Strong (Dictionary): Having or marked by great physical power, having moral or intellectual power; having great resources (as of wealth or talent).
Strong (Bible): Strong, mighty; solid; firm; steadfast; to strengthen; in good health.
One of the longings of the Christian heart is the desire to grow closer to the Lord. Such a desire will one day be 100% realized when we meet Jesus in Heaven. In the meantime, we must walk out our salvation. One of my favorite hymns is “Just a Closer Walk with Thee.” The writer of this hymn is not known and it was recorded for the first time in the early 40’s. My favorite recording of this hymn is by Patsy Cline and Willy Nelson.
Just a Closer Walk with Thee
I am weak but Thou art strong
Jesus keep me from all wrong
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee
Just a closer walk with Thee
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea
Daily walking close to Thee
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be
Through this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.
When my feeble life is o’er
Time for me shall be no more
Guide me gently, safely o’er
To Thy kingdom’s shore, to Thy shore
Just a closer walk with Thee
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea
Daily walking close to Thee
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
When we look at the words of this Hymn two things jump out at us. The first is that it is a prayer and the secondly there is a deep-seated passion to seek the Lord. And where should that passion be? In the heart! If we feel we have lost some of our passion, then seeking the Lord is where we start.
Our lives are an amazing God-breathed blessing. And as believers we must remember that we do not walk alone! Our reminder of who we serve and how we live is found in a “daily walk close to Him”. Yes, life can often be filled with challenges. At times is seems we are battle weary from the war going on around us or in us. Paul saw this as well and reminded the church at Corinth that their (and our) warfare is different from what others experience:
2 Corinthians 10:3-5: 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ… (NASB)
Zechariah 4:6: Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.” (NASB)
Maybe some of us are weary and heavily laden. Then it is good to remind ourselves once again who we serve just as Isaiah did as he spoke to Judah:
Isaiah 40: 25-26: 25 “To whom then will you liken Me That I would be his equal?” says the Holy One.26 Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing. (NASB)
Isaiah 40:29: He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. (NASB)
Isaiah knew all about spiritual and fleshly warfare and the good, the bad, and the ugly. Yet he continued the battle for he knew he was walking with the creator of the universe!
I know I am weak and You are strong
I know the Spirit guides my way
Yet I sometimes find that I am wrong.
In what I do or what I say.
Draw me closer to Thee O Lord.
Open my heart as I begin
To walk this wondrous gifted day,
For I will never have this day again.
Ephesians 6:10: 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. (NASB)
