THE VICTOR'S MENTALITY 8 (Implications of being strong in the Lord 2)

In the last article, I shared the implications of being strong in the Lord. Remember what led us here: we are exploring one of the sub-division series, which focuses on understanding the kind of strength and power that works in us and identifying the source of this strength.

The second implication I’ll share in this article regarding being strong in the Lord is as follows:


2. It means you go from strength to strength—that is, you increase in strength as you go deeper into the Lord.

Let me illustrate this with a physical example:
The strength of an infant cannot be compared to the strength of a growing child, say between ages 5 and 12. Likewise, the strength of a growing child cannot be compared to that of a teenager, and a teenager’s strength cannot be compared to that of a young adult. This is the same progression we experience when we consistently look to the Lord as our strength.

A man who sees the Lord as his strength will never reach a point of complacency because he discovers there is always more to receive from God. You will never settle for less than what God has provided for you in Christ. You will desire to see your life reflect the fullness of your potential in Him. You will refuse to be comfortable with statements like, “It’s normal for young adults to lust—that’s just the stage you’re in. A little here and there to satisfy your sexual urges.” No, you won’t settle for anything the Scriptures do not affirm as normal.

Someone once boldly told me that you cannot appreciate the beauty of being an undergraduate if you haven’t had a carry-over. Today, people are so comfortable with sickness, saying things like, “Oh, it’s my monthly routine,” even fixing dates to expect that particular illness. Oh, beloved, you can grow in Christ’s strength! Yes, you may start from somewhere, but always aim to go deeper into Him.

Listen to what Paul says:
“I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.” (Philippians 3:12 NLT). He says he presses on to possess the perfection that Jesus has already secured for us. We have it already—Christ has obtained for us the strength and resources to live this life. But if we don’t press into it, if we’re satisfied with just being “normal,” we won’t see all that Christ has secured for us manifested in our lives.

Let me share an interesting scripture:
“They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion.” (Psalms 84:7 NKJV)
This scripture describes the experience of pilgrims traveling to Zion to worship Yahweh. These worshippers journeyed long distances, some traveling for days while enduring various difficulties along the way. Yet, instead of growing exhausted and frustrated, the closer they got to Zion, the more their strength increased. It’s as though a surge of strength impacted them as they approached Zion. How much greater must their strength have been when they finally arrived?

I don’t know if you’ve ever experienced approaching a particularly beautiful moment in your life—perhaps your wedding day, or maybe the date scheduled to “Japa,” or something else significant. You’ll agree that as the day draws nearer, there’s a joy, an aura, that sometimes makes you forget to eat. This illustration helps us understand what those pilgrims felt—it wasn’t just physical, but deeply spiritual.

These pilgrims had progressive strength. They experienced a growing increase in spiritual vigor, faith, and joy as they neared the temple.

Now, listen to this: we aren’t approaching any temple. We aren’t approaching Zion—we are already in Zion! Jesus, while speaking with the woman at Jacob’s well, said:
“Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.” (John 4:21 KJV).

Jesus’ sacrifice has brought us to a place of an ever-flowing river of grace and mercy. So why wouldn’t we grow in strength? If you aren’t growing, it may mean you haven’t seen Jesus as Lord and the source of your strength. Perhaps you haven’t recognized Him as the authority over your life. As a result, you haven’t been enjoying the grace and strength He supplies. There is a grace He wants to impart to you for the next journey in your life. You can’t just rely on the experiences from your previous journey—the strength and vigor He provides are always fresh.

I don’t know what the next stage of your life looks like. Maybe you’ve just finished your undergraduate studies and are wondering what life holds for you, especially as you observe Nigeria’s politicians and leaders embarrassing themselves everywhere. Or perhaps you want to marry, and you’re unsure what it will entail. Maybe you’re planning to Japa, uncertain of what awaits you there—or whatever your situation may be. Let me assure you: there is always strength provided for every stage God brings you into. He will never lead you to a place where you’re devoid of strength, faith, and vigor—unless you fail to see Him as the strength of your life.

So, I ask you this question:
Is Jesus the strength of your life?
Beloved, prayerfully meditate on these things.