Young Adults' Group

The Strength Of The Lord

by Pastor Mark
January 04, 2018

Finding strength for 2018

A Blessed and Happy New Year to you! As we look ahead to 2018, we enter with strength in mind. At the Down Memory Lane worship service, Pastor Charles set the tone for the New Year by giving to us a message with regards to strength. The challenge was given to us to find strength in the Lord as we learnt from the psalmist who wrote Psalm 71. As we face the challenges of life and ministry in the year ahead, let us pray for strength to cope with them. What are some thoughts that I am conscious of as I enter into 2018?

The personal strong refuge of the Lord

“Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress.” (Ps 71:3)

The psalmist looked to the Lord as his personal strong refuge. No matter what he would have to go through, God would give refuge and strength. The psalmist resorted to the Lord as a refuge continually. It was a consistent practice for him.

The psalmist used powerful imageries to describe God. He is our rock…one whom we can stand on as a firm foundation. He is also our fortress…who can provide for us a strong defence against all enemies and challenges. Let us look to the Lord who can truly give us strength to face the challenges of 2018.

The Power of the Lord

“O God, You have taught me from my youth;” (Ps 71:17)

The psalmist learnt from his youth how to look to the Lord for strength by having faith in Him. He placed his hope and trust in Him while he was still young. He was able to experience the power of God. This stood in contrast to the children of Israel and Judah whom God described to Jeremiah as having done evil from their youth. (Jer 32:30) They did not have faith in the Lord in their youth, unlike the psalmist.

Even in his old age, the psalmist continued to have power in the Lord, “Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.” (Ps 71:18) The Lord’s power was still given to the psalmist in facing the challenges of old age. He sought to declare the strength and power of the Lord to the next generation. Let us be challenged by the example of the psalmist who was able to have power and strength continuously throughout his life.

Promise of strength

“I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.” (Psalm 71:16)

This was the confidence that the psalmist had as he looked ahead. He counted on being able to go in the strength of the Lord. As he was able to have strength when he was young, he would be able to have strength when he was old.

The psalmist sought to rely on the Lord’s promise of strength. As the psalmist mentioned about the strength of the Lord, he also mentioned the righteousness of God. Why was this important? The Lord is righteous in keeping His promises. As He has promised His strength, He would also fulfil His word in righteousness. Let us be assured of the Lord’s promise of strength. We thank God for the strength that we can find in Him. Let us pray for strength from the Lord as we face the challenges of 2018.

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