Be Strong - Martin WIles

Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you. Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT

Sometimes, what’s ahead and behind is just as important as what’s in the middle. And we need to be strong for all of it.

My wife and I once took a vacation to visit my brother and sister-in-law who had moved to West Virginia. They lived in an area where coal mines are prevalent but not much else. Their home was situated on the side of a mountain and in a valley where the sun doesn’t rise until ten in the morning but sets at three in the afternoon.

Across the highway was a small stream paralleled by railroad tracks. Several times each day, I heard a whistle blow, saw a bright light, and then marveled as two engines slithered around the corner of the mountain, pulling numerous cars loaded with coal. After what seemed like an eternity, the end arrived, pushed by two equally strong engines. What pulled the train was just as important as what pushed it.

Moses led the Israelites through forty years of wandering in the wilderness. God led them with a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. Neither their shoes nor their clothes wore out. He supplied water, meat, and manna. He went before them to the Red Sea and positioned himself behind them when Pharaoh’s army pursued them. But then, it came time for Moses to die. Joshua would take over. God would be the energy behind him and the Israelites as they conquered the Promised Land.

God gives us the same promise. I’ve learned when I don’t let God go before and behind me, I’ll make a mess of things. He doesn’t appear in a pillar of cloud or fire but in the continual abiding presence of his Spirit residing in me.

If we pay attention to the still small voice speaking to our hearts, we’ll find the power to make the right decisions, take the proper paths, and find the correct answers to life’s most important questions.

Like the train engines, God provides the strength. All we must do is rely on it. What are you finding strength in to face each day?

Prayer: Father, we pray for Your strength to face life’s journey and all it holds. 

Tweetable: What are you finding strength in? 

Thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's encouragement through His Love Lines. 

Flashback Friday - The Source of Strength - Martin Wiles

The Source of Strength

What we rely on for strength can sometimes disappoint us. 

Saul replied, “But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! I Samuel 9:21

My middle brother is a weight lifter. Not a professional. Just a regular lifter of lead. Initially, he lifted weights to boost his self-image. When younger, he was skinny. I suppose he grew tired of being picked on and decided to take action. When he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, he was even more determined to heft the heavies. His upper body strength and build are impressive. Weight lifting is the source of his strength. Read more...

Tell us about a struggle you have faced, yet found hope. 

Tweetable: What is your source of strength? 

Thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's encouragement through His Love Lines.

My Source of Strength - Martin Wiles

Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. Isaiah 30:15 NLT

In spite of my best … and sometimes worse … efforts, my body is changing.

As we age, things tend to go south. My chest has, and now I have a belly, a part of which should be a foot north of where it has settled. This had caused a bulge, which makes it appear that I have gained weight—although I haven’t. Evidently, something else has gone south, too, because my feet are a size larger than they once were. And then there’s the turkey neck, as my grandfather called it. The skin under my neck has loosened and shakes.

These things have happened even though I exercise regularly and eat right. Well, at least most of the time. I limit fried foods, snacks, and desserts and eat my veggies when my wife cooks them (except broccoli).

All things considered, I live a relatively healthy lifestyle, but my strength has weakened as I’ve aged. I can’t do everything I once did, and even those things I can still do I do at a slower pace. Corrosion happens.

God, however, never intended for me to find my true strength through the muscles in my body. Isaiah told his listeners where their real strength lay. Nothing has changed.

Strength comes by turning … or returning … to God. Repenting of my sins initially and then confessing them daily keeps me strong in the Lord. The practice of confession keeps the lines of communication open between me and God. Sin statics up things.

Resting in God strengthens my body and spirit. God created the Sabbath for people. We need rest from our work. But we also rest in the knowledge that God controls our circumstances and will work them for our and His good.

Quiet is also important for spiritual muscle. Something difficult to find in our noisy world. But it still exists if we look hard enough. A place away from manmade noise—and not by putting a set of earbuds in my ears and connecting to a device.

Finally, confidence builds energy. Confidence that God is God, and we are not. Confidence that He loves and works in our best interest. Confidence that nothing can come against us that He doesn’t allow and control.  

True strength is still available. Make sure you look in the right place to discover it.

Prayer: Father, guide us along the path where the kind of strength is found that will take us through the difficulties of life.

Tweetable: Where do you find your strength? 

Thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's encouragement through His Love Lines.

Compassion for the Weak - Martin Wiles

Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak. Heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony. Psalm 6:2 NLT

Being considered a weakling wasn’t enjoyable.

I was a plump child when I was born. Over nine pounds as a matter of fact. But I soon lost my baby fat and slimmed down—too much. I suppose my shape didn’t matter so much in elementary school, but by middle school, the peer pressure was on. When my friends were playing sports, I wasn’t. Although I really didn’t want to play sports, I wanted the body that would have allowed me to if I had wanted to. Neither did the girls didn’t fawn over skinny kids. They wanted the muscular boys.

All through middle and high school, I tried to change my weak appearance—with no luck. I drank Wate-On, ate as if food was about to disappear, and lifted weights. Nothing. I was weak, and I wanted someone to feel compassion for me. Only a few did. While others boys were dating numerous girls, I was lucky to discover one who wanted to date me.

Somehow I don’t picture David as weak. After all, as a boy, he took a sling and a few stones and pranced up to the giant Goliath. One toss of one rock, and Goliath was on his face. Or when he faced lions and bears while tending his father’s sheep. Perhaps his weakness was more than physical.

Being physically weak wasn’t enjoyable, but I’ve experienced weaknesses that were more torturing. I’ve had my bouts with emotional weakness. When I lost the grandparents who were like parents to me. When I watched my dad take his final breath. When my family fell apart. Times when God should have felt far away but times when He actually felt close by.

And I’ve done my time with stints of spiritual weakness. When I let temptations grow too strong without depending on God’s open door of escape. When I tired of doing religious things.

Like the psalmist, I reached points when I cried out to God because I was weak. My bones were in agony, and I needed relief. Each time, God was faithful to intervene. He didn’t always rescue me from the trial or temptation, but He moved me through it and held my hand as I walked. He was faithful to His promise never to leave or forsake me.

When you’re weak—in whatever way, remember God is strong.

Tweetable: Do you have compassion for the weak?

Prayer: Father, thank You for providing the strength we need to face any weakness that assaults us. 

Looking for a wide selection of genres in inspirational books at discount prices? Click here to see selections.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's Word.