Many people are feeling worn down after the events of 2020. The trying of your faith through various personal or world events can take a toll on your spiritual strength. If you’ve felt this way at all, it’s important to renew your strength for the year ahead.
Why do you need to build spiritual strength for 2021?
Proverbs 18:14 tells us that a strong spirit is what sustains us in any kind of trouble. A strong spirit is confident, established, unmovable and ready for anything. It is steady under pressure, full of joy and peace—and it never quits. A strong spirit will get you through anything—physical attacks, financial problems, relational difficulties, career setbacks and whatever else the devil throws your way.
You may feel worn from the events of 2020, but you can build up your spirit to a place where sickness can’t penetrate it, discouragement can’t sway it, fear can’t stop it, bad news can’t move it and adversity can’t affect it. That’s worth working for!
To get you started, here are four ways to build spiritual strength for 2021.
1. Chase After the Word of God
“Seek first the kingdom of God.” –Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
There are two approaches to God.
One is a nonchalant approach to a relationship with Him and His Word. This approach attends church most of the time, reads a passage of Scripture now and then, prays when a need arises, and even tries to live according to the Word of God for the most part.
Then, there is a fervent, intense pursuing of Him—one that won’t let up and can never get enough. To chase after the Word of God is to pursue it with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. You eat, sleep and breathe the Word of God and your relationship with Him. Sure, you go to work and spend time with your family, but He’s always on your mind, and pleasing Him is at the absolute top of your priority list. You’ll do whatever it takes to learn more about Him and get closer to Him. Likewise, you’ll give anything up that gets in the way of that.
Watch Kenneth Copeland teach you how to grow in spiritual strength.
Chasing after the Word of God will build spiritual strength for 2021. That means you won’t get blindsided by challenges in life. Instead, you’ll be so strong, you’ll respond immediately in faith, defeating the enemy and taking victory. Even better, you’ll avoid all kinds of hardships because you’ll be out in front of everything—you’ll hear what to do and when to work on keeping your finances, health and relationships in tip-top shape.
To receive all God has for you, build spiritual strength for 2021 by chasing after the Word of God like never before.
2. Relinquish Your Will to God’s Will
“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” –Ephesians 5:17 (NIV)
Chasing after God’s Word will also make it easier to relinquish your will to God’s will. To relinquish is to turn over or give up possession. As long as you hold onto every part of your life, you’ll be operating in the natural, which is very limiting. But…when you relinquish your will to God’s will, you open the door to endless possibilities in every area of your life. He can do so much more with your life than you can!
If you like to have control over everything, this may be particularly challenging. But if you want to build spiritual strength for 2021, it must be done if you want to see amazing results! Your flesh may want to go one direction when God is calling you another direction that doesn’t seem to make sense. Your flesh may not want to hear the things that need fixing in your life, even though they’re the keys to breakthrough. Your flesh may not want to step down from one job to prepare for another.
That’s the problem with following your own will and your own ideas about how things “should be.” It eliminates God from doing things the way He wants to do them.
God will open doors no person ever could. He will make a way where there seems to be no way, unleash miracles in your finances no human effort can achieve, heal relationships that people said were unmendable, and make your body do what everyone said it couldn’t.
Don’t you want that kind of power in your life?
Let go!
(Find A Prayer to Exchange Your Will for God’s Will HERE.)
3. Leave No Place Undefended
“Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” –1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)
All this work you’re doing building spiritual strength for 2021 will be no good if you leave yourself vulnerable to crippling attacks. Your spiritual strength is worth defending!
In battle, military leaders look for their enemy’s weakest point and attack there. The devil is no different. He is roaming around like a lion looking for whom he may devour. What is he looking for? The undefended, unguarded places in your life.
You see, when you keep your love walk strong by practicing patience, kindness, humility and the other traits mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13, you’re giving the devil zero access points to your health, finances and relationships. But…if you get into strife, unforgiveness, envy, judgment or anything else that is in opposition to love, you’ve put down your guard and given him a clear shot into your life.
The same is true with your joy, which Nehemiah 8:10 says is your strength. If you let life circumstances make you bitter, angry or discontented, you’ve opened a hole in your spiritual fortress, and satan will waste no time gaining entry into your life.
That’s why we can’t afford to leave any place in our spiritual lives undefended. We must be proactive Christians, not reactive. Reacting to our circumstances isn’t worth it. Not! One! Bit! It may seem like a daunting task—impossible even—but all things are possible with God, and He never asks us to do anything that He isn’t there to help us achieve. His only desire for you is victory. He’s willing to help you, but you’ve got to be ready to put feet to your faith and know that you CAN guard your heart in every area.
4. Throw Off Everything That Hinders
“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” –Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
What does spiritual strength look like in 2021?
It’s moving forward with confidence and boldness, and more importantly…without hindrance. Anything that’s going to hold you back from getting what’s yours (i.e., VICTORY) has to go. Are you willing to make the switch?
Here’s how to throw off everything that hinders.
- Consider your inner circle. 2021 is a great time to take an inventory of who you spend the most time with. Are they where you want to be? Are they who you want to be? If not, it’s time to make a change (Proverbs 12:26). Find people who have what you wish to have (strong faith, a solid family, financial success or a character trait you’re trying to develop), and start creating a powerful inner circle for 2021!
- Set a New Media Standard. If you’ve been in the habit of consuming graphic violence, vulgar language, or sinful behavior or attitudes on TV or in movies, consider how exposure to these things is likely holding you back from reaching your goals. Thoughtfully select television, music, movies and all other forms of entertainment. Seek the Lord for direction, and be willing to eliminate anything that is feeding your spirit negative food.
- Get Rid of Time Stealers. Sleeping too late, surfing the internet for hours on end, or constantly chatting on the phone are all time stealers, to name a few. And they aren’t getting you any closer to the dreams you have for your life (which all require spiritual strength!).
We hope these four ways to build spiritual strength for 2021 will inspire you to start this next year afresh and anew. Praise God; He is making all things new in your life, in the Church and in this nation! Let’s build the kind of spiritual strength that can take EVERY victory in the days ahead.
Click here to watch Kenneth Copeland teach how to practice His presence to develop your spirit >>
Related Article:
A Prayer to Exchange Your Will for God’s Will
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