I’M TIRED AND NEED SOME STRENGTH!

BIBLE PASSAGE:
“I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.”
(Philippians 4:13)

MEDITATION:
Do you ever have days when you seem tired and listless?
You think to yourself,
    “I’ll be glad when this day is over so I can go back to bed”
You may even take some ‘power naps’ during the day in an
effort to get revitalized.

If your tiredness is a result of some virus, then you know it will pass
eventually, and may require a few days to regain your strength. But
if it is not a virus, then your mind can go into overdrive, can’t it?
You try to figure out what is causing this weakness in you. You
want to determine the cause, and you feel like you have to have a
a boost of energy and strength.

The challenges of living can feel like that at times, can’t it? You
strive to maintain good relationships with others, do a good job
at work (and/or at home), encourage and help others, etc. Your
efforts can produce pleasing results, but it just seems to sap your
strength at times.

As a believer, the challenges can be even greater as we strive to be
more like Jesus. Paul tells us that because Christ gives him the
strength he needs, he can accomplish anything the Lord desires
of him. He was also confident that he could overcome any obstacles,
or heartaches in his life (and he had plenty of them, didn’t he?).

So how do we receive the strength of Christ in our lives? I believe
Paul is telling us that Jesus truly lived within him. He had a unique
closeness with the Lord that many people seek, but never find. Why
can’t they have that kind of closeness with the Lord? It would have
to be because they have never fully yielded to the power and control
of the Holy Spirit, wouldn’t it?

When Jesus lives within us:
    – Pride will not dominate our lives
      (because Jesus has a humble heart).
    – Hatred and bitterness will not control us
      (because Jesus has a loving heart).
    – We will have mercy and compassion for others
      (because Jesus has an understanding and forgiving heart).
    – Selfishness will not dominate us; we will want to
      serve the Lord and put others ahead of ourselves
      (because Jesus has an unselfish heart).

When Jesus truly lives within us, His presence
will permeate our minds, our thoughts, our words,
our actions, our emotions, our attitudes, and our
relationships with others.

ACTION:
How much of your life are you still tightly hanging onto?
Are there any areas of your life where you have refused
to allow the Holy Spirit be in complete control?

Have you given Jesus His special place within your heart?
If the answer is, “No”, then ask yourself,
    “When do I plan to relinquish everything to Him?”

Have you felt His presence permeating your life and spilling over
to those around you? Do you ever do or say something, and think
to yourself,
    “That’s not something I would normally do, so it
      must be the result of the Lord working in my life”

Do you have an overwhelming thankfulness for the agonizing
pain and embarrassment He suffered for you? Do you have a
concern and a desire to use the spiritual gift He has given you
for serving Him? If not, then have you really opened up your
heart for allowing Him to live in and through you?

When we commit to following the Lord, we are also surrendering
our will for His will in our lives. And His will is for us to become
participants in what His Father is doing to love, forgive, and
point others to Jesus, and salvation.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise to
‘give me strength’ for all things. Forgive me if I have
failed to totally submit my life to You. Teach me to
focus on eternity so it will be my motivation for all
that I do in the present. Live in me today, so I will
radiate Your love and grace in all that I do and say.
Thank You Jesus, for suffering a humiliating and
painful death for me. Create in me a desire to serve
You every day from a heart that remembers what You
did for me. I need Your strength, so help me to fully
open up my heart and life to You.”

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