In the last chapter of Proverbs the Bible mentions the godly woman and how she makes her arms strong and girds herself with strength. Some women may be physically strong but others may be weaker in body. Certainly when we age we become weaker even if we feel as though we are strong when we are younger. However, even when our body may become weaker we can become stronger spiritually.
Proverbs 31:17 She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
What is the source of our strength? Our relationship with the Lord is ultimately the source of our strength. When we walk with Him and keep His commandments then He makes His presence known to us.
Psalm 16:11 You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
In His presence we know the fullness of joy. The joy of the Lord is our strength.
Nehemiah 8:10 …Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
How do we know His joy? How do we begin to walk with Him daily in His presence? When we give thanks to him then we begin to enter into His presence. We also learn to bless His name.
Psalm 100:4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
Learn to thank Him every day. Learn to thank Him on a continual basis. Has not He been good to you? Give thanks to Him and bless His name. Your youth will be renewed like the eagle.
Psalm 103:1-5 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
Just as the joy of the Lord increases our strength so also sin decreases our strength and drains us of our energy.
Psalm 32:3,4 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long.
For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer.
Sin and guilt drains us but confession cleanses us and brings us back into that fellowship with Him. He will renew your strength and you will once again know His joy.
Psalm 51: 7-9 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness,
Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins
And blot out all my iniquities.
How blessed are those whose strength is in Thee and whose heart draws near to Him. Zion is where the temple was where the Lord dwelt.
Psalm 84:5 How blessed is the man whose strength is in You, In whose heart are the highways to Zion!
Instructions To A Young Life 