HE GIVES STRENGTH TO THE WEARY - In those moments of absolute powerlessness, weakness, and brokenness the Lord is often most real, most powerful, and most present - He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the most pumped up and positive ones of us find ourselves broken and weary at some point in our life. It isn't so hard to believe and follow Jesus when we are soaring on the wings of eagles or running and not getting weary in our walk with God. Often the toughest time to keep our faith vibrant is when we are trying to keep putting one foot in front of the other while not fainting. In those moments of absolute powerlessness, weakness, and brokenness the Lord is often most real, most powerful, and most present. Please give those I love, and mention now by name, the strength to press on even though they are weary and weak. Please be real in their lives and let them know that you are coming with grace to help and redeem as their Great Deliverer.

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He Gives Strength To The Weary

In those moments of absolute powerlessness, weakness, and brokenness the Lord is often most real, most powerful, and most present

Phil Ware

“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.” — Isaiah 40:29 (KJV)

Even the most pumped up and positive ones of us find ourselves broken and weary at some point in our life.

It isn't so hard to believe and follow Jesus when we are soaring on the wings of eagles or running and not getting weary in our walk with God.

Often the toughest time to keep our faith vibrant is when we are trying to keep putting one foot in front of the other while not fainting.

In those moments of absolute powerlessness, weakness, and brokenness the Lord is often most real, most powerful, and most present.

My Prayer...

Thank you, God, for sustaining me and keeping my faith alive when I have been under attack from the Evil One and have grown weary with the challenges and hardships of life.

Please give those I love, and mention now by name, the strength to press on even though they are weary and weak.

Please be real in their lives and let them know that you are coming with grace to help and redeem as their Great Deliverer.

In Jesus' name I ask it.

Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

Heartlight Provides Positive Resources for Daily Christian Living.

https://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/todaysverse.cgi?day=20030721&ver=kjv

WHEN TOUGH TIMES COME - There are times when life on this earth is hard and uncomfortable… and even downright painful. When those times come, you deeply need the comfort that only the Holy Spirit can bring. How do you receive that kind of comfort? By doing just what the believers in Acts did. By “walking in the fear of the Lord.” Now, when I talk about “the fear of the Lord,” please understand, I’m not saying you should be afraid of God. He’s your Father! You should be as secure and unafraid when you come before Him as a child who knows he is dearly loved. But you must also have so much respect for Him that whenever He reveals something you need to do, you do it immediately — even if it goes against your natural desires. No matter how tough or painful a situation you may be facing today, trust and obey the directions of your Father. He will make that same supernatural, Holy Spirit-inspired comfort available to you!

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When Tough Times Come

written by Gloria Copeland

“Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.” Acts 9:31

There are times when life on this earth is hard and uncomfortable… and even downright painful.

When those times come, you deeply need the comfort that only the Holy Spirit can bring.

How do you receive that kind of comfort?

By doing just what the believers in Acts did. By “walking in the fear of the Lord.”

Now, when I talk about “the fear of the Lord,” please understand, I’m not saying you should be afraid of God.

He’s your Father!

You should be as secure and unafraid when you come before Him as a child who knows he is dearly loved.

But you must also have so much respect for Him that whenever He reveals something you need to do, you do it immediately — even if it goes against your natural desires.

That’s walking in the fear of the Lord.

Let me show you what I mean. Once, several years ago, I received a very disturbing phone call shortly before I was to preach at one of our meetings.

It was painful news about a situation in which one of my children had been wronged. The news of it wounded my heart.

I cried, and in the natural, I wanted to get angry about it, to strike back in some way. But instead, I began praying in other tongues.

As I prayed, I was prompted in my spirit to rejoice and praise the Lord.

I certainly didn’t feel like praising. I felt like stomping my foot. But, out of respect to the Lord, I put my feelings aside and obeyed.

Next, the Holy Spirit impressed me to read a particular prophecy. As I did, I could tell I was being strengthened.

Then suddenly, I realized I was free. By my obedience, I had opened myself to the comforting power of the Holy Spirit.

The anger and pain that had filled me just moments before were gone! They had been replaced by the gentle love and reassurance of the Lord.

No matter how tough or painful a situation you may be facing today, trust and obey the directions of your Father. 
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He will make that same supernatural, Holy Spirit-inspired comfort available to you!

