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March 31, 2009
The Great Exchange - Part 2
Strength for Weakness |
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Greetings!
I was riding my bike recently and had a God encounter. I was in the middle of a long climb and I felt like my heart and lungs were going to explode at any moment. As God would have it, a song came through my IPod with these lyrics "Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord" ... You got to be kidding me! Although I knew the lyrics were true there was no "waiting" on God unless I wanted to stop. Surprisingly, and amidst the humor of it all, I did feel strength in my weakness while listening to a song about God's strength.
As i continued uphill, I began to think of Isaiah 40. Isaiah 40 is the source of the song that was playing and it goes on to say that God never faints, He gives power to the weak, and that in God's strength we can run and not be weary and walk and not faint. Unfortunately, it doesn't say "climb a hill and not feel like dying". I continued my ride, crested the hill and began to ponder the message of my God encounter.
We all face weakness. It can be in health, relationships, circumstances, finances, or in any aspect of life. It is a fact that we will all be powerless and weak at some moment. It is in these moments where God invites us to the Great Exchange! You see, God is never tired, weary or powerless. He has all power and is ready and willing to dispense it to those that trust Him, serve Him, and follow His lead. Even though the world may be crashing around you, or your lungs and heart may be ready to explode, God will raise you up and exchange your weakness for His strength if you trust and obey His lead ... if you wait upon Him.
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Have you Heard about the Great Exchange?
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
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God's Power is Made Perfect in Weakness
When Paul talked about the power of God being all sufficient to help in times of weakness (2 Corinthians 12:8-10), he was indicating the power that comes when we exchange our weakness for God's strength. Paul understood a truth that I clearly had illustrated on the bike. God makes great exchanges. We can come to Him weary and walk away strengthened. In fact, God's power is best displayed when we are weak for it is then that we fully recognize Him as the source of power and strength and attribute none of it to self.
The older I get, the physically and naturally weaker I get. But, I am cool with that for I know that it means that God will be strong in my life and I will be spiritually stronger! Isaiah 40 tells me that "even the youth shall faint and be weary" but that those that trust in God will have their strength renewed. What a great exchange!
This week, we you are feeling down or weak, run to God for an excahnge of weakness for strength. The fact that you are running to Him and seeking Him sounds angelic alarms in heaven and strength is prepared for release to your Spirit! Remember, God's strength shows the greatest in our times of weakness so "count it all joy" when you are encountered with weakness as strength is available for the asking.
The key to the great exchange of our weakness for His strength is trust. You must trust that God is able to do what His word states He can do and you must trust His provision and leading. God wants you to win at life. God desires for you to walk in peace and to be strengthend through His grace. Trust in the Lord and rise up like the eagle over the troubles and weakness of this world!
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For King and Kingdom,
Randy Martin |
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