Developing Inner Strength

The Christian journey needs people with the inner strength that will sustain them when it gets tough. It's how you walk that will determine how far you go.

 

I must state that developing inner strength is a progressive process and each challenge we encounter helps us to grow stronger.

 

There is so much we can learn from the Bible and today I want us to draw some lessons from Jesus' apostles, Peter and John. In the early days of their ministry, post the Day of Pentecost when there was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, they faced serious challenges.

 

In Acts 4 we read of their arrest for preaching about Jesus Christ and in particular healing of a crippled man who used to sit by the Temple's gate begging for money. A few things we can learn from their experience. What is clear during their ordeal is their boldness which is a result of inner strength. Three principles we can learn from the two.

 

Walk in the Spirit

 

When they were interrogated on the power they had done these things Peter had the audacity to tell the Jewish leaders that the man had been healed through the power of the name of Jesus Christ. The author (Luke) tells us that Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit.

 

God strengthens us through the Holy Spirit who dwells in our inner being. God himself makes a home in the hearts of believers. That's why we boldly claim, "Greater is He who is within us than the one in the world." 

 

The Jewish were mesmerized by the boldness of these two apostles who were less educated but were with Jesus.The difference was that they lived according to the dictates of Holy Spirit.

 

Walk by Faith 

 

Peter and John fully trusted God. Their faith was established in God and their desire was to please Him. When they were sternly warned not to mention the name of Jesus again, they told them point blank that they would rather obey God than men. Their faith in God made them not to be shaken in spite of the circumstances. They applied the principle, "We walk by faith not by sight."

Walk with other Saints

 

When they were released they went to the other believers and shared with them their ordeal. Together with the believers they prayed for boldness such that there was an earthquake where they were assembled.

 

You need people who will encourage and support you, people who will carry your burdens with you. These people did not pray for the removal of the challenge but they prayed for inner strength to overcome. These are the kind of people you need to surround yourself with to help you develop your inner strength.