Prayer for Strength

BY Rodney Nantz

“But now, O God, strengthen my hands.” Nehemiah 6:9 NASBS

Brothers and sisters in Christ, I assure you by the testimony of God’s grace in my life, there will be moments when darkness will ascend upon you. Its desire is to destroy you and ruin the testimony of your faith to all whom you are around. So stand firm beloved, “For no temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man, and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation, will provide the way of escape also so that you will be able to endure it.” He bought you with His blood, He called you into His kingdom, He has embued you with truth, and He has promised to never leave you. It is in these times you must lean upon the strength of God’s mercy and gird yourself with holy prayer, crying, “But now, O God, strengthen my hands.” Nehemiah knew this all too well. He was called to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem that had laid in ruin for years. Moreover, as they began to rebuild, he was surrounded by death threats, lies, persecution and hatred. Through many sleepless nights with a sword strapped to his side, he did not waver, but grew strong in faith, fully assured that what God had promised, He would bring to pass. So, in times of hardship he cried out, “But now, O God, strengthen my hands.” Nehemiah resisted the winds of temptation and did not stop what he was called to do, and the Lord gave him the strength to persevere until the wall was erected.

Remember that the Lord also called you to a great work. The lives of the men and women we read about recorded in the historical record of the Bible are like you and me in every way. The Lord didn’t conceal them from the suffering of this world, but gave them strength to endure to the end and become more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. So stand firm and do not be moved. Though your faith is being tested in the afflictions of this world as gold placed in a fiery furnace, rest assured beloved, Jesus will not let you go. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning, and the end, and He has placed His seal upon you and will see you through until the end of this age. So come, downcast and troubled Christian, glean upon the precious promises of God, and cast yourself down in prayer, crying, “But now, O God, strengthen my hands.” He will hear your prayer and provide you with strength and courage to pass through the valley of temptation. For in His great mercy, He has caused you to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. He has given you an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away. Beloved, it is reserved in heaven for you, so follow close in the footprints of your Savior, Jesus Christ, “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him Who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness.” So in the midst of your trial, cry out to Him, for He is able to keep you from stumbling. Moreover, by His eternal power, He will make you stand in the presence of His perfect righteousness on the day when you pass from life to that which is to come.