It’s about a close relationship with God, through his son Jesus and living by the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s not about “religion.” It’s about knowing and remaining connected to God in an intimate way.

Jesus tells his disciples in John 15:5 ….

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

This verse tells us that we cannot live the kind of fruit-bearing life that he wants us to live unless we are closely connected to Jesus.  Yes, we must also humble ourselves before God, submit to and follow his ways, and believe that what the Bible says is truth.

When we make a habit of living life according to the principles God outlines for us in his Holy Bible, we are promised that we’ll have an abundant life. We may not be free of disease, we will in all likelihood experience really tough life circumstances, but amidst it all we can enjoy deep inner peace, inner spiritual strength, joy, love and contentment.  Oh yes, and we can be assured of living eternally in a wonderful heaven!

The more closely we stay connected to Jesus, the better we’ll understand our unique purpose in life and the greater difference we’ll make for his Kingdom and the body of Christ.

What blessings God has for us…. if we will put our faith in him, trust him, obey his truths for living found in the Bible and walk our life in close relationship with him.

These are some of the key points I hope to remind the audience of this Sunday.  As I review my notes, read the related scriptures that I intend to emphasize and pray for God to guide me, I’m reminded of the great and powerful love he has for me and for you.

Life is good… when you know God in an intimate way!

Questions to Reflect On

Are you living in a close relationship with God, spending alone time with him on most days?

Are you regularly reading the Bible to learn how he wants you to live?

Helpful Resources

Article – It’s About the Relationship

Article – His Instruction Manual, Our Guidebook for Living

Website – To Learn More About a Personal Relationship with God

If your organization or church is interested in a workshop or retreat, read about my speaking services.

Power from God does not come by way of religious-type activity and service.  It comes as a direct result of abiding in God’s presence and being connected to him in a very real and meaningful way.  Jesus tell us this when he says -

“Remain in me and I will remain in you…. apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5

Jesus gives us a great example of how he received power from his Father, God.  Shortly before his death on the cross, Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He was sorrowful and full of grief-filled emotions as he prepared to do the will of God by dying on the cross for our sins. The “man” in him did not want to die. What did he do? Jesus went away to be alone with God…. to be in earnest prayer with him one-on-one.  When he finished his prayer time with  God, Jesus was prepared, equipped with the strength he needed to be able to die for you and me. Matthew 26:36-46

The Gospel of John tells us that Jesus prayed to his Father that just as he and God were one, that we all would “be in them.” John 17:20-21 This serves as a reminder that God desires us to remain as close as possible to him. He knows that for us to be able to do his perfect will, we need to maintain an intimate relationship with him.

‘Abide in God’s Presence’ is one Spiritual Exercise that is conducive to a healthy life.  The more we are in God’s presence, the more power the Holy Spirit gives us to make healthy choices and to change our behavior. We are able to do things that we otherwise might not be able to do.

Questions to Reflect On:

How close to Jesus are you?

How much time do you spend in prayer with God on a daily basis?

How much time each week do you spend reading the Bible and meditating on what you’ve read?

Scriptures Related to Intimacy:

“Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.”  James 4:8

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.” Psalm 23:1-3

Helpful Resources

Article – It’s About the Relationship

Blog Posts About Strength

Booklet – Experiencing Intimacy With God, RBC Publications

Website Page – Spiritual Exercises for a Healthier Life

When we have strength we can make it through tough times. This strength enables us to live a healthy lifestyle and to manage the stress that is present. Are you looking for insight about how God can be a source of strength? Today my devotionals led me back to two passages in Ephesians where Paul shares his understanding of how God supplies us strength.  I’ll do my best to pass his wisdom along to you here.

What the Bible Says about Strength and Power

Ephesians 1:15-21 is a prayer of Paul to the people of the church of Ephesus.  He is especially praying that they be unified in their new faith so that they can be the body of Christ that God intended them to be.  This prayer still applies to us today… and it is my prayer for you.  I pray that you may know God better and that your understanding of him be deep in your heart.  This deep understanding of who God is and of the love he has for you should be a source of hope – the kind of hope that can only come from God. Accompanying this deep understanding of God and belief in his character and nature should be great power. Paul tells us in verse 19 that this power is like the working of his mighty strength – the same strength that God used to raise Jesus from his grave.  This same power, and strength,  is available to you if you believe.