Scripture Reading: Matthew 4:1-11

Kenneth Copeland Ministries' mission is to minister the Word of Faith, by teaching believers who they are in Christ Jesus; taking them from the milk of the Word to the meat, and from religion to reality.

https://www.kcm.org/read/faith-to-faith/10/22

Matthew 4:1-11 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness

¹Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted^[a] by the devil. ² After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³ The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’^[b]”

⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ⁶ “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
    and they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’^[c]”

⁷ Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’^[d]”

⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ⁹ “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’^[e]”

¹¹ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Footnotes:

a.         Matthew 4:1 The Greek for tempted can also mean tested.

b.        Matthew 4:4 Deut. 8:3

c.         Matthew 4:6 Psalm 91:11,12

d.        Matthew 4:7 Deut. 6:16

e.         Matthew 4:10 Deut. 6:13

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+4%3A1-11&version=NIV

BREAKING THROUGH THE WALL - Once you hit a wall you’ll be tempted to quit, to turn back in defeat. But don’t do it. God will enable you to break through that wall and keep right on going. You have to push on through the tough times if you’re ever going to have a breakthrough. Ask any athlete. He’ll tell you that! Because if he’s a winner, he’s been there. The seasoned athlete knows that “the wall” isn’t the end. It’s a signal that he’s on the verge of a breakthrough. If he’ll toughen up and push himself a little more, he’ll get a second wind. Suddenly, he’ll go faster than before. He’ll reach a level of excellence he couldn’t have reached any other way.

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Break Through the Wall

Kenneth Copeland

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)

You’re running the race set before you, moving full-speed ahead with God’s blessing overtaking you at every step.

Then suddenly, wham! You hit the wall.

It may be a wall of sickness or financial trouble, of spiritual failure or family problems.

But, regardless of the form it takes, the effect of “the wall” is always the same. It stops you cold.

The question is, once you hit a wall like that, what will you do?

You’ll be tempted to quit, to turn back in defeat. But don’t do it.

Because God will enable you to break through that wall and keep right on going.

I’m not going to tell you it’s easy. The truth is, it’s tough.

But you have to push on through the tough times if you’re ever going to have a breakthrough.

Ask any athlete. He’ll tell you that! Because if he’s a winner, he’s been there.

He’s pushed his body to what seems to be the maximum. His side has hurt. His lungs have ached. He’s had cramps in his legs and thighs.

And just when he felt like he couldn’t go on, he’s heard some coach yell, “Come on! Move it!”

Athletes call that “hitting the wall.”

It’s a time when the body says, “That’s it. That’s all I can do. I can’t go any farther. I can’t go any faster. I quit.”

But the seasoned athlete knows that “the wall” isn’t the end.

It’s a signal that he’s on the verge of a breakthrough. 

If he’ll toughen up and push himself a little more, he’ll get a second wind.

Suddenly, he’ll go faster than before. He’ll reach a level of excellence he couldn’t have reached any other way.

When you feel the worst, when failure is breathing down your neck, press in to the Word as never before.

You may meditate on a particular scripture for days and even weeks sometimes, trying to get a revelation of it, seemingly without success.

Then suddenly, like the dawn of the morning, light will come pouring in. You’ll see the way to break through. 

All you have to do is punch one little hole in that wall of problems, dig one tiny hole in it with your faith and with the Word of God.

Then keep tearing away at that hole. Don’t quit!

And, before long, the forces of God will come bursting through, demolishing every obstacle in their path!

Once that happens you’ll never be the same again. You’ll be hooked.

It will only take one breakthrough like that to make a never-dying, never-quitting champion out of you.

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Kenneth Copeland Ministries' mission is to minister the Word of Faith, by teaching believers who they are in Christ Jesus; taking them from the milk of the Word to the meat, and from religion to reality.

https://www.kcm.org/read/faith-to-faith?language=en-US&field_faithtofaith_date_value%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=May+1

 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 English Standard Version (ESV)

²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 

²⁵ Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 

²⁶ So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.

²⁷ But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Footnotes:

a. 1 Corinthians 9:27 Greek I pummel my body and make it a slave

English Standard Version (ESV)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+9%3A24-27&version=ESV