When we read Ephesians 6:10, we are constantly reminded to trust in the mighty power of the Lord. In every spiritual battle we have, we have God fighting with us or if not fighting for us and one example of this is when He gave His only begotten Son to fight for our sins and die on the cross.
With this in mind, it is rightful for us to be strong just as God has always been strong for us. How do we do this? What does it mean to be strong in the Lord?
Embracing Empowerment from the Lord
To understand what it means to be strong in the Lord, we have to understand what the word “strong” means in the first place. In Greek, the words “be strong” can be translated to the word “endunamoo,” which means “dunamins” or “inherent power.”
If we base it on this translation, we can conclude that “strong” means having inherent power or being empowered. Now, if we take it to the context of being strong in the Lord, it literally means embracing our inherent power in the Lord or embracing empowerment from God.
If we look at other verses about strength, we can clearly read that strength comes from God through Christ. In Philippians 4:13, we can read that the power of Christ enables me to accomplish all things.
When Jesus empowers us, we can do "all things, including spiritual warfare," despite our inability to stand up against a spiritual onslaught alone.
Jesus is not just fighting for us; He is able to cast out demons with a word and to see Satan fall from heaven like lightning (Luke 10:17). This gives us the ability to fight alongside Him.
Celebrating a Triumphant Victory from the Lord
Being strong in the Lord means facing our spiritual battles with Him. We can take from the experience of King David — his battles with the enemy were numerous. Although his best-known battles were physical, the lessons he drew from them can apply to our spiritual battles as well.
The fight between spiritual and physical warfare really isn't that different from God. According to Psalm 18:1-3, God can be trusted as an ally. David knows that and he knows that when God is fighting alongside him, victory is a certainty. Despite the struggles and setbacks in his life, he believed that.
Like David, we can still expect victory even if we see setbacks, as long as we are strong in the Lord. We have to trust Him and wait for His will.
In Him, we're already winning the battle as noted in Colossians 2:15. We’re assured of ultimate victory no matter how bleak things look sometimes.
Accepting the Lord’s Presence
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” We can read this in Romans 8:31 and this is one of the most inspiring verses in the Bible.
It clearly states that if God is with us, nobody can shatter us. That is why we have to accept God’s presence in order to be strong in Him.
Neither earthly nor heavenly powers are able to defeat God. The battles we face become easier when He is on our side.
As long as we want to learn and grow like Him, He won't always shield us from danger, but he will fight for us and with us. When He's in a relationship with someone, He puts all His strength, power, and might behind him.
No power can stand against us if we trust in the Lord and in His might, because the Lord can defeat any power in the world. God empowers us in our spiritual battles, assures us that we will win, and promises that He will fight alongside us.
We can be confident that God will give us the strength and courage needed to move forward to the places he has called us. God showed up for the Israelites time and time again. He will show up for us too.
God wasn’t asking the Israelites to do something easy. They were to embark on a new life in a new land. That had to be scary. Many times, we also face a daunting situation, but we can be confident God is with us.
Being strong and courageous doesn’t mean we have to rely on ourselves. We can summon God’s strength and courage. As born-again believers, God is living within us through the Holy Spirit. His strength is our strength, and his courage is our courage.
Lining up with the Lord’s Plan
Life can be challenging, but we don’t have to go through it alone. We can dip into God’s strength and courage to accomplish what God has set out for us to do. God told Joshua to be strong and courageous before he moved forward with God’s plan into the land God promised him.
God doesn’t promise everybody everything. We all have our own unique paths and purposes. As we make decisions in our lives, we need to seek God and His will. When the decision lines up with His plan, He will give us all the strength and courage we need.
As we step forward to the places where God has called us, we are confident that He will provide the strength and courage we need. Throughout history, God was faithful to his people.
He will show up for us too. In fact, God didn't ask for an easy task from the Israelites. He asked them to enter a new land and start a new life. It must have been frightening for them. God is always with us, even when we face a daunting situation.
Having courage and strength doesn't mean we must depend on ourselves. The strength and courage of God can be summoned. The Holy Spirit lives within us as born-again believers. The Holy Spirit is our strength and our courage.
We don't have to face life alone. It can be challenging, but we don't need to face it alone. To accomplish what God has set before us, we can draw upon God's strength and courage. For example, before Joshua entered the land that God promised him, God told Him to be strong and courageous.
Not everyone is promised everything by God. Every person has a unique journey and purpose. Our decisions in life should be guided by the Will of God. Our strength and courage will come when the decision lines up with His plan.
Why Does Being Strong in the Lord Mean?
Being strong in the Lord means embracing His empowerment, celebrating a triumphant victory, accepting God's presence in everything we do, and being with God in challenging times.
We have to accept that God is always with us, and He will always make our path straight if we just follow Him and follow Jesus.
For further reading:
How Can We Be Strong in Our Weakness?
What Did God Mean ‘Be Strong and Courageous’?
Why Is it Comforting ‘When I am Weak, He Is Strong’?
How Is the Name of the Lord a Strong Tower?
What Does it Mean 'The Joy of the Lord Is My Strength'?
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Glory Dy has been a content creator for more than 10 years. She lives in a quiet suburb with her family and four cats.
