Thursday - "Getting Stronger"

Last night I hit the wall. Not literally...just in a mental/exercise sort-of way. I was running on my treadmill and crossed the threshold between fitness and pain. My legs ached...I was sweating...every fiber of my muscle wanted to stop. I kept going. Why? That's how you get stronger...when the muscle tears and rebuilds it gets stronger. When I push myself past the point of wanting to quit, I grow. Today's devotional is all about that... what do you do to strengthen yourself?

What do you do after the pain?

Enjoy!
Pastor Brian

Strengthen Yourself
by Bayless Conley

For today’s devotional, I would like you to read 1 Samuel 30:6 again as it contains another truth I want you to see,

Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

Notice that this verse begins by saying, David was greatly distressed, but it ends this way, But David strengthened himself in the Lord.

It is all right to weep, but when you are done, you need to strengthen yourself. It is all right to grieve, it is all right to express those emotions, but when you are done, you need to strengthen yourself in the Lord.

You need to connect with God in whatever way you find is best for you. If it is lifting your hands and worshiping Him, then that is what you should do.

If it is getting into His Word (which I would suggest for everyone) and spending time feeding your spirit, then do that. If it is reminding yourself about how God has helped you in the past, you need to do that.

Personally I believe that is what David was doing when the Bible says he “strengthened himself in the Lord.” I think David was reminding himself about:

· How God delivered him from the lion and the bear;

· How God delivered Goliath into his hands; and

· How God delivered him when Saul tried to kill him.

I am confident David was thinking, “You know, God hasn’t delivered me so miraculously in my past to get to this point and to let go of my hand and abandon me. I know He is going to help me now.”

David was strengthening himself in the Lord, and you need to learn to do the same thing.

COPIED FROM: http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/pastors/answers-for-each-day/ (May 27, 2009)

JOURNAL IT: What do you need to keep doing that you want to quit? Today in your journal write down at least one thing you are going to re-dedicate yourself to doing. How will you strengthen yourself in the Lord?