Further in this same book, in Ephesians 3:16-21, Paul again writes to these people in a prayer.  We are also told that we can have this great power because God’s Holy Spirit lives in us who believe in Jesus. When you are deeply rooted in God’s love you are able to grasp how much Jesus loves you and cares for you. This is hugely important because as you embrace this love, you begin to realize the fullness and power of  God.  God’s Holy Spirit,  who lives in you, gives your mind this ability. It’s not your power, but God’s power that is manifested in you and at work in you. (Ephesians 3:20)

Another important determinant of receiving God’s strength is our weakness. We are told that Jesus’ strength was made perfect in Paul’s weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9) Paul came to recognize that it was his personal weakness and associated dependence on God that was key to him having power that came from God. So, it is in admitting our weakness that we affirm God’s strength.

Receiving  God’s Strength

So, according to these scriptures, how do you receive strength that is available from God?

• You believe in his Son, Jesus.
• You begin to understand just how much God loves you and you receive this wonderful love.
• You humbly acknowledge that you are weak and dependent on God.
• You know that his Holy Spirit lives in you.
• You believe that God’s power raised Jesus from his grave.
• And, you believe that God wants to use this same mighty power for good in your life.

This is how you have strength – strength that comes directly from God.  It’s about your faith, belief and trust – the essence of the Christian faith.

You were created by God as his masterpiece to do wonderful things through the salvation you receive by believing in Jesus. Ephesians 2:10 When you receive strength from God, through his mighty power that is available, you can make it through the challenges that life throws at you. When this happens, God is glorified. Ephesians 3:21

Questions to Reflect On

Do you have a personal relationship with God and his Son, Jesus? If not, read about Jesus and how much God loves you.

Are you humble enough to acknowledge that you are weak and depend on God?  If not, read more about this here.

Do you believe God’s power raised Jesus from the grave? If not, read about it here.

Do you believe God’s Spirit lives in you? If you’re not sure about this, read about the Holy Spirit here.

More Resources on Strength and Power

More blog posts about strength and power

Scriptures related to stress and strength

30 Affirmations of Encouragement using scripture

Hummingbirds Require Nectar

Hummingbirds live on nectar from flowers and the sugars that are found in specialty feeders.  I have two plants out back that have attracted Ruby Throated Hummingbirds for the past five years.  One is an Autumn Sage.  The other is a Black and Blue plant – which is what the hummingbird in this video is feeding on.  The last few days, these tiny birds have been visiting these flowers frequently as they stock up on the needed fuel they will need for their migration South.

These little birds are amazing. Their average weight is 1/8 ounce.  Their wings beat between 40 and 80 beats/second. They breathe approximately 250 times per minute .  Their heart rate is an unbelievable 250 beats/min at rest and 1200 beats/min while feeding. Finally, in flight they reach up to 63 miles/hour.  Most researchers seem to accept the fact that those who migrate to the Caribbean Islands and Mexico cross the Gulf and Atlantic Ocean waters during a non-stop flight taking 18-20 hours. No wonder they require a lot of food for energy and strength!

People Need God

I imagine most of you know the story of David and Goliath. When David came face to face with the giant, he relied on God’s presence for strength.  Read 1 Samuel 17:1-51.  David was clearly aware that God was with him. and that the battle was not his, but God’s.(verse 45)

During David’s battle, he focused on God’s presence, not his circumstance or problem. David’s knowledge of God’s presence prevented him from becoming discouraged or giving up.

If you focus on life’s challenges and your opposition in the battles you face, you are likely to lose hope and give up. When you stay in God’s presence and  keep the focus on him, he will give you optimism and the strength you need.

Remember, with God, all things are possible.  Matthew 19:26

Questions for Reflection

When you need extra strength to make it through a tough or challenging time or when you are facing “giants” in your life, where do you turn?  What is your source of strength?

Resources on Strength

Bible Verses and Scripture on Strength & Wellness

More Blog Posts on Strength

3 Minute Presentation on How Faith in God Can Help During Stress

Whatever challenges you may find yourself in, remember that God is a god of strength and power.  As he did for the people of Israel long ago, he wants to lead you out of any bondage or struggle you may be in.  He also wants you to remember times in the past that he may have used his strength and power in your life.

“And Moses said to the people: “Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out of this place…”  Exodus 13:3

A devotion of David Wilkerson, Founder of World Challenge, Inc.,  based on this scripture, speaks to this issue of finding new strength.

When we need additional strength, God reminds us that he can be our source.  When we humble ourselves ( James 4:7) and acknowledge that God is the God of strength, we can receive supernatural power through his Spirit and by his hand.

Resources on Strength:

Affirmations About Strength We Receive From God.

More Blog Posts About Strength.

