Let The Weak Say I Am Strong

Joel 3:10

The average person talks to himself or herself thousands of times a day. For many people, much of that self-talk is negative. "You're so stupid!" one says to oneself. "Why can't you do anything right? You'll never get a break. You'll never succeed. You don't have a chance. You'll never change." These words reinforce what we believe about ourselves, and they influence the actions we take.

We find it far too easy to believe in the power of our weaknesses and failures; we find it far too difficult to believe in the power of the God who came to transform us into his likeness.

God spoke through Joel this simple phrase: "Let the weak say 'I am strong.'" (Joel 3:10) He was talking about the day of battle; he was guaranteeing his people a victory.

Every day is the day of battle for followers of Christ. We fight temptation, discouragement, apathy, and failure -- day in, day out. And in the midst of battle, God reminds us that victory is ours. Therefore, let the weak say I am strong -- for (as David proclaimed when facing Goliath) "The battle is the Lord's."

CHANGE YOUR COURSE

DEUTERONOMY 30:19-20

As a ship approached the coast of New England, a heavy fog set in. The ship's radar detected what appeared to be another vessel in its path, so the captain sent the following message: "Change your course 10 degrees port."

Shortly they received a reply: "Change YOUR course 10 degree starboard."

The captain became annoyed and said: "I am a Lt. Commander of the U.S. Navy. Change your course."

This was the response: "I am a seaman 3rd class. Change your course."

By now the captain was furious. His message read: "This is a battleship! Change your course."

Moments later a message came across the wire that said: "This is a Lighthouse! Change Your Course!"

There are certain laws at work in the universe, and no amount of power, or money, or influence can change them.

These laws are God's laws. He designed them to work for us, not against us. In order for this to happen, we sometimes have to change our course. His laws don't change; we must change.

When we try to find happiness, fulfillment, and meaning in life through any method other than a personal relationship with God, we are setting ourselves up for failure.

But it doesn't have to be that way. We can change our course at anytime. We can choose life over death; we can choose spiritual blessings over self-destruction.

God doesn't change his course to accommodate us, but if we are willing to change our course, to chart the path of lives in his direction, he will to open his arms wide to receive us, and will shower us with blessings from heaven.

These are his words...

"I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live, and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life..." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)