(By: Norm Rasmussen)

For I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

All I have to do is appropriate Christ's strength! That is done by a decision on my part, it's as simple as that.  

Making that decision to appropriate Christ's strength is never based on our emotions nor whether we believe we even deserve it or not. It's based on a decision. We make a decision to drink a cup of water when we are thirsty. We make a decision to go to sleep when we are tired. When our soul is weary from living life, we make a decision to appropriate the strength of Christ to regain the life of Christ to fill us back up where our life has become exhausted.  

Satan's attacks against Christians are relentless and never-ending. God assures us in His Word it would be like that, otherwise He would never have told us so and given us spiritual weapons we were going to have reason to constantly use. (See: Ephesians 6:10-18) 

And - we must always remember it is NOT God attacking us, it is SATAN attacking us. Satan constantly tries to get us to believe it is NOT him attacking us, but rather God being the one behind our being miserable and in pain). Just because Satan is allowed to do things against us no way assumes God delights that Satan is attacking us either! (Think about it -- if Satan's lie was true and God delighted in our suffering so much ... why would God promise us that in heaven we'll never suffer anymore? God allows us to suffer in this life that we will be rewarded in eternity for, [which Satan wants us forgetting when we're suffering] ... but He's going to make certain this life is the only time we'll ever suffer in all eternity once we are with Him).  

Satan's attacks are not going to cease while we are alive on this planet either -- not until Satan is locked up, anyway, during the 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth (assuming we're here and not in heaven). We need to accept this reality. Yet no matter what Satan is allowed to throw at us, God will glorify Himself and make certain we are glorified in eternity as well by providing us with the strength to trust Him to get us through each and every demonic attack launched against us.  

Yes we may fall into extreme discouragement and even crippling depression. Yes physical pain may seem unbearable. Yes we may wallow in hopelessness for awhile. Yes we may even fall back into sin. Yes our faith may falter and we may find ourselves believing we have NO faith. Yes we may believe God doesn't love us, nor does He have compassion for us any longer. Yes praying may be the most difficult thing we can do. Yes trusting Him may seem to come to a screeching halt. Yes we may reach that place where we aren't sure we are even saved! YET none of this will stop God from providing us sufficient strength to stop letting Satan gain any permanent victory in our life. Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith, and that means He died PROVING that you'll make it to heaven to be with Him, no matter how impossible that may seem at times down here.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  (Hebrews 12:2)

Jesus started salvation (rescue) in us. Jesus will FINISH it in us. It's simply a fact that no one can alter: His strength is TOTALLY sufficient to enable us to make it through every attack Satan launches against Christ's own, you and I.

Jesus will never let us sink emotionally and spiritually if we appropriate HIS life-saving strength. It's always only a thought - a whisper, a decision away. You ask for it and you trust for it as many times as is necessary to get through. It's endlessly available. Every time you appropriate Christ's strength in your weakness, God manifests a life-sustaining miracle to you. It's no less precious nor more difficult for Him to do that for you than Him walking on water or raising the dead.  

Be a miracle worker frequently. Appropriate His power and strength as often as you need it. Appropriate it as often as you drink water when you're thirsty or go to bed when you are tired. When you ability to maintain becomes exhausted ... God's unlimited ability is instantly available. You just have to call on it and appropriate it. God even provides the very help to call on it, and the faith and wisdom to realize you need to.

Editorial Note: A companion writing that dovetails with this writing is also recommended reading:  "Seek FIRST The Kingdom Of God" - What Does It REALLY Mean?

PLEASE HELP US HELP YOU SHARE THE BEST NEWS GOD HAS FOR EVERY PERSON BECAUSE...

JESUS DID IT! and...

YOU ARE SO GREATLY NEEDED!

Remember:  All that we do in this life comes back to our God-given purpose which is to serve and glorify God. The money and assets we accumulate, the fame and power we've attained or seek to attain - all of the things of this nature will one day pass away, but those lives of others we impact for Jesus Christ will last for eternity, and we will be rewarded for the part we helped play by impacting those lives ... for eternity. (Matthew 6:19-20 is our assurance)