Not By Our Strength

1 Corinthians 4:12

“We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly.”

Praise the Lord, my friend,

The above verse shows the way Christ wants us to walk in our faith journey.

It teaches us how to respond in situations that are not easy.

Blessing when someone speaks against us, enduring pressure without giving up and answering with kindness when our name is spoken wrongly.

These things sound simple when we read them, right?

But they can feel really difficult when we living through them.

Why?

Because we try to live and control our emotions through our strength and understanding.

But the Bible shows that we cannot live this life by our own strength. We need help.

And that help comes from the Holy Spirit of our heavenly Father.

Zechariah 4:6

“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.”

So when God tells us to bless when we are cursed and to answer kindly when someone speaks against us, God is not asking us to rely on ourselves.

He knows we cannot do that by our own strength and that our patience runs out.

He knows our reactions are not always perfect.

This is why He gave us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps us do what we cannot do by ourselves.

He guides our words and our responses. Helps us stay steady when we feel pressure.

And, reminds us of who we are in Christ when our emotions try to lead us somewhere else.

Of course, this is not something that happens overnight. It is something that grows as we keep walking with God.

Some days you will notice progress, and some days you may feel like you fell short.

But even on those days, the Holy Spirit is still working in you.

He does not leave when you struggle but stays and helps you stand again.

So if you have days when your reactions are not what you hoped, do not be discouraged, my friend.

Instead, rely on the Holy Spirit and let God take over.

God is with you in every situation you face.

And He will give you the strength you need for each moment as it comes.

Let’s pray together:

Father, I thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit. I know I cannot walk this life by my own strength, so I ask You to help me today.

Guide my thoughts, words, and reactions. Teach me to bless even when it is difficult, and to endure without losing heart.

Lord, please, shape my character to reflect Christ more each day.

When I feel weak, remind me that You are with me and that Your strength is enough.

Help me rely on You instead of myself, and let my life bring glory to Your name.

In Jesus’ mighty name I pray, amen.

Praise God, my friend.

If you’ve any prayer requests, please feel free to let me know by replying to this email.

I would love to pray for you.