The admonition to be strong is often given to the people of God.  After the death of Moses, God told Joshua, Moses’ successor, to be strong (Joshua 1:6-8).  As Joab, David’s top general, was about to engage the Ammonites and Syrians in warfare, he told his soldiers to be strong (1 Chronicles 19:13).  When David knew that he was dying, he told his son, Solomon, who would ascend to the throne upon his death, to be strong (1 Kings 2:2). Paul often exhorted the saints to be strong.

Ephesians 6:10 (ESV)
¹⁰  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

Every day we are in a battle.  The devil does not rest.  He does not take days off or go on break.  He spends all his time trying to defeat us, and he often has his way with those who are weak in the faith.  So, we must do everything we can to be strong.  Notice, though, that our strength does not come from within.  It is not our personal strength that allows us to overcome the devil.  It is the strength that we derive from the Lord.  The admonition is to be strong in “the strength of His might.”

It is a severe mistake to think that you can overcome Satan by yourself.  He has been around a long time and has taken down many Christians just like you and me.  Satan has defeated some who were babes in Christ and others who were seasoned saints.  He has conquered Christians who were lacking in knowledge and others who were mighty in the scriptures.   Knowing this, we should realize the importance of utilizing the strength that we have in Christ.  We do this by using the tools that God has given us…like prayer, the Word of God, and the help of brethren.  It all begins, however, with putting on the whole armor of God (ver. 11).  When we clad ourselves with God’s armor, we are truly strong.

Every piece of the armor has the power of God behind it.  However, sometimes Christians forget they are engaged in a very real and ongoing battle.  As we live our everyday lives, caught up in the various affairs of life, it is easy to forget that we are at war.  After all, no bullets are flying by our heads, no bombs are landing nearby, nor are the cries of the wounded all around us.   But, herein is the problem—only those who are in battle put on armor; thus, if we forget we are in a battle, we will neglect to put on the armor, and, eventually, we will become another spiritual casualty.  So, each morning when we get out of bed, we must remember that we are soldiers in the army of Christ, to arm ourselves for the battle, and be strong.

1 Corinthians 16:13 (NKJV)
¹³  Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.

Remember, the devil is real.  He is not a figment of our imaginations or just some fictional character.  He is a real, personal being, and he is on the attack.  As Peter said, he “walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour”  (1 Peter 5:8).  Many Christians will not survive because they will quit and go back to the world like Demas (2 Timothy 4:10).  Do not let that be you.  Be strong in the Lord by putting on the His armor.  That will not happen by accident.  You must determine to do it. 

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.