21 Days of Prayer: Day 21 (Promise of Strength)

DAY 21
Sunday, November 3

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:13

But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.; Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
 
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. – Isaiah 40:29-31
 
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

PROMISE OF STRENGTH
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the story of Gideon (Judges 6-7). God takes the obedience of someone, who felt super inadequate, to defeat the Midianite army. He took what was an army of 30,000 Israelites and sifted it down to just 300 men. God did this so that the Israelites would recognize GOD was the one who defeated them, not by Israelites’ strength! Guess what? God led them to easily defeat this army, which seemed logistically impossible! It’s such a great story, I hope you get to read it.

God’s desire from the beginning was always to walk with us, to protect us, to strengthen us, and guide us, yet we struggle to allow God to walk with us. The Israelites had a constant struggle of self-sufficiency, but Gideon walked with the Lord and humbly allowed God to lead him. In doing this, God gave such a beautiful victory to His people.

My personal testimony is full of many big battles that God has faithfully walked me through and strengthened me in my weakness. Praise the Lord! However, this summer I found myself in a particular time of weakness where God reminded me that He isn’t here to just fight our big battles. He wants to fight our everyday battles too, and those are the ones I tend to try to work out on my own. How easily I can forget that I don’t have to do life on my own, and that God promises His strength in my weakness! That’s a big deal!

As we read in the story of Gideon, God is not bound by our human efforts, which are limited. Instead, His resources are unending! He sees the beginning and the end, and this God who has limitless strength desires to walk with us and strengthen us. I am so thankful!

PRAYER:
Oh God, I am so thankful that we can trust you to be our strength, that in weakness you promise you will be strong! Thank you that you didn’t leave it up to us to fight battles we face alone. Instead you desire to walk with us and strengthen us. Help me to trust your direction and be willing to obey your leadership even when it doesn’t make sense! Remind me that your strength is far greater than I can fathom, and remind me of your character when I often forget. Amen.
 
Pray For Our Church: Take some time to pray for Pathway today—the people who make up our church, the staff, the ministries, etc. Ask God to work in and through us.

Pray For Our City: Pray for the people of our community and ask God to be at work in our hometown.

Pray For Our Nation: Pray for our nation—its people and its leaders. Boldly and specifically make your requests, then submit those desires to God’s will. Express your trust in Him.

REFLECTION:

• How have you seen God's faithfulness and his promises lived out today?
• Write 2-3 points of gratitude, and thank Jesus for these things.
• Spend time praising God for who he is, what he has done, where he is at work, and what he has promised.

 
By Bethany Bracht