How do you encourage others when you yourself need encouragement? These past few weeks I felt a little low, which is very unusual for me. I kept asking myself why I was feeling that way and I finally realized it was because I had not been spending enough time with the Lord. I schedule time with God weekly with no agenda, just to pray and listen to what He has to say to me. This is a time of reflection, thinking about what God wants me to do with my life, replenishing my spirit, and getting filled with His Spirit again. Without prayer in my life, I am depleted. I end up empty with nothing left to give to others.
When I am worn-out (or running low on fuel), my daily work seems like a mountain to be climbed on a daily basis. The tasks at home seem burdensome and tiring. Even working out, which I love to do and that helps me relief stress, feels like I’m running a marathon without preparation. All of those feelings change when I spend time with the Lord. He is my true source of inspiration, strength, grace, and everything I need to fulfill the calling He gave me in this life.
Today, I want to share with you a devotional from my book Devotions for Working Women that encourages us to seek God as our only source of strength. Enjoy!
Only God Is Our Source of Strength
# 129
Philippians 4:13 (KJV)
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
God is our source of strength; nothing, or nobody else, can give us that—only Him. These days we have so much to do, so many priorities, that some days we don’t know where to start. That’s when we run to our source, the Lord. First, we ask Him to refocus us and realign our true priorities. Once we are on track again, we ask for the grace and the strength to do what He has called us to do.
God has a big plan for each of us; however, He doesn’t expect us to do it all at once. He takes us one step at a time—from the big picture to the daily tasks—to accomplish His vision for us. We can do all the things He has called us to do through Christ because He gives us the strength we need on a daily basis.