I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being. Ephesians 3:16 (NIV)
Just as there’s material strength, just as there’s financial strength, just as there’s physical strength, just as there’s mental or intellectual strength, just as there’s emotional strength there’s also spiritual strength.
Most of the time we work on, look to, and rely on all these other strengths while we are ignorant of and even ignore spiritual strength yet it is the most important, effective, and reliable of all.
Developing spiritual muscle starts with knowing that there’s strength available to you in your inner man or spirit.
The Spirit of God dwells in your spirit and part of His ministry is to strengthen and enable you for life.
When you know that the All-powerful One dwells in you then you take advantage of His ability as you look to and depend on Him in the face of any circumstance or challenge.
Instead of avoiding issues, instead of fleeing from troubles you confidently stand and fearlessly confront every challenge head on knowing that you’re an overcomer because greater is He who is in you than the one or the enemy who’s in the world or the situation you are going through. 1John4:4.
God strengthens us with power not through the material, physical, mental or emotional world but through His Spirit in our inner man or spirit. It’s from our inner being that we can effectively stand strong for every task of life and stand steadfastly against every test in the world.
Through His Spirit in our hearts God supplies untroubled peace to our whole being so we stay stable even in the midst of turmoil. Now that’s spiritual muscle.
In prayer and thanksgiving we take advantage of the spiritual strength on the inside of us.
As we talk it all out with the Lord thanking Him, we are strengthened by Him with His own peace which floods our hearts and minds.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Know, look to, and take advantage of Him who dwells in you and strengthens you from within. Engage and depend more on spiritual strength more than anything else.
Before you go to the doctor or take medicine first thank God for healing. Before you talk to anyone about financial help first thank God for provision. Before asking for advice from anyone first thank God for wisdom. It’s perfectly alright to get help and assistance from people and things but start with God. You’re training yourself to depend on the greater one in you. You’re developing spiritual muscle.