Strong

Scripture

Psalm 73:26-28

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near to God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.”

Observation

My grandpa Bob is getting very old. He has trouble eating and forgets his words. His Facebook posts prove his declining dexterity. His eyesight is failing and he cannot walk much, even with his walker. As people age, they go through the process of their body tissues weakening. Bones thin and become brittle as they stop building up calcium. Muscle mass decreases. The connections between neurons and muscles weaken, making it more difficult to move. Heart problems arise. Plaque builds up in blood vessels. Breathing becomes difficult. This may seem depressing, but there is no reason to be sad because our physical bodies are not what sustains us for eternity. If you ask my grandpa, "How are you?" he will respond, "Peachy keen!" Why? His body does not make him strong: God makes my weak Grandpa Bob peachy keen.

Application

You will get older. That is just how life works. Our bodies are capable of doing amazing things, but they are not everlasting. God, however, is. If we use the power of God to sustain us, nothing that our bodies have to go through will matter. We need to draw near to God and give up all the function of our bodies- every action we do and word we speak- to Him. This is how to grow truly strong: draw near to Him who made you and let Him take over life itself, until you are a mere echo.

Prayer

Dear God, let me draw near to you-- close to your heart. Nothing I can do compares to the power you have. Your very being is power, and yet I so often base my strength off of my own doing. Help me through the trials of life to be faithful to you alone. Although my bones may fail and my muscles grow weak, I will praise you because you are the giver of strength. Nothing in the flesh will last, but you are forever, so let my thoughts be bound towards heaven that my heart will be strong and never waver from what I know to be true--that you are Lord. Amen.