Ephesians 6:10

In conclusion, be strong in the Lord (draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him) and in the power of His (boundless) might.

We must be strong in the Lord and empowered by our union. The more we know of what we can do with Jesus as our partner, the stronger our faith will grow. We don’t have to fear or be subject to the evils of this world because Jesus redeemed the born-again believer. Jesus wants us to stand up and use the authority He came to the earth to give us. 

Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble in dread before them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not fail you or abandon you. 

When the first thought of fear or anxiety enters the mind, cast down the imagination (thought). The Word of God is a weapon against fear and all attacks. The Holy Spirit goes with us wherever we go to guide us on what to say. We are to speak to those fearful thoughts and not let them control our minds. 

Psalm 28:7

The Lord is my strength and my (impenetrable) shield; my hearts trusts (with unwavering confidence) in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I shall thank Him and praise Him.  

If possible, the devil will try to isolate us and create a barrier that weakens our faith. When we are confident in God and keep faith in the Word, God will be our strength and shield against the enemy’s darts. God is our helper, strength, and keeper of those who trust and love Him.

Galatians 6:4-5

But each one must carefully scrutinize his own work (examining his actions, attitudes, and behavior), and then he can have the personal satisfaction and inner joy of doing something commendable without comparing himself to another. For every person will have to bear (with patience) his own burden (of faults and shortcomings for which he alone is responsible).

If we want to grow in our spiritual lives, we must examine ourselves, our attitudes, and our behavior toward our families, people, and God. Have we cooled in our spiritual walk and stopped reading the Bible? Do we have a good attitude? Or have we done something praiseworthy on our own merit and not based on the merit of others? Stand or fall, our lives’ success or failure comes down to our decisions, and we alone are responsible. 

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit (the results of His presence within us) is love (unselfish concern for others), joy (inner) peace, patience (not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Without Jesus and the Holy Spirit’s guidance, none of the above would be possible. When our flesh fits, it takes us down a rabbit trail, with us flopping all over the place without the Holy Spirit keeping us stable. The stronger we develop ourselves in this love guided by the Holy Spirit, the less likely sin will be able to enter our lives and influence our actions and reactions. 

1 John 4:20

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates (works against) his (Christian) brother he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother who he has seen, cannot love God who he has not seen. 

Somedays, we need to take stock of our own hearts. Are we living up to God’s standard of love, or have we become resentful, angry, jealous, or bitter toward someone? Sin is sneaky that way, and offense, in any way, can separate from God’s love. It takes one decision to forgive and turn back to love. 

Proverbs 3:3-4

Do not let mercy and kindness and truth leave you (instead let these qualities define you); bind them (securely) around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.

What is a person of character? Someone who contains mercy, kindness, and truth. We are known to others by our beliefs and actions, which come out of our hearts. If we are to find favor with God and man, we must be people of integrity in our beliefs and actions. 

1 Corinthians 13:1

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love (for others growing out of God’s love for me), then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal (just an annoying distraction).

Love comes from God. We don’t naturally have this kind of love. The Holy Spirit develops the love inside us for others because we cannot do it ourselves without depending on God. Without God, we could not daily deal with the rejection of our love. The greater our relationship with God, the better our love of others will be. 

John 13:34-35

I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another. 

Every person sitting in the pew on Sunday has quirks, and Jesus recognizes that we may not always be our best selves. However, Jesus still loves us; we should love each other and not be selfish. Love means we are kind, bear with each other, and reciprocate giving and receiving love. 

1 John 4:7-8 

Beloved, let us love and seek the best for one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves (others) is born of God and knows God (through personal experience). The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God (does not and never did know Him) for God is love. (He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.)

We may not always agree with other people, but we can walk in love. Someone may insult us, demean us, or mistreat us, but it doesn’t have to make us bitter or mean. Love doesn’t say what another person does is right; it becomes a barrier to the anger and bitterness of the world. Love is our superpower.