STRENGTHENING

You therefore, my son, be STRONG in the GRACE that is in Christ Jesus – 2 Timothy 2:1

STRENGTHENING or Sufficient Grace is the dimension of abundant grace that releases and exchanges divine Strength for our human weakness. We are strengthened by the Grace that is in Christ Jesus (2Tim.2:1). Strength is a fundamental requirement in life. It takes strength to live. It takes strength to love. It takes strength to share the burdens of others when you may have enough of your own. It takes strength to keep your marriage vows when the going gets rough. It takes strength to turn away from the love of money. Paul prayed in Ephesians 3:16, “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man.” God invites us to continually feast at the altar of grace. The glory of Christianity is that we have an altar, where the Savior Jesus Christ, serves inexhaustible supplies of grace.

It is God’s plan for all of us His children to experience His strength in our daily lives. By virtue of what Jesus did for us in His redemptive work, strength is now available to us in Christ. Strength is a grace from God as 2 Corinthians 12:9 reveals: ““And He said to me, “MY GRACE is SUFFICIENT for you, for My STRENGTH is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the POWER of Christ may rest upon me.” Notice, grace is called strength and power. There is not only saving grace, sanctifying grace, and serving grace, but also strengthening grace. We have all the strength we need already available to us as a provision of grace. Strength as grace also means that it is a provision that must be received by faith. Just like saving grace is received through faith, strengthening grace is received and released through faith. Faith can receive strength like it can receive salvation.

Hebrews 11:11 says, “By FAITH Sarah herself also received STRENGTH to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.” Not only did Abraham believe to have Isaac but Sarah also, all on the basis of her judging God to be faithful to His promise. She was in her nineties, past the time of child bearing and her body’s natural functions might have shut down, yet she by FAITH received STRENGTH to conceive. God’s grace strengthens. His grace strengthens you to push through overwhelming physical and emotional obstacles. God’s grace strengthens you to persevere in your daily tasks at home, in the office, or in ministry. His grace gives you courage to conquer intimidating circumstances. His grace assuages your fears regarding the future. Most of all, His grace assures you of His very presence walking with you and upholding you.

Above all else, the strength that really matters in life is the strength of heart that comes from feeding on grace and trusting in grace. All the way through life, it is not physical strength that God delights in. The Lord takes pleasure in those who hope in His mercy and grace (Psa.147:11). Strengthening Grace is the grace for reigning in life and ruling in dominion, irrespective of personal or other conditions, circumstances or situations: “For if by one man's offence death reigned through the one; much more those who receive ABUNDANCE of GRACE and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:17).