His Strength Is Perfect
I believe this verse is a favorite for many people – as well as it should be. It is such an encouraging promise. Paul wrote it in a letter of encouragement to the Philippians. He told them that he learned to be content in every situation he found himself in. He discovered that contentment not in himself but in his Savior, Jesus Christ.
The book of Philippians is one of my favorite books in the Bible. Paul wrote the letter while in prison in Rome. My husband and I visited the place he wrote the letter. It was a small stone room, nothing to be content with for sure. Yet, the theme of Philippians is joy – something that his circumstances couldn’t give him.
Paul found that true peace and contentment came from being in Jesus, not his surroundings. The more he lived in Jesus, the more joyful he became. He was strengthened due to that joy; as Nehemiah 8:10 says, “the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Paul shared another “secret” to finding strength in verses 4-7 of the same chapter. It says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
He told them to 1) Rejoice, 2)pray, and 3)be thankful. It sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it? He goes on to tell his readers only to allow their minds to think about good things. Don’t let yourself get discouraged, but remember that you can do all things through Christ, who gives you strength!
Dear Lord, I purpose to rejoice, pray, and be thankful. Help me be content in whatever situation I am in because Christ gives me strength. Amen.
