TRUST IN THE LORD AND DRAW STRENGTH FROM HIM There is only so far you can go by your strength, understanding, ability, or learning. To really go the distance you need help. We often get help from people, and that's great, but first and foremost we must seek to secure help from the Lord. Divine help is the only way you can truly live the fulfilling life that God has predestined for you without having to strive (Prov 10:22 NKJV). Human ability will always fall short at some point. I hope reading the following Passages helps you to intentionally lean on the strength that comes from God: Psalms 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, BUT GOD IS THE STRENGTH OF MY HEART AND MY PORTION FOREVER. NIV Isaiah 40:28-31 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will NOT grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 HE GIVES STRENGTH TO THE WEARY AND INCREASES THE POWER OF THE WEAK. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 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. NIV Psalms 121:1-3, 7-8 [1] I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? [2] MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. [3] He will NOT let your foot slip— He Who watches over you will NOT slumber; … [7] THE LORD WILL KEEP YOU FROM ALL HARM— HE WILL WATCH OVER YOUR LIFE; [8] the Lord will watch over your coming and going BOTH NOW AND FOREVERMORE. NIV Psalms 84:5&7 5 BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE STRENGTH IS IN YOU, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. … 7 THEY GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH, till each appears before God in Zion. NIV 1 Chronicles 29:12 Wealth and honor come from You; You are the Ruler of all things. In Your Hands are strength and power TO EXALT AND GIVE STRENGTH TO ALL. NIV Psalms 127:1 UNLESS the LORD builds the house, the builders LABOR IN VAIN. UNLESS the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch IN VAIN. NIV Zechariah 4:6 So He 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 Almighty. NIV 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 9 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. 10 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. NIV 1 Peter 4:11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, THEY SHOULD DO SO WITH THE STRENGTH GOD PROVIDES, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. NIV So you can always find strength in the Lord even in the worst of situations: 1 Samuel 30:4-6 4 So David and his men wept aloud UNTIL THEY HAD NO STRENGTH LEFT to weep. 5 David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6 David was GREATLY DISTRESSED because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. BUT DAVID FOUND STRENGTH IN THE LORD HIS GOD. NIV And in the best of situations also invite Him in: Proverbs 3:5-7 5 Trust in the LORD with ALL your heart and lean NOT on your own understanding; 6 IN ALL YOUR WAYS SUBMIT TO Him, and He will make your paths straight. 7 Do NOT be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. NIV 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 16 REJOICE ALWAYS, 17 PRAY CONTINUALLY, 18 GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES; for this is God’s WILL for you in Christ Jesus. NIV When you make it a habit of leaning on the strength of the Lord you'll find a joy and peace in living: John 16:33 33 “I have told you these things, so that IN ME YOU MAY HAVE PEACE. In this world you will have trouble. BUT TAKE HEART! I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.” NIV Philippians 4:6-7, 12-13 6 Do NOT be anxious about anything, but IN EVERY SITUATION, BY PRAYER and petition, WITH THANKSGIVING, present your requests to God. 7 And THE PEACE OF GOD, which transcends all understanding, WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS and YOUR MINDS in Christ Jesus. … 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have LEARNED the secret of BEING CONTENT IN ANY AND EVERY SITUATION, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this THROUGH HIM WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH. NIV Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, BUT WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.” NIV John 16:24 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in My Name. ASK AND YOU WILL RECEIVE, AND YOUR JOY WILL BE COMPLETE. NIV Be reminded of these Scriptures when you need strength. And always be reminded that despite your shortfalls, God is Gracious and WILLING to help you. You just have to approach Him with Faith and Humility. Mark 1:40-41 [40] A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “IF YOU ARE WILLING, you can make me clean.” [41] Jesus was indignant. He reached out His hand and touched the man. “I AM WILLING,” he said. “Be clean!” NIV Luke 18:10-14 [10] “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. [11] The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. [12] I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ [13] “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME, a sinner.’ [14] “I TELL YOU THAT THIS MAN, rather than the other, went home JUSTIFIED before God. For all those who exalt themselves WILL BE HUMBLED, and THOSE WHO HUMBLE THEMSELVES WILL BE EXALTED.” NIV James 1:5-8 [5] If any of you lacks wisdom, YOU SHOULD ASK GOD, WHO GIVES GENEROUSLY TO ALL WITHOUT FINDING FAULT, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU. [6] But when you ask, YOU MUST BELIEVE AND NOT DOUBT, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. [7] That person should NOT expect to receive anything from the Lord. [8] Such a person is DOUBLE-MINDED and UNSTABLE in all they do. NIV Hebrews 4:16 [16] Let us then approach God’s Throne of Grace WITH CONFIDENCE, so that we may receive Mercy and find Grace TO HELP US IN OUR TIME OF NEED. NIV Note: The word “Confidence” originates from the Latin “Confidentia” (meaning "FULL TRUST" or "boldness") and the verb “Confidere” ("TO TRUST" or "TO HAVE FULL TRUST"). The Latin root “fidei” (or “fidere”) also relates to "FAITH," emphasizing that CONFIDENCE is fundamentally about having FAITH in someone or something. And this is exactly what this study is trying to inspire, that we learn to have FAITH in God's Word, and TRUST GOD FOR STRENGTH AND EVERYTHING. Romans 8:31-32, 37-39 [31] What, then, shall we say in response to these things? IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? [32] He who did NOT spare His own Son, BUT GAVE HIM UP FOR US ALL—HOW WILL HE NOT ALSO, along with Him, GRACIOUSLY GIVE US ALL THINGS? … [37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors THROUGH HIM WHO LOVED US. [38] For I am convinced that NEITHER death NOR life, neither angels NOR demons, NEITHER the present NOR the future, NOR ANY POWERS, [39] NEITHER height NOR depth, NOR ANYTHING ELSE IN ALL CREATION, will be able to separate us FROM THE LOVE OF GOD THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD. NIV Ephesians 6:10-11 [10] FINALLY, BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN HIS MIGHTY POWER. [11] PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD, so that YOU CAN TAKE YOUR STAND against the devil’s schemes. NIV God bless and Shalom! #BibleStudyWithDanielOlatunji #DivineHelp #GodIsGood #JesusIsLord #TrustInTheLord #ArmorOfGod #GodOurStrength #StrengthInGod #StrengthThroughChrist #DependOnGod #LeanOnGod #Faith #FaithAndTrust #FaithOverFear #FaithInGod #GodsPromises #ChristianEncouragement #SpiritualGrowth #BibleVerses #WordOfGod #ScriptureMeditation #PrayerLife #WalkByFaith #FaithJourney