Are you trusting in your own strength, your own wisdom and your own righteousness? I never realized I was doing this until a few years ago. I was very stressed and was struggling to do things on my own. The Lord revealed to me that this was pride! I would never have thought I was prideful until He revealed it to me in this way. The Holy Spirit showed me that I was in bondage and had opened the door to Satan through pride and had allowed sickness and disease to come in through a spirit of infirmity. I had allowed pride to gain a foothold and it had brought oppression with it.
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV)
Pride occurs anytime we think we can handle something by ourselves and don’t need God’s help. God gives us His grace and offers us His strength to carry us through our daily lives (Joshua 1:9). People have said that God helps those who help themselves. But that isn’t actually in the Bible. The Bible says that we are only strong when we are weak.
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9, 10 (NKJV)
We are strong when we depend on Jesus and let His power give us His strength. He doesn’t expect us to go in our own strength or do things on our own without Him. In fact, Jesus says in John 15:5 that apart from Him, we can do nothing. Yet in Christ , we can do all things through His strength (Philippians 4:13). Christ means the Anointed One and His Anointing. The anointing is the power of God.
We are not powerless or incapable people when we depend on Him. He gives us His armor to stand strong against the enemy’s attacks and tells us to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10). We have everything we need in Him. Even those who have walked with the Lord for a long time can allow pride to creep in. We are warned not to think that we will stand lest we fall (1 Corinthians 10:12). We are to humble ourselves before the Lord. That way we won’t be humbled by Him!
But He gives more grace, therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 (NKJV)
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV)
True deliverance doesn’t come in our own human strength i.e. self-discipline or willpower but by being strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. When you say to God “I can’t but You can,” you have tapped into the real source of your strength which is Jesus. When you rest in His strength, you will see the power of God manifest in your life.
The good news is that we can be set free from pride by repenting and asking the Lord for forgiveness; renouncing the lie of the enemy that has told us we don’t need God and replace it with the truth in God’s Word. We close the door on pride and humble ourselves before the Lord.
Therefore submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7 (NKJV)
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
We find our strength in God. So how do we receive His strength? We spend time with Him through worship, reading His Word and in prayer; communing with Him throughout the day; asking for His help and strength whenever we need it. His presence goes with us and He has said He would never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Simple prayer is having a conversation with Him; both talking and listening. He has said He will hear us (1 John 5:14) and we hear Him because we belong to Him (John 10:27).
He loves spending time with us and He loves it when we allow Him to be God in our lives. Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches (John 15:5). We receive our life from Him! When we fail to draw from Him, we end up running on our own strength, wisdom and flesh to get things done; trusting in ourselves rather than trusting Him.
There is power to help and strengthen us in the Word of God. We can be strengthened in our faith that God will do what He has promised because He made a new and everlasting covenant with us established by the blood of Jesus, His Son (Romans 4:20, 21).
There is power in the blood of Jesus which provides everything we need to live a life of victory i.e. redemption (Ephesians 1:7); fellowship with God (Hebrews 10:19); healing (Isaiah 53:4, 5); protection (Exodus 12:13); and authority over the devil (Revelation 12:11). Every time we release His blood over our lives, we experience His love and His victory!
For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)
He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:29-31 (NKJV)
Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will uphold you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 (NKJV)
Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV)
The LORD is my strength and my shield. My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped. Therefore, my heart rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. Psalm 28:7 (NKJV)
The Holy Spirit is our Helper and our power source. We have His power, resurrection power; that same power that raised Christ from the dead (Romans 8:11) to strengthen and enable us to be victorious over the devil, the world and our flesh. We just need to ask for His help! Praying in tongues, in our prayer language will also strengthen us because it is the rest and the refreshing and builds us up (Isaiah 28:11, 12; 1 Corinthians 14:4; Jude 1:20)
So he answered and said to me: “This is the Word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV)
But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. John 14:26 (AMPC)
We have also been given God’s angels to help and bring strength to us when needed just like they did in Jesus’ ministry. Ask the Lord to dispatch them to minister to the “heirs of salvation”!
Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength; who do His Word, heeding the voice of His Word. Psalm 103:20 (NKJV)
But to which of the angels has He ever said; “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:13, 14 (NKJV)
Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him. Matthew 4:11 (NKJV)
Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. Luke 22:43 (NKJV)
You may have heard it said that there is strength in numbers. Well, there is some truth to this. Of course, it depends on who you are hanging out with (Proverbs 11:14; 12:26; 13:20; 17:17; 18:24; 24:6; 27:6, 9, 17)! There is strength in unity. We were made to walk and live in community (a group of individuals who unite together in fellowship, sharing the same attitudes, interests and goals) with other believers. When we isolate ourselves, that is when then enemy has an opportunity to lead us into deception and trys to destroy us.
From whom the whole body joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:16 (NKJV)
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Psalm 133:1 (NKJV)
Two are better than one. Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him, and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10, 12 (NKJV)
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24, 25 (NKJV)
The following section from Psalm 18 is a declaration prayer that I prayed over myself frequently. There are many different types of prayer. Prayer is one of our offensive weapons to be used in spiritual warfare (2 Corinthians 10:4, 5) e.g. declaring, decreeing, interceding and releasing according to His Word and being led by His Spirit. Praying His Word activates His angels to bring it to pass (Isaiah 55:10, 11; Psalm 103:20) and binds the hand of the enemy (Matthew 18:18, 19).
As the Holy Spirit led me to do this, it strengthened and encouraged me during the trials and testing I was experiencing i.e. for health, deliverance and restoration of family relationships. Our enemies have been defeated through Jesus’ death on the cross, the shedding of His blood, His resurrection and ascension to heaven where He is seated at the right hand of the Father far above all principalities and powers (Ephesians 1:20, 21). We are also seated with Him (Colossians 3:1)!
I would like to encourage you to also pray these words as if Father God was speaking these promises directly to you; after all, we are the seed of Abraham therefore, we are descendants of David. We don’t wrestle against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12) therefore, our enemies are spiritual as well as natural. Take these promises to heart and believe and receive them by faith.
As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God, except the LORD? And who is a rock; except our God? It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer; and sets me on my high places. He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up. Your gentleness has made me great. You enlarged my path under me, so my feet did not slip. I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them; neither did I turn back again until they were destroyed. I have wounded them, so that they could not rise; they have fallen under my feet. For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. You have also given me the necks of my enemies, so that I destroyed those who hated me. They cried out, but there was none to save; even to the LORD, but He did not answer them. Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind; I cast them out like dirt in the streets. You have delivered me from the strivings of the people; You have made me the head of the nations; a people I have not known shall serve me. As soon as they hear of me they obey me; the foreigners submit to me. The foreigners fade away, and come frightened from their hideouts. The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation be exalted. It is God who avenges me, and subdues the people under me; He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me; You have delivered me from the violent man. Therefore, I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your name. Great deliverance He gives to His king, and shows mercy to His anointed, to David and his descendents forever more. Psalm 18:30 – 50 (NKJV)
My prayer for you:
That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man. Ephesians 3:16 (NKJV)
Living the Abundant Life 