Speak Out His Promises

These days? I’m strengthening myself in the Lord. 

Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada, and in this strange and different new year, in this odd season with so many transitions, and so much upheaval, it would be so easy to become downcast, wouldn’t it?, and disheartened. It would be natural to let your emotions sag under the weight of so many changes in our world. Yep, it would be natural. But we who follow Christ – we’re supernatural. We are those who repeat to ourselves Psalm 42 saying, “Oh, come on, why are you downcast oh my soul? Why so disquieted within me? Why so unsettled and leaning toward pessimism?” It’s what I say to myself: Put your hope in God your Savior, Joni; you got every reason to be hopeful. Look, we all know the end of the story. We know who gets the victory, right?

And so, I am strengthening myself in the Lord. Because it’s going to be a challenging year, and I need all the strength I can get. And you do, too. Today is a fresh beginning and what better way to go through February than to make yourself stronger in the Lord. 1 Samuel 30:6 explains. It describes a time when David was afraid of the future, afraid of what was next. And so, verse six says that when, “David was greatly distressed…[he] encouraged [that is, he strengthened] himself in the Lord.” And I am doing exactly that because I have big questions about what this year may hold. Believe it or not, I’m still sequestering at home. Can’t believe I’ve been doing that for almost a year! As a quadriplegic with fragile lungs, will I ever be able to get out and about? Will this year see another virus? I’m still fighting off cancer. Will it or my chronic pain get worse? Crazy questions these, and so this last week, whenever my wavering faith needed fortification, I kept “strengthening myself in the Lord.” And it sure did help. So, what does that look like?

Well, consider what David did in 1 Samuel 30. He repeated, he kept rehearsing the many promises of God. He kept telling himself what he knew to be true about the Lord. He reminded his weak faith of better times; of wondrous things God had done for him in the past. He inasmuch said, “Come on, David, the Lord is trustworthy; he’s proved himself reliable, consistent, ever present; so, listen up, soul, have courage; grab hold of that truth.” And that’s exactly what I’ve been doing. I’ve been remembering the way Jesus pushed through his pain. Hebrews 12 says that as Jesus picked up his cross, he riveted his hope on “the joy that was set before him.” And friend, my Savior’s my example. And as I have strengthened myself in the Lord – remembering his promises, recalling his character, holding fast to his Word – as I’ve done this, it’s changed my outlook.

And I’m repeating my hope out loud. Because I don’t want the devil second guessing what I’m thinking. I don’t want him to assume that because I’m quiet I’m giving up on the day. Satan cannot read my mind, and so I’m speaking aloud every Bible promise I’ve memorized. It is changing the way I’m living today. I’m choosing to trust Christ, even if my feelings say he’s “giving me too much to bear.” Christ would never give me a cross so heavy that it outweighs his grace. And the same is true for you. So, friend, stay hopeful; stay courageous; and do it today by strengthening yourself in the Lord. 

And hey, if you need more inspiration, you just have to go to my blog today at joniandfriends.org. Again, that’s my blog at joniandfriends.org.

© Joni and Friends