Does God Have Your Heart?

Are you searching or looking for strength?  Well, God is looking for people who desire the kind of strength that only he can give, but there’s a catch.  He’s looking to strengthen those who’s hearts are really committed to him.

“The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9

In the few verses before this, we are told that if we put our trust in people instead of God, that we will not have the full favor of God.  King Asa put his trust in the king of Aram instead of God and so he missed the chance to destroy his opposing army. But, in an eralier time, when Asa relied on the Lord, God handed over the vast armies of Ethiopia and Libya to him and they were defeated.  We see that, in the later case, God strengthened Asa because his “heart” was fully turned to God.

When times get really difficult and we need extra strength, God wants to come to our aid…. and he will if our heart is committed to him.  When our hearts are turned to other “idols” then we forfeit the favor that could be ours if we had turned to God. (See Jonah 2:8)

God wants to reward you with the strength you need for your life circumstance, and he promises that he will, if your heart is fully committed to him.

Questions to Reflect On:

Has your heart and mind been turned to other sources of strength instead of towards God?  If so, confess this to him, tell  him you’re sorry, and turn more earnestly to God.

How can you demonstrate to God that your heart is fully committed to him?

More Resources on Strength

Blog Post – Find Strength in God When Stressed

Blog Post – God Gives Strength

Web Page – Bible Verses on Stress, Strength, Health and Healing

Take a look at the graphics below which summarize landings on my site over the last year with searches using the keyword “strength.”  True, some of this has to do with the content I have added to the site, but nonetheless, the data is pretty convincing.

What this represents to me is that a whole lot of individuals are looking for information, especially scriptures, on how they can receive strength during difficult times.  Fortunately, scriptures in the Bible are a great source of strength.  Scriptures are the Word of God and truth – something we can all benefit from when times get tough.

Earlier today, I read a teaching from David Wilkerson’s World Challenge Pulpit Series titled – “If Foundations Are Destroyed, What Can the Righteous Do?“  Wilkerson reminds us that God is to be a source of strength during difficult times.  “Go home, my people, and lock your doors! Hide yourselves for a little while until the Lord’s anger has passed.” Isaiah 26:20  Wilkerson suggests that the “secret hiding place” is a chamber in your mind.

If that is so, how can that spot in your mind be comforting?  I would propose that the only way your mind can really be a respite for what’s happening in the world around us is for it to be filled with the truth of God’s Word.  Reading the Bible is the most ’sure-fire’ way that ou can get to know God and His character and nature.  It’s in the Bible that the disciples and other authors write about their experiences with Jesus and their interactions with God.

Paul tells us in one of his letters to Timothy that “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

This scripture reminds us that the Bible prepares us and sustains us for living and for handling the stress we encounter. It’s through reading scripture that we can get a better understanding of who God is and how He wants to work in our lives. When we read the Bible, we have an opportunity to draw close to God and to sense His presence. And it’s when we are in God’s presence that we can have peace and receive strength that will sustain us through tough times.

The more frequently we read scripture, the more likely we can recall the truth that we read when we need to be reminded of who we are in God and His Son, Jesus.  Frequent reading of the Bible will cause the ‘chambers in your mind’ to more likely be filled with His truths rather than the lies of the enemy.  It’s what you constantly think about that really impacts on whether you are at peace or whether you are fearful and anxious. And, over the long haul, these two mindsets will have radically different impacts on your emotional and physical health status.

Yes, God can be a source of strength in your life … and one of the best things you can do is to regularly read the Bible so that you can be reminded of His truths.  Hopefully, your thinking patterns will also be affected in a positive way.

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” Ephesians 6:10

Questions to Ask Yourself

To what degree is God a source of strength during your difficult times?

How often are you reading the Bible to better understand the nature of God and to be reminded of  how much He cares for you?

What is one scripture that is a source of great strength for you?

Related Material I’ve Written on This Topic

Blog Post – Find Strength in God When Stressed

Blog Post – God Gives Strength

Blog Post – Spiritual Empowerment for Healthy Living

Web Page – Bible Verses on Stress, Strength, Health and Healing

Article – Are Your Thoughts Causing Health Problems?

In a study by  a Harvard School of Health researcher, workers who lost a job through no fault of their own, she found, were twice as likely to report developing a new ailment like high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease over the next year and a half, compared to people who were continuously employed.

The following was reported in a NY Times article of May 8, 2009.

Only 6 percent of people with steady jobs developed a new health condition during each survey period of about a year and a half, compared with 10 percent of those who had lost a job during the same period.

