Keep Up

       Your

     Strength!

Medical science tells us to keep up our physical strength so we can feel better and accomplish more.  How much more important is it for you to keep up your spiritual strength.  When you are strong in your heart, mind, and emotions, nothing can hold you back from realizing your goals and fulfilling God's will.  You can see those desires He's placed in your heart come to pass.  So here's a survey of questions you can ask yourself to see if you are receiving what you should in order to keep up your strength.  Don't miss out on all that God has for you.

       Praise
        and
Encouragement
      for You!

     One very important element to staying strong in your life is this: you must be receiving the right words.  Encouragement.  Praise. 

     From where do those kinds of words come?  From what God says to you in His Word, from people He sends to speak to your life, also from those in authority over you or your family or friends.  God will even send strangers to give you good words and support. 

     This is needed because there is a direct correlation between how much praise and encouragement we receive and how we are able to stay strong in our life.  After someone has commended or supported us in some way or given us confidence, it gives us a boost.  It creates new energy within us. 

     This has actually been measured in a study that was done with some children.  A psychologist used an instrument called an ergograph which measures the activity of a muscle group in the body.  He measured a group of children two different ways.  When they were tired, he measured their energy after they were given a word of praise or encouragement.  The graph showed that the children responded with an upsurge of new energy.  Then he tested the reverse.  When the children had energy but they were criticized or discouraged, their strength would take a nosedive. 

     Think about how you feel after you’ve received a word of confidence or support from someone.  Then think how you felt after you received a disparaging comment.  It stands to reason if you’re not receiving encouragement and praise on a consistent basis, then you’re not going to be able to keep up your strength. 

     It’s not that we depend on what others say in order to prop us up.  We’re not so weak in our self-confidence that we must have praises from people all the time.  I am referring to a normal need to receive encouragement to make us stronger in our spirit.  It gives us a lift.  Why is that?  Because here’s what happens when we receive words of encouragement: they help us combat the wrong thoughts coming from the enemy, the devil.  Disparaging thoughts about what we can’t do, we’re not good enough, this won’t work out. 

      Those are darts coming from the enemy to weaken us.  So if we are not receiving encouragement, and just receiving criticism and discouraging words, it’s going to be hard to stay strong. 

     This is the reason God gave a directive to Moses concerning his assistant Joshua.  The day was coming when the Israelites must go in and possess the place of promise.  It was going to take someone very strong to be able to defeat the enemies and keep the people encouraged so they would continue the journey until it was complete.  That was the only way they would be able to experience all the promises of God. 

     Since Moses was not going to be around at that time, God told him it would be Joshua who took the people into the land.  At times, Joshua may feel alone in trying to face the needs of millions of people and at the same time lead them in the victories over their enemies. 

     So God instructed Moses, Charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he shall go over before this people and he shall cause them to possess the land which you shall see.  (Ref. Deuteronomy 3:28.) 

     He knew just what he must have in order to stay strong.  Encouragement.  Words of praise that would let him know he could do the job.  Commendation and a belief in his abilities and anointing to carry it out.  So Moses gave those words to Joshua, and he was successful. 

     God does the same with you.  In some way He sends praise and encouragement and that’s when your energy goes up, your emotional ability becomes stronger, you have mental determination. 

     Proverbs 12:25 describes words of encouragement as life-giving.  That’s because they have the life force of God in them.  That’s why He created encouragement and praise.  Because of the effect it would have on us.  It takes us out of depression and discouragement and raises us up to joy and confidence.  We are restored in our heart.  So our strength becomes greater. 

     I believe He’s doing that for you now.  He’s embracing you at this moment to tell you that you can go on to make it.  You’re going to see fulfillment and blessing from His hand.  Allow His words to help you keep up your strength to see your heart’s desire come to pass.
 

Spiritual Powerline to say out loud:
“I AM ENCOURAGED AND STRENGTHENED!”

Here is a powerful prayer to say out loud:                          

Lord, I receive encouragement from You today, and I am strengthened!  I have new determination and joy and confidence.  I will see Your will done in my life in miracle ways.  In the name of Jesus.  Amen.