FOR you to go forward and make progress, you need to be strong in the lord. You have to be strong if you are going to make an impact for God in this generation. We are at war. We must fight the good fight of faith for there is no room for weakness.
Be strong in the lord and in the power of his might (Ephe 6v10).
All through the scriptures the exhortation comes again and again be strong in the lord.
Our God is a God of encouragement and consolation. He is the father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He knows that the enemy will want to hinder us with fear many times.
The size of our task may be intimidating but he speaks again and again be strong in the lord. When Joshua took over the leadership of Israel, he must have felt quite incapable. He had seen the glory of the word come upon Moses. He had seen great signs and wonders. He saw it all when the lord spoke with Moses face to face. He saw how Moses sat to judge the people settling their intricate problems for long hours. He saw the rebellion against Moses and how it was handled.
He must have felt so inadequate to take over that kind of a job.
But then, the word of the lord came to him. Be strong and of a good courage for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
Only be thou strong and very courageous that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded thee turn not from it to the right hand or to the left that thou mayest proper withersoever thou goest.
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest (Joshua 1v6,7,9)  Joshua took courage from the word of God. He went on and did exploits for the lord, succeeding even where Moses his great predecessor failed.
Beloved be strong in the lord. No matter the task you have to handle you can do all things through Christ (Philip 4vs13). No matter what spiritual battles you face ahead, you are more than a conqueror through Christ (Rom 8vs37) therefore, be strong.
David and Solomon
When David was about to die, he gave instruction to Solomon his son concerning the construction of the temple of the lord it had been David’s dream and desire to build a befitting house for the lord. But the land did not allow him. However he prepared with all his might for the construction. A close study of I chronicles chapters 28 and 29 reveals that David had prepared;
The priest and the levites
The skillful workmen for every service.
The silver and the gold needed for the construction of the temple. All that was needed was for Solomon to build it.
But before David was through, he charged Solomon to be strong. In spite of the fact that all he needed for the construction was ready and available, he still needed to be strong in order to do it without divine strength people fail and fall even in the midst of abundant provision.
And thou Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts. If thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off forever.
Take heed now for the Lord hath chosen thee to build a house for the sanctuary be strong and do it (1, chronicles 28 vs 9-10.
What has the Lord chosen you to do? Be strong and do it. Do not shrink back in weakness. Do not be intimidated by the size of the task do not be frightened by the unfavourable circumstances that may surround you. Be strong and do it.
And David said to Solomon his son. Be strong and of good courage and do it. Fear not, nor be dismayed. For the Lord God, even my God will be with thee he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, unitil thou has finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord (1 Chron 28vs20).
What an encouragement! The Lord is with you. He will never leave nor forsake you. Just make sure you seek him with all your heart. He will take care of you.
David could not have given a better encouragement to Solomon his son. And I believe the lord is saying the same thing to you right now.
Strengthening yourself in the Lord your God.
David knew how important it is to be strong in the Lord. He had been a verteran warrior and knew that in warfare situation weakness would do no good. As a matter of fact, he had faced extremely distressing situations himself, countless times. He had to draw strength from the lord and rise up to the occasion with great audacity.
There was an occasion, when the Amalekites came against his camp at ziklag, raided it and carried all they could get away including the women and children when David and his men came the camp was empty. The men were so distressed that they wanted to stone David their leader. David also was distressed but the Bible says.
But David encouraged himself if in the Lord his God (1 sam 30 vs 6b).
David actually was a champion at this many times when he was down, he would refuse to be discouraged and would rather speak to himself.
Why art thou cast down, o my soul, and why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance (psalm 4vs5) many times you find yourself in that same situation. Do not let the circumstances over whelm you, strengthen your self in the Lord your God.
Apostle Paul
Paul was another veteran. He was a warrior of righteousness who fought the good fight of faith. He knew too well that he had to be strong. Many times, he was left alone. At other times, oppositions were overwhelming yet he remain strong in the Lord. That is the reason he would encourage us to be strong in the Lord. And when he wrote to his son Timothy he said it again, and again in different ways that Timothy must be strong and fight the good fight of faith if he was going to make a full proof of his ministry.
You want to make a full proof of your ministry? You want to make progress and move forward then you have to be strong in the grace of God.
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus (2 Timo 3vs1).
Strength from above
Our strength is in the Lord, never in any thing that we have been or are, or have or can do. That is why you are to be strong in the lord.
God takes people who are seemingly weak unlearned and foolish and uses them for his glory, after pouring his grace and power upon them. That is not to say that he does not use the wise the strong or the learned. Rather. He wants us to depend on him, and not on our strength, wisdom or riches. He wants us to give all the glory to him, recognizing that he is the one who gives us all the strength and ability to be whatsoever we are and to do whatsoever we have done. God does not want any flesh to glory in his sight our strength is in the Lord and in him only must we boast.
Thus saith the lord let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might let not the rich man glory in his riches.
But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving kindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight saith the Lord (Jeremiah 9vs23. 24).
Realizing that the Lord is your strength, you must take time to wait upon him and renew your strength. You must never be too busy to do it, otherwise, you will faint in the day of adversity. As you wait upon the Lord, however. He renews your strength and sees to it that you go from strength to strength.
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40vs31).
God, by the Holy Spirit wants to strengthen you in your inner man that you may be victorious in the battle of life. Paul prayed for the Ephesians that they may be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man (Ephesians 3vs16). The God of Israel who gives strength is in you. That means you are unconquerable by situations and circumstances Gods divine ability in you puts you over and makes you more than a conqueror. Hence, you can boldly say like Paul.
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Philip 4vs13).