Magdy Samuel

Serialized Articles From:
"Whom shall I fear"

Last Published Devotions

Chapter 3: 12

The Lord Strengthens Me
"Prayer of Strengthening and Encouragement"


The fourth matter we learn in the presence of the Lord is that He gives us strength in His presence.  He not only hears me, releasing me of all my burdens and anguish.  He gathers me up, contains me and delights me in His love and presence. He teaches me, correcting my understanding and guiding me and increasing my faith. But He also strengthens me, empowers me and encourages me.  

Do not be rushed in the presence of the Lord, and learn to wait. Because the Lord has promised that: “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” (Isaiah 40: 31).

When you calm down in the presence of the Lord and wait, you will experience the Spirit of God helping your weakness, making intercession for you with groanings which cannot be uttered, and strengthening you with power in your inner being. “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.  For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8: 26).   Likewise, the Apostle Paul prayed for believers on bent knee, that the Heavenly Father would strengthen them through His Spirit in their inner being that Christ would dwell in their hearts through faith. 

When you feel too weak to face your fears, come with confidence to the throne of grace, so that you may receive mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.

You will not be able to face the pressures of your day without mercy and grace and assistance from your God.

The Lord Jesus said, “Without me you can do nothing” (John 15: 5). But through Him, you can all things, as the Apostle Paul said: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4: 13).

We need strength and encouragement, which we will never get except by waiting on the Lord.

The power, with which you can meet your challenges and your responsibilities, is not by your human strength, but the leadership of the Spirit of God, and your submission to this command. Because it is “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.  Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain” (Zechariah 4: 6, 7).

In the prayer of learning (the Lord teaches me), we learn, in the presence of the Lord, the will of the Lord for our lives, and what we are to do in the terrifying circumstances of our lives. However, we may not find within us the power to implement the will of the Lord. Therefore, the Lord not only makes His will known to us, but He also gives us His power to carry out His will in our lives.  “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose”(Philippians 2:13).

There is no treatment to strengthen the fearful, weak heart, like the Word of God and His promises. When the wind arose and seized the ship, so that even Paul said: “all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.”   However, Divine strengthening and encouragement came to the heart of Paul, and he said: “For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me” (Acts 27: 23-25).

In the prayer of strengthening and encouragement, "The Lord Strengthens Me" we experience three great things:

First: Wait for the Lord, in His presence, to hear His voice and the guidance of His Spirit “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength” (Isaiah 30: 15).

Second: Wait for the Lord, in the realization of His promises and with confidence in Him. I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. (Psalm 40: 1).  “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him” (Psalm 37: 7).  Be patient and wait for the Lord:  “Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay” (Habakkuk 2: 3).

Third: Wait for the Lord's coming and His return. There may be many things that have no solution and there is no hope, but as a Christian you have a blessed and living hope.  For the Lord promised his disciples, saying “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14: 1-3). 

When we wait upon the Lord we are filled with power, so we do not fear the circumstances surrounding us, since the coming of the Lord is the end of all reasons for fear. Fear was born in the Garden of Eden, but it dies inevitably when we come to the Father's house.

Magdy Samuel