Topic: You’re Stronger than You Think [Joyce Meyer Devotional 24 June 2020]
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The LORD is my Strength and my Song, and He has become my Salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him….— Exodus 15:2 (AMPC)
The enemy likes to fill our minds with thoughts like I can’t, and I’m not strong enough. He wants us to be weak minded so we’ll give up before we even try. It seems that between childhood to adulthood, we receive a lot of messages from the world and other people that make us afraid that we don’t have what it takes. But if you have Jesus, then you have what it takes to do anything you need to do, and anything He wants you to do. And He definitely wants you to be healed from past wounds, and to be able to enjoy Him, yourself, other people, and your life. I encourage you to begin thinking, I am strong.
My mother confessed to me 30 years after I got away from my father’s sexual abuse that she didn’t do anything about what he was doing, even though she knew about it, because she didn’t think she could face the scandal. My mother thought she was weak and so she was. She stayed with a man who regularly hit her and was abusive and unfaithful over and over again. Why? Her own thoughts defeated her. If you see yourself as weak and incapable, you will allow people to mistreat you instead of standing up for yourself. If you have an “I can’t” mindset or feel that you’re simply too weak or not smart enough to do what you need to do, make a decision today to begin thinking strong! Think strong—be strong!
See yourself as the new creation that you are (see 2 Corinthians 5:17), and believe that through Christ you can do whatever you need to do in life. You are far too precious and valuable to allow people to use and abuse you. We all feel weak at times, but when we do, we can go to God and His Word and receive His limitless strength. Isaiah said that God never faints or grows weary (see Isaiah 40:28); He lives in us, and “he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Just think about it: The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us (see Romans 8:11)!
The strength I’m talking about comes only from our relationship with God through Jesus; we’re not strong in and of ourselves. Jesus said that apart from Him, we can do nothing, but in Him we can do all things (see John 15:5; Philippians 4:13). Learning to lean on Him for everything is one of the first steps that will help your soul begin to heal. You are stronger than you think you are!
Prayer Starter: Father, please help me not to give in to a weak mindset, or the fear of not being enough. Thank You for staying by my side and providing me with all the strength I need today. In Jesus’ Name, amen.