Am I executing life in His strength?

[We pray that you may be] strengthened and invigorated with all power, according to His glorious might, to attain every kind of endurance and patience with joy; - Colossians 1:11 (Amplified Bible)

Spiritual power is a mark of every Christian who submits to God’s Word and the Holy Spirit. It is not reserved for some special class of Christian but for all those who discipline their minds and spirits to study the Word, understand it, and live by it. Although the outer physical person becomes weaker with age, the inner Spiritual person should grow stronger through the Holy Spirit, who will energize, revitalize, and empower the obedient, committed Christian. - John MacArthur

Evidence of the strengthening of the Spiritual person can be seen in our ability to endure with joy the difficult trials of this life and to exhibit patience with the difficult people God allows in our path. This is the endurance and patience with joy referenced in this verse.

Learning to view the trials and difficult people that enter our lives from the perspective of being allowed by God to grow our faith is the sign of a true Christ-follower maturing in their understanding of the Sovereignty of a Loving God. If something is allowed to enter my life, it did not occur by accident or coincidence; it has been allowed to grow my faith and align my heart with the will of God through the sanctification process. Nothing touches the Child of God that is not allowed by the Sovereign God of all Creation for their good and His glory. This perspective is evidenced in the life of Joseph and his response to the evil his brothers introduced into his innocent life, being sold into slavery, and all of the subsequent challenging events that followed. His response...

But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in place of God? [Vengeance is His, not mine.] As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present outcome, that many people would be kept alive [as they are to this day]. So now, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and support you and your little ones.” So he comforted them [giving them encouragement and hope] and spoke [with kindness] to their hearts. - Genesis 50:19-21 (ESV)

The purpose of trials is to expose authentic faith. - Jack Hibbs

Adversity is a bridge to a closer relationship with God. - Charles Stanley

When the trials and difficult people of this life impact me in a negative way...

Do I respond with anger toward God or an increased desire to hear the voice of God?

Is my first question Why (Why me? Why this? Why now?) or What (What do I need to hear, learn or change?)?

May He grant you out of the riches of His glory, to be strengthened and spiritually energized with power through His Spirit in your inner self, [indwelling your innermost being and personality], and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself]. - Ephesians 3:16-19 (Amplified Bible)

Be Encouraged to read Psalm 139 every day for the next 30 days, pausing to pray the last two verses to solidify in your mind the Sovereignty of God in your life.

-Jeffrey Thornton