Strength has three parts. Here is how to pray for each one of them...
Have you ever felt like you were physically strong but emotionally fatigued?
Has physical fatigue overshadowed your spiritual and emotional well-being?
Are you emotionally and physically strong but spiritually unable to fight through adversity?
Join the crowd. Strength flows from all three parts of us, massively affecting each other.
The Bible has prayers for each of the three areas.
Let’s concentrate on these three sources of our strength and figure out which one needs building up right now in your life:
Physical strength
Your physical strength is a compilation of your diet, rest, and exercise.
If you are staying up half the night…if you are eating junk food with no protein or vegetables continually…if your heart is having to work harder and harder because of no exercise, guess what:
You drag through every day. Your mind is dull. The thought of taking stairs is not even an option.
Pray this prayer daily: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4: 13).
Yes, you can. You can turn off the tv, order some protein and vegetables, and walk around the block.
That’s strength number 1: physical strength.
2. Emotional strength
When we get weak emotionally, we allow fear, anxiety, and depression to rule us.
Somehow our minds feel powerless to fight off the “blues.”
We think negatively about every challenge and feel afraid of the future.
Pray this prayer: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the STRENGTH of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? (Ps. 27: 1)
Fear cannot control your mind when the Lord is the “strength of your life.”
Take captive and throw down those negative thoughts.
Laugh at them: “The joy of the Lord is your STRENGTH” (Neh. 8: 10)
Walk outside, take a deep breath, and thank God for a sound, strong mind. That’s “emotional strength.”
3. Spiritual strength
I saved the best for last. Spiritual strength is inward courage to face adversity.
Yes, you will have substantial personal battles to fight and win. Some will last a while.
Pray this prayer: “Finally, be strong (“I am strong”) in the Lord and the power of His might.” (Eph. 6: 10)
Paul told us to put on the whole armor of God in the verses that follow this one.
I put it on a piece-by-piece daily: “the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the sword of the Spirit, the shield of faith.”
I’m ready to fight the enemy! Satan sees me dressed for battle.
Don’t leave home without it. Cover yourself in God’s mighty weapons.
These three areas of strength go together:
Do your best to get your body as healthy as possible.
Bring your thoughts into captivity and declare that your mind and emotions are strong.
Put on the armor of God.
Rise up this morning with a new attitude and pray your way to something perhaps you have not had for quite some time:
“STRENGTH.”