ROOTS & WINGS of STRENGTH in CHRIST JESUS in 2021

As the last week of 2021 comes to an end, I am reflecting on the One Word I sensed God speaking for me to focus on: STRENGTH. Quite often, I never know exactly why as I begin the year and often as I end the year with my One Word, I'm still not sure. Yet over and over I have seen STRENGTH that I needed and that others needed throughout both 2020 and 2021 and God confirmed His Strength is what I really need. 

I tried to figure out what kind of STRENGTH God thought I might need or didn't have ... and I realized how very weak I was. I thought I was just weary but it went alot deeper. So I wondered was it physical strength I needed or would need for something in particular. Or perhaps it was emotional or mental (psychological) - and that one had me quite concerned about what I might be facing especially if it was part of the physical strength as well. Then I struggled with the possibility that maybe God thought I was going to encounter a spiritual battle (unlike no other in all my years) and definitely needed to rely on Him & His spiritual strength. So as I think back on all that many of us have faced these last couple of years, I realized that we all need to believe we are stronger than we think and find the STRENGTH we need to press on, in God, in God's Word, in each other, and definitely for our future in this country. But for me, personally I'm sure that God was hoping to build me up with STRENGTH in every one of these areas. I found that each day I need His Strength more & more & I rely on His Strength. 

I need to be Jesus Strong (my September posts)! And as need be, reread my October books: "Strength for Each Day" by Joyce Meyer and "You are Stronger than You Think" by Joel Osteen but I truly can't forget the strategies and 12 verses shared by Robert J. Morgan (and his wife Katrina) in "The Strength You Need" along with all I shared in Advent on Strength & Hope, Peace, Joy, Love. 

Also I read this today: "One of the MYSTERIES of the Christian faith is that the more we humble ourselves and depend on God, the stronger we become in character and integrity. Depending on God means recognizing Him as the source of our strength, our success, and all good things in our lives."~Katherine J. Butler

As I refresh my thoughts with the last post I wrote where I shared at the end the STRENGTHS that the Morgans wrote about I realize that I needed much more STRENGTH than physical, emotional, or mental; it was all the spiritual ones that I was searching for in God's Word - the many verses on STRENGTH that I found:

 

• Lifelong Strength: your strength will equal your days (Deuteronomy 33:25)
• Lasting Strength: they go from strength to strength (Psalm 84:5-7)
• Imparted Strength: the eyes of The Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9)
• Joyful Strength: the joy of The Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10)
• Timely Strength: God is our refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1)
• Tranquil Strength: in quietness and trust is your strength (Isaiah 30:15)
• Renewed Strength: those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength (Isaiah 40:31)
• Recurring Strength: the Lord will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden (Isaiah 58:11)
• Durable Strength: the Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to tread on the heights (Habakkuk 3:19)
• Unwavering Strength: Abraham did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God (Romans 4:20)
• Innermost Strength: I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being (Ephesians 3:16)
• Riveting Strength: I can do all this through Him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13)

My verse for 2021, which I knew before my One Word was the one in Isaiah 40: verse 31 on Renewed Strength - I needed to spend 2021 renewing the STRENGTH I have in Jesus Christ! I spent the year STRENGTHENING my faith as I found STRENGTH in God's Word. 2 Corinthians 12:9 also became an important verse. I was finding STRENGTH in Christ alone (since many of us have been isolating ourselves during this pandemic crisis & following the protocols recommended, I wish more of us were doing this (Isaiah 41:10) instead of battling against the truths & trusting God at His Word with the sound mind, and the spirit of power & love He gives us (2 Timothy 1:7)-our freedom & healing is found in Jesus Christ.

As I continue to rely on my STRENGTH in Jesus, I came across the verse in the image at the beginning of this post (Colossians 2:7) in His Whisper in a reading plan

"Let My tender love be the source that feeds your life. My mercy is strong enough to cover every weakness. My great grace takes the frail things of creation and makes them more fruitful than the world's most efficient systems. Let the sustenance of my great kindness strengthen you by healing all of your wounds and restoring every broken dream. You choose well when you opt to stand on the firm foundation of my never-failing love. No storm can crack my immoveable groundwork under your feet. You will never want for anything when you wade in the waters of my complete compassion. When winds blow, they will only cause stronger waves of my mercy to wash over you. You cannot escape the reaches of my affection, so do the best thing and burrow yourself into Me. The resulting growth will be worth more than a hundred lifetimes in self-service. Be encouraged as you dig deep into My heart today. Let the rushing river of My presence flood your senses with My goodness." ~by Brian Simmons with Sarah Perry

Colossians 2:7 TPT "your spiritual roots go deeply into His life as you are continually infused with strength, encouraged in every way. For you are established in the faith you have absorbed and enriched by your devotion to Him!

so that once again I realize that my spiritual roots are infused with His STRENGTH and by letting my roots grow down deeply into Him and letting my life be built on Him, my faith grows STRONG in the Truth I was taught (and still am taught) AND I overflow with thankfulness! Yes, I am enriched and ever so thankful that I am rooted in Christ's Love & His STRENGTH covers every weakness - by His Mercy & aMazing Grace! I will SOAR on Eagle's Wings into 2022, knowing my STRENGTH is found in Jesus Christ and through His Word I can continually be strengthened!

But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] Will gain new strength and renew their power; They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired. AMP

Wishing You & Your Loved Ones 

a Blessed & Happy New Year in

2022!

May you find & have all the

STRENGTH

you need in Jesus

to SOAR like

an eagle

💓