David Williams, a professor at the Harvard School of Public Health who was not involved in the research, said the study is a reminder that job loss and other life stressors have a tremendous impact on both mental and physical health and contribute to the development of chronic conditions.

“We know that stress affects health,” said Dr. Williams, director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America. “It causes changes in physiological function in multiple ways, and it can lead to alterations in health behavior. People no longer exercise, they eat more, they drink more. People who smoke, smoke more on high stress days.”

If you’ve lost your job recently, how are you handling your stressful situation?  Are you excluding God in your “battle” or distress? Are you attempting to manage on your own by falling back into an unhealthy habit or an addictive behavior to cope?  Or, are you turning towards God by asking and relying on His help?

God wants us to choose Him as our source of strength when times are tough.

Read one of my blog posts about finding strength in God during difficult times.

Read scripture affirmations about stength from God.

Mike is doing well post surgery – praise God!  This morning, he and I talked about the road that he’ll have ahead of him over the next few months.  My prayer is that his next PSA test will be zero – an indication that there is no more cancer of that type – and that he will be spared the side effects of incontinence and erectile dysfunction.

Although none of us wants to go through really tough times and health challenges in our life, the fact is that life will brings us those types of challenges.   It’s neat to be able to come out the other side and to be able to support someone who is facing the same challenges that you’d experienced and weathered.

Over the year plus that I was in my battle, I posted many blog entries about prostate cancer so others might benefit.  If you’ve got a friend or you yourself have learned that you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, perhaps what I shared here over that year may be of help.  Mike told me today  that reading my posts were helpful for him.

I thought I’d also share again a short article I wrote about how my faith was an anchor in my battle with the cancer in hopes it might be encouraging to some.

Our life on this earth is short. Live yours to the fullest in a God-honoring way!

Your old nature was crucified on the cross with Jesus

Have you realized substantial victory from your old and sinful nature since you’ve become a Christian or are you still “stuck” in a major rut by your old thinking patterns and unhealthy behaviors?

Consider opening this link and listing to this song as you read this post.  Be blessed!

Romans 6:6 is a reminder that your “old” nature, your “old” manner – your “old” self – was crucified and died with Jesus when He was crucified on the cross. In reality, it is a done deal! Romans 6:7 tells us that anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Since your old nature has died, you are now free from sin and the way you used to live before you accepted Jesus into your life.

Our old nature, our old self did things apart from God. This old nature was inherited from Adam and Eve who were the first sinners. (Romans 5:12) We used to live life without the help of God’s Holy Spirit, who now lives inside of us. We were unable to live the kind of life that glorified God. We were unable to make behavior changes that we knew would be healthy for us… healthy in mind, body and spirit.

But because of what Jesus did on the cross at Calvary, we now have a new nature and we can live in triumph over death and sin and our old ways of living. (Romans 5:17-19) You and I are in right-standing with God. We are now righteous because of what Jesus did and our faith in what the Word of God says. We are free to live in the power of the cross. This, accompanied with the power that we have because God’s Holy Spirit is in us, enables us to live life more fully. It should enable us to live life with less of a struggle. Sure, we will still struggle in some areas, but we should be able to have significant victory over the way we used to live because of the cross and because of the power that we have. We have the same power in us that raised Jesus from His tomb! The Holy Spirit living in us gives us that same resurrection power. (Ephesians 1:19-20)

This power is to enable us to live in a way that glorifies God and that honors His temple, our bodies. ( 1 Cor. 6:19-20) This power can enable us to make the kind of behavior changes that we know we should make to be healthier.

I am learning that a key in this area is to admit to God, in prayer, that I am unable to make these changes in my own strength… in the abilities of my old nature.. and that I am strongest in my weakness and that I can have the ability to make these changes in God’s strength and power… in the Holy Spirit’s power. (2 Cor. 12:9 and Isaiah 40:28-31)

Thank you Jesus for what you did on the cross because you love me. … thank you for making me whole again!

If you didn’t listen to the song, consider opening this link now … and know that God loves you!

Points to Ponder:

Have you fully recognized and understood that, if you’ve accepted Christ as your Savior,  your “old” nature died on the cross with Him? Are you living life from this perspective?

Are you appropriating, or have you appropriated, the power of the Holy Spirit in your life to make the lifestyle changes you desire/desired to make?

Are you regularly admitting to God that you do not have the ability to live life to the fullest and that you need Him and His power to do so?

If you do not have Jesus in your life but recognize your need  for Him, follow this link.