How to Have a Strong Heart – Part One

        “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord” Psalm 31: 24. 

        A sense of futile hopelessness is so foreign to the Lord that the word “hopeless” does not occur in the Bible. Knowing human nature, our Lord realizes it exists and proposes an antidote. Therefore, take heart.

        If you are faint hearted or even if you have lost heart the Lord can rejuvenate you. Both expressions speak of a loss of courage. The Lord can replace your weakness with courage. He has instructed you to “Be of good courage….” Your strength can be equal to your task. Victory can still be yours.

        To do it He needs your involvement. “He shall strengthen you” IF you exercise hope. When you exercise hope He supplies strength. When you manifest hope He provides a sense of His nearness. He strengthens us through His word so absorb it in your thoughts. He strengthens us through individuals so associate with persons who love Him. He strengthens us through circumstances so look for those “God things” in your daily life. He strengthens us by His invisible, but empowering Holy Spirit. However, He chooses to do it. He will do His part and strengthen you when you demonstrate hope. That is your part.

        When you commit your spirit into the hand of the Lord He will surely preserve your precious deposit.

        It is a joy worth worlds when driven where none but the Lord can help you, and then to experience His mighty hand pulling you out of the slough of despondence. The joy lies mainly in the fact that you have hope in the Lord, and are sure that He is near you. This blessed realization of the Lord’s interposition causes us to be renewed even in our tribulation. That is a cure for worry, a blessed cure for anxiety.

        We visited the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem to see the famed beautiful stained glass windows by renowned artist Marc Chagall. The twelve windows in the synagogue represent the twelve tribes of Israel. The captivating window of the tribe of Issachar is stunning. Issachar was an agricultural tribe that loved the land so much they would not even leave to go to war (Genesis 49:14, 15). Tradition says that Zebulun and Issachar made a pact. Zebulun would enter the commercial arena in order to allow Issachar time to study the Torah. Therefore, the gift the Issachar tribe gave David was that they “had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do” (I Chronicles 12: 32).

        God’s people need to study God’s Word in order to understand our times and know what to do. Commit yourself now to the study of His word and wisdom can be gained thereby.