A wall hanging assigned to the dark hallway leading from the back rooms of my house to the dining room has two pieces of inspirational art. Usually, they are ignored. But as I was adjusting the thermostat, as needed because some of these spring days resemble summer and some are representatives of winter that does not want to go away, I turned on the hallway light and my attention was drawn to one of the inspiration pieces adjacent to the thermostat. The wording on it said, “Great strength comes from faith in God.” An inscription on the art piece identified the quote as coming from Zechariah 12:5. That thought stayed on my mind the last few days.
For example, yesterday, as I drove by a sports center where young athletes play on the northwest side, I thought about how I once played basketball early mornings with one of my sons. I thought about the sport center’s workout room and the walking/running track that surrounded where I had another son run routes as I threw him a football. But my thoughts on that place were moved out of my cognitive space, as if someone told those thoughts, “No parking!” and I hear, “Great strength comes from faith in God.” On the same drive, I passed a nearby YMCA where a couple of my members workout regularly, walking or swimming. I pondered on signing up for a membership. But guess what? My pondering was pushed out of my consciousness, and I heard the same words, “Great strength comes faith in God.” On the same drive I passed two fitness clubs in close proximity. I started to reflect on recent commercials that highlighted special membership offers. However, once again, that was not to be my focus, for that offer faded and the faith-related words on the artwork in my hallway, traveled a distance, searched me out, and found their way to the spotlight of my mind, “Great strength comes from faith in God.”
So, I looked at the Zechariah verse which does make a connection between faith and strength. But as I was looking for the exact wording, I came up on the verses below, verses that not only talked about the ultimate source for strength, but also spoke about salvation, and song. I know, three “S” words, but take it up with the Lord. I’m truly just being the messenger this Friday morning. Read the verses below and let the Lord speak to you through His inspired word. Discover what His specific message is for you, personally. Have a wonderful day my friend! Be blessed!
“Pushed to the wall, I called to God; from the wide-open spaces, he answered.
God’s now at my side and I’m not afraid; who would dare lay a hand on me?
God’s my strong champion; I flick off my enemies like flies.
Far better to take refuge in God than trust in people; far better to take refuge in God
than trust in celebrities. Hemmed in by barbarians, in God’s name I rubbed their faces in the dirt; hemmed in and with no way out, in God’s name I rubbed their faces in the dirt; like swarming bees, like wild prairie fire, they hemmed me in; in God’s name I rubbed their faces in the dirt. I was right on the cliff-edge, ready to fall,
when God grabbed and held me. God’s my strength, he’s also my song,
and now he’s, my salvation. Hear the shouts, hear the triumph songs in the camp of the saved? ‘The hand of God has turned the tide! The hand of God is raised in victory! The hand of God has turned the tide!’” (Psalm 118:5-16 The Message Bible)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King