Our Strength in Jesus

  Hello Dear Ones,

  How are you doing this week? Is this week going well for you, or are you struggling in some way? I hope that things are going well and you are being blessed by God in many ways. If things are not going so well, I hope that you are staying close to Jesus through it, you will have peace even in the worst of storms.

  If we as God’s children grow in His strength and wisdom, we will learn the truth about the ways He has gifted us to serve in His strength. As we embrace our gifts and strengths we learn to serve God daily as He leads us, for His glory. When we daily seek God for His will, our gifts will be put to use to advance the kingdom of God. Unfortunately, many of us who are God’s children don’t know about our God given strengths and gifts, because we don’t seek after Him. We do what we think is best to do in service to God, and sadly our lives are not a blessing to God or to others. If we did, God would teach us the strengths and wisdom He has given us. God desires all of us to know and understand all the ways He has gifted us. God desires us to know the strength we have in Him because we are His children.

  God’s will is that all His children seek after Him. When we do this, we will come to know who God created us to be. There are many ways that God’s children are able to serve, but unless it is a job that we have been gifted to do by God, and in His will, we  are missing the most important part. If God and His strength are not in what we do, there is no blessing, it is just duty. The child of God who seeks after Him with all their heart and desires His Will, will flourish and be a blessing in all that they do. This is because God’s strength and will are going before them, before us, leading the way.

  In Psalm 21, The Lord’s servant David wrote a song of praise to God for the victories he had in battle. David knew it was God’s strength that caused the victory. David was faithful to seek God’s will and then God granted him the desires of his heart, because it was God’s desire. David went into battle trusting God, and he returned victorious and was given honor. The greatest blessing was given to God as David praised Him for His strength that brought victory.

  My ability to serve God and others is given to me by God. There is nothing that I do on my own that is worthy of blessing. As I daily follow Jesus through the Holy Spirit, I find that I am given all that I need to accomplish His will. My focus must be on Jesus and seeking after His will for my life. Then as I go about doing what He desires, everyone involved receives blessings and they praise God for all He has done.

  “Oh Lord, the king rejoices in your strength. How great is his joy in the victories You give! You have granted the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips… Through the victories You gave, his glory is great; You have bestowed on him splendor and majesty. Surely You have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken… Be exalted, O Lord, in Your strength; we will sing and praise your might.” Psalm 21:1-2 & 5-7 & 13

  “Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:15-20

  “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

  Our spiritual gifts and strengths are given by God to His children for the purpose of advancing the kingdom of God. This is accomplished by serving those in the church and outside the church. These gifts need to be developed and strengthened by seeking after God's help in each direction as we grow in our gifts. If we have our own ideas about how we will serve God, then we are not seeking after God and we can not expect Him to bless what we do. We are just striving, and not getting anywhere. God knows the plans that He has for you. Put your trust in His perfect will for your abilities to serve Him, and He will help you be a blessing to Him and many others.

We will continue reading Psalm 21-25 for one more week.

Blessings,

Patricia Terrell