Today’s Verse: But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. ~Acts 9:22 When we think of the term “inner strength,” we immediately think of the incredible fortitude and ability to achieve a deed that might have required more people or when someone accomplishes a great come-from-behind finish. This morning, we want to consider how the Apostle Paul “increased the more in strength” and the impact that

Today’s Verse: If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. ~Proverbs 24:10 Swimming is perhaps one of the best resilience, resistance, and strength exercises. To be a very good swimmer requires many hours of swimming and focus. Over time, good swimmers learn to develop good technique in order to avoid early fatigue. Good swimmers know that the body’s buoyancy enables them to float on water. When tired and fatigued, they know that it is better to keep swimmin

Today’s Verse: And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him. ~Judges 16:20 Samson was the strongest man of his day and possibly one of the strongest men ever to live. He was a special gift from God to his father and mother. From his very conception, he was set apart for the service of God as a Nazarite. He was born with

Today’s Verse: …But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: ~Daniel 11:32b-33a People in the business world have an axiom that says, “Knowledge is power.” By this, it is implying that knowledge gives the advantage to the one who has it. Obviously, knowing everything about your product and your competition makes you more competitive. This morning, we see a statement that was prophetic in

Today’s Verse: He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses. And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not. ~2 Kings 18:5-7 King Hezekiah was one of the blessed kings of Judah. Hi

Today’s Verse: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. ~Philippians 4:13 When we became sons of God, we entered a relationship that assures us of enablement through the adversities, hardships, and opportunities in life. Peter describes this enablement when he said, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3). So, Paul ma

Today’s Verse: The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; ~Psalm 104:16 One of the prized trees in the Bible was the cedar tree of Lebanon. These stately trees, which grew in the mountainous regions of Lebanon, were highly valued for construction. Solomon used these trees for the construction of the great temple that he built for God. Cedar trees are a symbol of the life of a Christian who is thriving for God. Consider the location of

Today’s Verse: And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. ~2 Corinthians 12:7 Whenever someone has surgery, the surgeon will prescribe medication to the patient to help them “manage the pain.” Managing pain means to alleviate the discomfort so that we do not feel it or until the pain subsides and is no longer a prob

Today’s Verse: ...But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many.... ~Daniel 11:32b-33a Daniel 11 is a dual prophecy about Antiochus Epiphanes and the coming Antichrist, also known as the Beast. Antiochus was a very powerful and wicked man. He caused much havoc with the Jews and their temple, and he desecrated their sacrifices. He is a picture of the Antichrist, who corrupts, confounds, and

Today’s Verse: And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? ~Judges 6:14 Sometimes, we face a situation or task where we might feel like we are way over our head. When we make this type of assessment, we are intimidated and want nothing to do with it. However, God will place us in a situation like this to stretch our faith in Him and experience His strength being made perfect in

Today’s Verse: In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them. ~Zechariah 12:8 Michael Jordan is one of the most legendary basketball players of all time. His incredible feats on the court, shooting ability, agility, and leadership inspiration is still a model of comparison for basketball players. Kids watching him play

Today’s Verse: Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. ~Zechariah 10:1 Jesus defined prayer as simply asking God. "Ask, and ye shall receive." Dr. John R. Rice authored a book entitled Prayer: Asking and Receiving on how to get our prayers answered by God. Unanswered prayer is because we do not ask God. “Ye have not, because ye ask not.” When we ask, we must a

Today’s Verse: The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments. ~Habakkuk 3:19 The word “hind” describes an animal that could be a mountain deer or, perhaps, a goat or ram. The hind was an animal that was much admired and respected by Bible writers and was used in an analogous way. At a time when he was humbled and brought to the realization of his depende

Today’s Verse: But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil. ~Psalm 92:10 In mythology, the unicorn is a mythical, magical horse that is identified by a sharp horn that protrudes out of its forehead. The unicorn in the Bible is mentioned nine times and is thought to have been a strong, wild ox that had a large single horn that protruded from its forehead. A few think it could refer to the rhinoceros due to its significant horn,

Today’s Verse: Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. ~Isaiah 35:3 Isaiah 35 is about the Millennium, or the one-thousand-year reign of Christ on Earth. During the Millennium our Lord will rule the Earth and His people will be rulers over cities. The picture we see is a desert, barren world becoming fruitful and lush. We see people who have been crippled being given the ability to walk and run. We see people who are weakened and depleted being given stren

Today’s Verse: For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. ~2 Chronicles 16:9a The Bible is rich in metaphors that powerfully describe Who God is. The use of a part of the human body colorfully helps us understand God’s favor or disfavor in a matter. For instance, we see the use of the hand of the Lord to describe His blessing and favor. We see the use of the Lord’s shoulde

Today’s Verse: As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. ~Joshua 14:11 People who run marathons are a rare breed. They are a special minority of athletes who train and live their lives to participate in a grueling running event of 26.2 miles. According to Wikipedia, the marathon got its name from the Greek soldier Pheidippides, who ran from the battlefiel

Today’s Verse: The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. ~Psalm 28:7 Sometimes, we will leave a voice message or send an electronic message requesting a response from another party, but they do not get back to us as quickly as we would like them to. We might say to someone else, “I haven’t heard from him.” In our human nature, we want to hear back from the other pe

Today’s Verse: And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. ~Galatians 2:9 The shaking of hands between two individuals is a socially-accepted recognition in almost all societies. The right hand indicates strength and favor. Shaking hands is a gesture of welcome and acceptance of another pers

Today’s Verse: The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. ~Psalm 28:7 As an experienced warrior, David understood the importance of having a shield in battle. A shield is an important source of protection in combat. It can deflect the swing of a sword or knife in close combat. It can provide valuable protection when arrows are shot or a spear is hurled. Having a shi