real lives?
Identifying a lie like this is a crucial step toward forward motion in our faith. Once we realize that these unhealthy thought patterns directly oppose what God’s word says about us, we can be fierce in fighting to remember the truth of scripture.
Here’s the truth: God’s strength is available to us. Jesus paid a high price so we can have access to the power of his Spirit, so let’s not waste it! Ephesians 6:10 tells us, “Be strong in Lord and in his mighty power.” In the Greek language, this is an imperative statement in a passive voice, which means that the subject of the sentence (the reader) is not doing the action in this verse but is receiving the action.
Something else noteworthy is that the command is written in plural form rather than singular. So, it’s not just meant for you, it’s meant for us. In other words, it could be read like this: “Ladies, be made strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”
Receive God’s strength today, Friends. In Jesus, it’s already ours. We’ve been made new with a fresh identity. We are STRONG!
For Your Journal
find it:
In this portion of your journal, write out a Bible verse. You can find a verse that fits a current life situation or use the one we used in today’s devotion.
“Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” -Ephesians 6:10
fix it:
In this portion of your journal, pull out a few key words from the verse you chose above, or summarize the verse in your own words. Write it in pretty lettering or sketch something that will help you visualize the meaning of the verse and fix it in your mind. Repeat these words to yourself throughout the week to remind you of the truth contained in the scripture. Here are some options:
BE (MADE) STRONG
I am strong
feel it:
In this portion of your journal, write out a prayer. The goal is to absorb the meaning of the Bible passage and let it take root in your heart. Ask the Lord to let his word change you by the power of his Spirit. Surrender any areas of your life that you are trying to control.
Dear Lord, because of you, I am stronger than I feel! Thank you, Jesus, for making your strength available to those who trust you. May your Spirit strengthen me to carry out the tasks ahead of me today. Please quiet the negative voices in my head that make me feel weak and incapable. Help me to look to you and surrender myself to you today, especially in the hard moments. Give me joy for today’s journey. In Jesus’ name, amen.