Strategy for Strengthening

Read:  Psalm 82 / Proverbs 6 / Nehemiah 6 /Jude 1

Psalm 82:5,8  They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course... Arise, O God... Thou shalt inherit all nations.

Proverbs 6:5,23 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter... reproofs of instruction are the way of life. 

Nehemiah 6:9,11 They all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands... Should... I flee?

Jude 3,21 Earnestly contend for the faith...  which was once delivered unto the saints... Keep yourselves in the love of God.

I'll trust in God for strengthening

While rebels in the darkness walk. 

With every day He's lengthening,

I will contend with those who mock. 

When mockers come, why should I flee

While God has called me to contend? 

I have no other strategy

Than trusting Christ until the end.  

Governed by God

Read:  Psalm 81 / Proverbs 5 / Nehemiah 5 /3 John 1

Psalm 81:13 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!

Proverbs 5:1 My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:

Nehemiah 5:15 The former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people... and had taken of them ... but so did not I, because of the fear of God.

3 John 9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

How foolishly we hearken not

When God would give us understanding! 

How vain is every stubborn thought

That does heed our Lord's commanding!

How wise is our obedience

To Christ as we incline our ear,

That He might have preeminence

As we are governed by His fear!  

Looking or Losing

Read:  Psalm 80 / Proverbs 4 / Nehemiah 4 /2 John 1

Psalm 80:17-18 Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.  So will not we go back from thee: quicken us.

Proverbs 4:25-27 Let thine eyes look right on... Ponder the path of thy feet...  Turn not to the right hand nor to the left. 

Nehemiah 4:18,20 Every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded... our God shall fight for us.

2 John 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

We're either looking to the Lord

Or losing ground on what we’ve done. 

The former guarantees reward,

The latter forfeits what was won. 

Look neither to the left nor right,

But to our Lord victorious. 

As darkness flees before the light,

Our God Himself shall fight for us!