Two weeks ago, while laid up in the bed with a pulled muscle in my back, I realized that I want to be stronger, both spiritually and physically. I recommended that we do it together, you and I, like exercise with an accountability buddy. So today, as we dive into what it might take to become spiritually stronger, I realize that I have a Mama that already knows. Why not look to her? Fitting, since Mother’s day is right around the corner.
I’ve watched my Mama for years as you moved through life both in the good times and bad. In the early morning hours of each and every day, I would wake to a mother praying and reading the Bible. Every day as if she were preparing. It was her go-to place. Why would she do this? What did she find there in the solace of those thin pages and the quiet of a brand new day?
Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live.
Teach them to your children and to their children after them.
When I was a freshman in college, my mother was in a horrific car accident. She should not have lived and she definitely should not be able to walk today. As she laid in ICU for seven days, even in her semi-unconscious state, she clung to scripture. She hung on for dear life, uttering, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus” as if there was power in that name. Obviously there is, for God brought her through that calamity. And brought us, her family, through as well.
My mother never forgot the things her eyes had seen. In her time of need, when trouble struck, she grasped for the only thing that could bring her back to life. She taught us by how she lived her life. Even at the point of death, she was teaching us.
Prayer and scripture are the two things that saved her life. She knew her scripture because she had been hiding it in her heart for years. The scripture she clung to was Psalm 32:10b, “the Lord’s unfailing love
surrounds the one who trusts in him.” God surrounded her with His unfailing love and she trusted Him. God saw her through in her time of need. To call her spiritually strong would be an understatement. 
She also believed in the power of prayer. She knew that when she prayed, God heard her. She was confident of this because they had been talking for as long as I could remember.
- Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart…”
- Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
- Psalm 5:3 says, “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait expectantly.” - 1 John 5:14 says, (The Amplified Bible) “This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that [a]if we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose] He hears us.”
When you decide to become physically fit, you watch what you put in your mouth and begin exercising. So when we look to become spiritually fit, the same is true. We need to look at what we are putting, not in our mouth, but in our heart. That’s the Word of God. Next, we need to strengthen our spiritual muscles. Repetition is key. Discipline in our workout of reading and praying will get us there. I suggest working out once a day for 20 minutes. If that is too much, go for 10 minutes. Five of reading and five of prayer. And then build on that. Whatever works for you. Just do it!
Let’s start training. Together. Commit with me. Let’s get spiritually stronger, so that when trouble finds us, we are not groping around in the dark. We are standing confident in our faith that we ourselves have built up.
Let us pray: Dear Lord, teach me how to hide your word in my heart. Give me the discipline to read your scripture and spend time in prayer with you everyday. Surround me with your unfailing love. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. -M
- May 11, 2019/5:30 p.m., I am speaking at a dinner event to Celebrate Women at Fulp Moravian Church. Click HERE to get your tickets.
- I would love to speak at your next event, dinner, small group, book club or civic organization. Just email me for availability.
- The Me Disease, #1 New Release in Adult Christian Ministry, is available on Amazon. Check it out for your next small group study. Click HERE to purchase. Or contact me directly for discounted bulk orders of 10+ books.
