Strength #7—Obedient Strength

Your own eyes have seen all the great work Yahweh did. Therefore, keep every commandment that I am commanding you today, so that you may be strong and go in and possess the land into which you are about to cross. Deuteronomy 11:7–8

Strength derives from repetition. So the old proverb says, “If you lift the calf every day, you will be able to lift the bull.” Oysters make pearls larger and more lustrous, one layer of crystalline calcium at a time. The consequence of habitual physical effort is muscular strength; the consequence of exercising patience during trials is a strong heart; the consequence of habitual godliness is greater strength to do God’s will in the pursuit of God’s design. Yahweh marvelously delivered Israel from Egypt in order to make them his people and to bless them so that they might be a blessing to the world. If they had followed his instructions, they would have enjoyed his blessing. The Father delivered us from Satan’s domain to the kingdom of his Son so that we might be part of the same program. Convinced of his good intentions and confident in his power to do us good, obeying his commands will keep us in a position to continue to benefit from all that he has for us. And because his commands are wise, obedience will enable us to overcome whatever obstacles we encounter in our efforts to secure his promises. Practice might not make perfect, but it certainly makes permanent—in more ways than one.

Divine Deliverer, thank you for the truth about life that lets me hope for success in my struggles. Please reinforce the habits of faith, so I might grow stronger in my relationship with you and enjoy the fruit of our fellowship.