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Strengthen Yourself from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

Today I want to talk about strengthening yourself in the Lord. It is important that you learn to have a direct relationship with God that does not depend on anyone else. There will be times in this life when those whom you once trusted, turn their back on you. Sometimes even those that you look up to spiritually may let you down, and when they do, you need to be able to continue walking with the Lord without them.

After ministering together for many years, Paul and Barnabas had a sharp disagreement over taking John Mark with them and they stopped traveling together. They both continued to walk with the Lord, just separately (Acts 15:39). The Lord went with each of them. That is what we need to be able to do when something like this happens.

Too many get “church hurt” and then fall away from God because they viewed their church as their connection to Him, but He is also with each of us at home or while at work. The church certainly connects us to others in the body of Christ, but I have been used by the Holy Spirit while playing music in bars to lead people to the Lord. You do not have to be in a church to connect with the Lord.

In 1^st Samuel 30:6, David and his men returned home to their town of Ziklag and found it burned to the ground, their families kidnapped, and their belongings stolen. The men who were with David blamed him for it and discussed killing him. Let’s read it:

Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. So David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.” 1 Samuel 30:6–8 NKJV

When everyone turned their backs on him, David strengthened himself in the Lord, spoke to Him directly, and the Lord answered him back directly. Though a priest was standing right there, David spoke to God instead and he received the answer to his question. That is how all of the great leaders in scripture did it. The author of Hebrews wrote: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV). We come before His throne.

When everyone on Earth lets you down, you need to be able to strengthen yourself in the Lord. Get somewhere alone, pour your heart out to God, and there you will find new strength. There you will find grace to help in your time of need.

James wrote: “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray” (James 5:13 NKJV) and “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16 NKJV).

Each of us need to be connected directly to God, to be able to pray, and to hear what the Holy Spirit is speaking. We should not have to depend on others to tell us what the Lord wants for us. It is great to have people that you can trust for advice, but that should only be a confirmation of what the Holy Spirit has told you. Others cannot be your spiritual connection, for if they die, so will your connection. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, and this is what He told them:

Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.” (Luke 11:1–4 NKJV). 

Jesus taught the disciples to pray directly to “Our Father in heaven”, not to bring their prayer requests to Him, or anyone else. It is great for us to pray for one another, but that does not replace praying yourself. Your hope, your joy, your insight and inspiration comes when you pray.

I am happy to pray with you and for you, but it is my desire that you are able to pray for me, and for others. I want you to be directly connected to the Holy Spirit and able to lift me up when I am down. What David went through is real. What Paul and Barnabas went through is real. It has happened to us several times, and it can happen to you. When it does, you need to be able to find strength in the Lord and to get your answers from Him directly.

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please speak to me in a way that I understand and teach me to recognize Your voice. I want to know You in a deeper way. Help me heal from the spiritual injuries that I have received and to put my trust in You, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.