How God Strengthens Us

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man….

Ephesians 3:16

We are naturally weak and prone to become easily discouraged.  Paul was concerned about the Ephesians and prayed for them diligently.  He did not want them to ‘lose heart’ at his tribulations for them.  He prayed specifically that God would grant them ‘according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man.’  How does the Spirit accomplish this work of strengthening us?  He does so by showing us Christ.  He does not turn us to ourselves, or tell us to choose joy, or buckle down and try harder.  He takes the things of Christ which He makes available to us by the means of grace and shows them unto us.  This is what strengthens us.  We come to the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit shows us Christ in the types and shadows of the Old Testament.  He shows us Christ in the Gospels.  He shows us Christ in the Epistles.  In Revelation He shows us Christ revealed in all His Glory.  The Holy Spirit strengthens us in the inner man by ‘renewing us in the whole person after the image of God’ most specifically, Christ.  He enables us to ‘die more and more unto sin and to live unto righteousness.’  As He accomplishes these things, the Holy Spirit ‘strengthens us in the inner man.’  So we, with grace go on in faith, ‘looking unto Jesus.’

Our Almighty God,
we rejoice that Your Arm is strong to strengthen us.
We praise You that You uphold us with Your Free Spirit,
and ever show us more of Christ.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning