Q: How can you know which foundations are weak in your life and how do you strengthen them?
A: One of the most important areas a child of God must know is their weakness.
Know Yourself
When you truly know yourself, and know exactly which areas where you are weak, you are well on your journey to overcoming.
Every warrior needs understanding of what makes their knees weak or causes their heart to race, what makes them back up, what tempts them to quit, so they can avoid the traps of the enemy, and achieve certain victory. (See this incredible sermon on Waking up the Warrior for more depth on this subject.)
Try this Quick Self-inventory:
- Where do you get anxious?
- What causes you to break out in a cold sweat?
- When do you lose your sleep?
- What makes you strive to please?
- Who makes you doubt?
- What do you avoid?
Know Your Weaknesses
Many people know their strengths yet very few know what weakens them.
In my journey, every single strength of my life was developed. In my childhood, I was not a leader. I had no friends. I wasn’t popular, nor the favourite of my teachers. Every part of me had to be developed, and the way I did that, was by first locating my weakness.
I would ask, Lord, why am I like this? I looked at my struggles to trace the steps to determine how I could be in this condition. Then, step by step, i would bring these needs to the Lord.
I studied the people in my life. I would carefully observe the leaders who were successful in the area of my need. The Lord gave me grace to learn from everything in my life . I discovered when I located my weaknesses, I could undo patterns which limited my upward trajectory with God.
Avoid Excuses
Friend, God simply won’t entertain our excuses. It is the Lord Who mandates us to strengthen our weak knees, that we may overcome. The more we blame others, complain, or avoid knowing our weaknesses, the weaker we become, the opposite of the revival God wants to bring to our lives.
Jesus instructed His disciples, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33)
Isaiah exhorted, “Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear, your God will come!” (Isaiah 35:2-3)
Paul also instructed the early Church, “Lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet.” (Hebrews 12: 1,12,13)
The good truth is we are designed by Heaven to be the Beloved, the spotless Bride, so faithfully we can, “lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)
We stand up by standing down, and refusing to repeat the same old habits that have held us down in pits of shame, guilt and fear, when our God calls us and empowers us by the Spirit to overcome! (For more keys on how to overcome, head to this sermon, What Attracts God’s Heart)
Investigate and Change
Growth requires action. Therefore, when we fail, when we struggle, when we lose a battle, we have to ask ourselves why. We must determine the triggers that cause us to react rather than respond, where our subconscious rules instead or rests, where our soul leads rather than the spirit.
As we analyze our scenario, and investigate, from beginning to end, where, why and how we stumbled, we can rise up and change. With the Spirit leading us, with careful investigation of our weakness, with prayerful action and sustained intention in our words and thoughts, certain change will occur. (To know more on How to Reinvent Who you are, enjoy this sermon).
Victory is for the Diligent
The Lord is with us on this journey! He promises, in Romans 8: 37, In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
As children of God, we can live fearless and victorious in Christ. Yet a victorious life takes diligent effort, requires honesty and humility, as we admit change is needed, and maintain the journey for spiritual growth.
I am still changing, still learning, still growing. Every day, step by step, research yourself and never stop reaching for understanding! Remember, dominion is for the diligent. Be fearless and keep changing, and your victory is assured!
Shalom,
Shyju
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