Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.
Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily training is slightly beneficial, but godliness is beneficial for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:7-8.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God says:
A strong spirit sustains a man in a trial, on a sick bed, in the face of adversity, and even in a raging storm. Proverbs 18:14. So whatever you are going through what will get you through to victory is a strong spirit.
“Therefore,” advised My servant Paul, “we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16.
What is the “inner man?” Your spirit. And if you are born again into My Kingdom, your spirit is alive and your lamp has been lit and is burning, for the spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the innermost parts of his being and renewing your inner man of the heart.
Before Paul penned the line about not losing heart, he directed you to the secret of renewing the inner man. “But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.” 2 Corinthians 4:13-14. And his conclusion? “For momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory, far beyond comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18.
This is called walking by faith. Living by faith. Faith in what? Many things, but one thing above all, My love for you, which is eternal. Abundant, beautiful, immortal, unchangeable, unshakeable, amazing, awesome, perfect love that gives life and that forever. And the good news is, that by faith you can tap into it now. And faith must speak, but faith can only speak what the heart believes.
So for a strong spirit you need faith, and the stronger your faith, the stronger your spirit. I told My prophet Isaiah to go and tell the king of Judah, Ahaz, who was in fear of the enemies of Judah and was seeking allies other than Me to fight with him, “If you will not believe, you surely will not last.” Isaiah 7:9.
I revealed much about faith to My servant Paul and he wrote, “For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham who is the father of us all, as it is written, ‘A father of many nations have I made you.’ In the presence of Him whom he believed, God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “so shall your descendants be.” Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory of God, and being fully persuaded that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness. Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him. But for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him wo raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He who was delivered over because of our transgressions and was raised because of our justification.” Romans 4:16-25.
Abraham, I call him your father in the faith, was a man of faith. He was fully persuaded that what I promised I would perform even when the circumstances looked to the contrary result. He hoped against hope. He stopped looking at his own body and that of Sarah and looked at My Word instead. Many of you need to do that and instead of declaring what you look like and feel like start declaring what I say as if it already was. I speak those things that be not as though they be and they manifest. Learn from Me for I am gentle and humble of heart and your souls will find rest.
Consider what is written, “Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory of God, and being fully persuaded that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.” He did not lose heart though his outer man was decaying, his inner man was growing stronger day by day. Why? He did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith. He did not speak the doubt but gave Me glory by speaking the promise. I tell you that you worry by taking a thought and saying it. Matthew 6:31. “Take no thought, saying, “What shall we eat? What shall we drink? What shall we use for clothing?” YOU TAKE A THOUGHT BY SAYING IT. And when it is contrary to My promise it makes you waver in unbelief. Ask and you shall receive, do you believe that? Then you must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. It makes it impossible for you to receive anything from Me for you call for it and then you block it out and refuse it in unbelief. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. James 1:5-7.
Instead of worrying about the strength and health of your body as if it is all up to you to care for it, give it to Me to take care of and I will preserve your spirit, soul, and body complete without blame at the coming of your Lord Jesus Christ, for I am faithful and I will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24. So present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discover what My will is, that which is good and delightful and perfect. Romans 12:1-2. And to each born again believer I give a measure of the faith. The same measure. And it is faith that will make a strong spirit.
So how do you get strong faith? Well, step one is by hearing and hearing My Word and knowing from My Word what My nature is and what My Will is, such as healing, blessing, and peace. But it goes beyond that. The simple formula for a strong spirit from strong faith is rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give constant thanks such is My Will for you in Christ Jesus. `1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Praise is the key, for out of the mouths of babes and sucklings I have established strength to take down the enemy. And what is that strength? Praise. Jesus translated that passage that way.
I tell you that My joy is your strength. When My Word had gone out of the sight of the people in exile in Babylon and they again discovered it when I brought them back to rebuild My temple in Jerusalem, they wept as they heard it read to them. But I told them not to weep or grieve, for My joy, that comes from My Word and its magnificent promises, was their strength and that the day they found My Words was holy to Me. Nehemiah 8:8-12. My Son told you that He had told you His Words so that you would share His joy and your joy would be complete. It is My Words that give you joy, life, health, and peace. And being fully persuaded that My Word is true and I perform what I promise is strong, resting faith. And it will make you a declarer and doer of My Word. It will plant you firmly in My house and you will flourish in the courtyards of your God. You will still yield fruit in advanced age; you will be full of sap and very green. Psalm 92:12-14. And what is the secret to planting so firmly in My house? I tell you at the opening of that Psalm, “It is good to give thanks to the LORD and to sing praises to Your name, Most High; To declare Your goodness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night.” Psalm 92:1-2.
Instead of begging Me to heal you and looking with despair at your body, why don’t you do this: Give your body over to Me and let Me care for it and nourish it as you sing, “Bless the LORD O my soul and ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME.” Instead of despising them and giving up on them, tell your kidneys to praise Me, tell your bones to praise Me, tell your eyes, your hair, your skin, your veins, your blood to praise Me and all that is within you to bless Me. Make your body and all its members into a symphony of praise and blessing before Me. And offer them all to My service, for when you take care of My interests, I take care of yours. And then sing the rest of the Psalm as you say, “He forgives all my sins!” And then tell yourself how forgiven, loved and blessed you are. “He heals all my body parts, ills, pains, and diseases!” And then bless all your body parts by telling them how healed, strong, healthy, and blessed they are by Me! “He rescues my life from the pit—physical, financial, emotional, and spiritual!” And tell yourself how your prosperity is ever increasing and that all good things are pouring into your life from Me. “He surrounds Me with love and compassion, fills my days with good things so that He renews My youth!” And tell yourself how loved you are by family and friends that I give you and how every day so many wonders come into your life and how I am renewing the vigor and joy of your youth! And you will be only telling the truth as you tell yourself how renewed, blessed, healed, protected, loved, and cared for you are by your heavenly Father for whom nothing is too wonderful and nothing is impossible.
Take hold of good thoughts by saying them. Take hold of My good promises by saying them. Faith comes by hearing, especially hearing your own words in agreement with Mine.
I love you. Isn’t it time you started singing instead of crying? Isn’t it time you started rejoicing instead of grieving? Isn’t it time you looked forward to a fruitful life I have prepared for you in advance instead of looking back with regret that you were not more fruitful? Isn’t it time you started living instead of dying? Death and life are in the power of your tongue.