My Strength And My Defense

October 20

Jeremiah 34-36

Psalm 118:5-14

Proverbs 25:14-15

Hebrews 3

My Strength And My Defense

“The Lord is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation.”  Psalm 118:14 NIV

“The Lord is my strength” is a statement of faith that God is the reliable source of support and power in our life.  It is a conscious choice to depend on God instead of relying on our own abilities and might.  The emphasis is not on the strength itself but on the source of the strength.  Recognizing the power and character of God allows us to rest in His capable hands.  We can rely on His strength for protection.  We don’t have any idea what dangers we face on a daily basis.  This side of Heaven we will never know all the times He has shielded us from danger and prevented harm.  His sovereignty and omniscience allows Him to see danger and prevent it.  “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life.  You stretch out Your hand against the anger of my foes;  with Your right hand You save me.” Psalm 138:7 NIV   But we have to acknowledge that sometimes He does not prevent harm from coming to us.  He has chosen to give us free will and sometimes that results in pain for us or others.  We live in a fallen world and sometimes bad things just happen.  In those times, when we rely on Him, He will give us the strength to deal with whatever we are facing and the ability to persevere and grow in the process.  “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  Isaiah 41:10 NIV   “He said, ‘Yahweh is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;  my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge;  my Savior, You save me from violence.”  2 Samuel 22:2-3 LSB 

God is also our strength in spiritual warfare.  He defends believers against the attacks of Satan and “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12 LSB   There is a realm that is beyond the one that we can see and touch, but that exists, nonetheless.  The Bible tells us that Satan and his legions of demons are real and we should not discount their power.  However, “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” I John 4:4 LSB    Through the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us, we can overcome the lies and temptations of the powers of darkness.  “No temptation has overtaken you, but such is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that that you will be able to endure it.”  I Corinthians 10:13 LSB   God provides the strength we need to overcome Satan in every situation we face but we have to trust in Him and rely on His strength and not our own.  “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”  Philippians 4:13 LSB