DEVOTION – DAY 238

Philippians 4:13 “God’s Strength”

 

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”

 

When the apostle Paul wrote this verse, he was under house arrest in Rome. He was confined to his rented house for two years whilst he awaited his trial before Caesar. His fate was uncertain and yet, as he wrote this verse and the verses before that, Paul wanted to share something that he had learnt. He was able to be contented with whatever circumstances he found himself to be in by relying on the strength of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul was able to say that whether he faced hunger or times of plenty, he was able to face every situation because of the strength he received from the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

This is in sharp contrast to what we sometimes see today. In April 2022, as the city of Shanghai entered its 4th week of enforced lockdown over an outbreak of Covid-19 virus in that city, news reports on social media showed some residents breaking down under the strain of the lockdown. The people did not know how long their lockdown would continue and they were concerned about their food supplies running low. Some who were unused to being confined to their apartments or their compounds had to find ways to relieve their frustrations. Some argued with the local officials who were tasked with enforcing the lockdown rules.

 

They were examples of people not being able to cope because they were facing the situation in their own strength. There are limits to everyone’s strength. Some people are mentally stronger, some are weaker but if the pressure is strong, sooner or later, everyone has a breaking point especially when circumstances become unbearable, like a prolonged lockdown. But if people have the Lord Jesus Christ in their lives, they are able to face such situations not with their own strength, but with the strength of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have a friend in Shanghai who has been under lockdown for some weeks. But she is keeping well and contented in the Lord. The lockdown has caused her to draw closer to the Lord. When her food supplies ran low, she was able to barter for some supplies with the neighbors in her apartment block as they have set up a chatgroup to help each other. She has also been able to get some fresh food supplies from the authorities. She could say that she was able to do all this through the Lord Jesus who gave her His strength.

 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we worship you as you are the source of all Strength and Power. It is in you, and our relationship with you, that we can find contentment. Please help us to look to you always and not look at the circumstances of this world. We pray all this in the mighty name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. What situations or circumstances are you facing now that you require strength from the Lord?
  2. Are you contented with what you have or do are you discontented about something? Share.
  3. If you are discontented about something, how can you draw strength from the Lord to bring about contentment? Discuss.
  4. Paul is able to be contented even though his circumstances have not changed. He was still under house arrest. Will you ask the Lord to help you be contented even though your circumstances remain unchanged?