Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).
Spiritual strength dissipates just like our physical strength. When you exert yourself physically, you tire and must rest and replenish your energy reserves. If you don’t, your body will force you to rest. You’ll faint!
Spiritual energy is expended in a similar way. It takes spiritual energy to live in a fallen world, where the world (the mindset around you that opposes God and His kingdom), the flesh, and the devil must be resisted and kept at bay. And you get tired spiritually just by resisting the desires of your body and mind and living for God each day. It takes energy! Be aware that one of Satan’s tactics is to wear out the saints (Daniel 7:25).
You also expend spiritual energy when you minister to others. Witnessing to an unbeliever during a break at work, teaching a Bible study, visiting the sick in a hospital, ministering in a nursing home, even praying in intercession takes spiritual energy. And those energy reserves must be restored!
The Word is spiritual food. It feeds the spirit in a similar way that natural food nourishes our bodies. After a season of ministry and of just living in a fallen, negative world, we must take time to step aside with the Father and partake of His spiritual source of life and health. If we don’t, then we’ll become weak spiritually and may falter when the pressures of the world around us or the pressures of the flesh come against us.
Praying in other tongues is another way to strengthen the spiritual nature. When we pray in tongues we edify or build ourselves up spiritually, much like an alternator in your car engine builds up your car’s battery for its next use. Jude tells us to build ourselves up on our faith by praying in the spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit (Jude 20). Isaiah said that praying in tongues brings a rest and a refreshing. For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, to whom He said, this is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest, and this is the refreshing… (Isaiah 28:11-12). Take advantage of what God has given you!
Build yourself up from the inside out today by feeding on the Word of God during your break or lunch, and by praying in the spirit quietly throughout the day. You’ll find God’s power overwhelming your weakness, and you will be better able to stand when the challenges of the day come knocking.
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