For all of us who suffer from spiritual depression or deadness, who fall to the same old temptations time and again, for those who have decisions to make or who simply desire something more, to have a deeper relationship with their God, God’s word of encouragement comes to us from our text “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” Stay close to the source of strength.

There are so many people in our churches today that are uncertain about their faith, that find no vitality and life in their relationship with God, that have very little meaning in their life beyond the desire to make something of themselves in their jobs or their families. It is no accident that many in the church have fallen away. It is no accident that many find Church boring. It is no surprise to those who see life with the eyeglasses of scripture, that many Christians place enormous value on a normal middle-class lifestyle. There is a devilish mind behind much that happens in our age. And we are naive indeed to think that it is not so.