“WHAT IS STRONG WITH YOU?”

by Tammy Phillips
November 28, 2021

“Behold, God [is] my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the LORD, [is] my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ “” (Isaiah 12:2 NKJV)

I might need to turn on the television more often. I was watching football and another ad caught my attention.  It was a Fitbit ad where one overweight man was preparing for a marathon, another to block soccer goals, another pushed themself on the bench press, and another rolled on a stage in a wheelchair.  It ends with a woman climbing out of a tent, suspended in midair at a 90-degree angle to the side of rocky mountain wall, and her ascent up the wall.  The Fitbit user’s question, “What’s strong with me?” before they  conquer their fears or disabilities to show their own strengths.   Finally,  Fitbit questions the consumer, “What’s strong with you?”

From the ad, I learned as we are challenged to overcome fears and failures, we should not ask, “what is wrong with me?”   Instead, we should dig deep, find our inner power, and ask “What is strong with me?” 

WHAT IS STRONG WITH YOU?

“For we walk by faith, not by sight:” (2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV)

We walk strong.
We walk, tread all around, make progress, trample, crush with the feet,  encounter successfully the greatest perils from the machinations and persecutions of Satan, strike with a sting and hit as if by a single blow.  This is how we walk in Him. 

“Run in such a way as to get the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:24 NIV) And  “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,”(Hebrews 12:1 NIV)

We run strong.
We prepare for the marathon.  God gives us the endurance and encouragement.  Our flesh might fail, and we might be weary,  but God gives us the strength to keep going.  He increases the power of the weak.  He gives us hope,  renews our strength. He makes us soar like eagles. We will run and not grow weary!  We will walk and not be faint, stumble or fall.

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement…you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:6 NIV)

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:26 NIV)

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 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.” (Isaiah 40:31 NIV)

We block strong. 
If we have to “block soccer goals,” or any other obstruction that Satan throws at us, the Lord is our strength and our defense. He is the one that saves us; it is not ourselves.  We have to be on guard. Stand and be brave.  How do we block the greatest offenses coming at us?  With great defense!  We do everything in love in and do not take offense.

“The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” (Exodus 15:2 NIV)

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14 NIV)

We lift strong.
We push ourselves on the “bench press” of life.   Pressure  and temptation will come, but we  lift and throw everything to Him.  We push through. We press on to take hold of what Christ Jesus took hold of  for us. (Philippians 3:12) We press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us  heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14)

“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!  No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV)

“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22 NIV)

“After we have suffered a little while, God himself restore us  and make us strong, firm, and steadfast.”(1 Peter 5:10)

We roll strong. 
Satan thinks  if  he knocks our legs out from under us, and even paralyzes us that he has won.  The fall does not define us.  Being paralyzed does not define the person in the wheelchair.  If we have to  “roll on the stage in a wheelchair,” we roll strong, fearless, and brave.  God gives us the peace for  pain and fear.  He gives us His joy in all circumstances. It is our strength. This is how we roll.  This is how we overcome.

“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.” (John 16:33 NIV)

“Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10 NIV)

We climb strong.
If we are called to do the impossible, like climbing out of a tent suspended in midair at a 90-degree angle to the side of rocky mountain wall, Jesus says that all things are possible. Believe.  God will give us the strength we need to climb strong…”feet like deer.”

We climb strong knowing He goes before us, stands beside us, and covers our rear end.  Not to mention, He hold us in His hand.

“Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all things [are] possible to him who believes.’” (Mark 9:23 NKJV)

“The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to tread on the heights.” (Habakkuk 3:19 NIV)

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 NIV)

We are clothed strong.
“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” (Proverbs 31:25 NLT)

We go strong.  
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9 NIV)

I enCOURAGE you with my answers to what is strong with me.  We are only strong in Him.   In Him we walk, run, block, lift, roll, climb,  dress, and go strong.  In Him we can do all things. You are complete in Him, but you have to discover and believe this for yourself. “What is strong with you?” 

“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.” (2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV)