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[Image by Lucy James Photography on Flickr] |
An Intersection between Strong & Weak is actually between Sweet & Bitter. Two polar opposites. Two extreme roads, one narrow, the other wide. Two arrows, one bent, the other straight. Two diversions. Two different choices. Two peas in a pod, one dark, the other bright. Two separate lives. Two characters. Two split personalities. Two roads to take but only one choice.
There's a secret I'd like to share with you-- When the year 2012 arrives in all its majesty and splendour, you will (consciously or unconsciously) have to choose between being tenacious (strong) or lax (weak). So tell me, dear friend, which road would you find yourself taking when you get to this intersection? Strong or weak?
More than 2000 years ago, God bestowed an unusual strength upon a guy who grew to be tall, good-looking, and fully endowed with his daring dreadlocks and almost arrogant well-defined muscles. The Talk of the Town indeed. Who didn't know him? There was no one who couldn't tell of his great exploits. Even foreigners were very much aware.
His unusual strength was given to him for a reason-- that he should deliver the Israelites out of the hand of the Philistines, so that the children of Israel could once again feel God's presence and know that He was indeed their protector and Father. So God chose a barren womb to bring forth a hero. His name was Samson, and at some point in his life (let's call it an intersection), he had to choose between Strength and Weakness.
See, he was born to be set apart. Called a Nazirite from the womb, he was destined to be holy by staying away from wine or grape juice, and fresh grapes or raisins (anything that was plucked from a grape-vine). He was also not to shave the hair on his head or go near a dead body. (References: Judges 13 & Numbers 7). But one sad day he defied destiny by eating honey out of the mouth of the carcass of a lion, he who was supposed to stay away from the dead. From that day, it seemed as if his life went on a downward spiral. He kept getting caught in the wrong places and with the wrong women who tempted him, and in the process lost his dignity and was captured by the Philistines. Sadly, the Bible says in verse 20 of Judges 16, "But he did not know the Lord had departed from him."
So he was plunged into captivity where he became a DISGRACE and a scornful topic in front of the Philistines who he was supposed to be defeating. But here's the thing, even in captivity he made a very important choice between strength and weakness, and in the last few hours of his life he called out to God, "O, Lord God, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines."
YOUR OWN STORY:
Now, your own story will be different and more triumphant than Samson's, in Jesus' Name. No, you will not go before your time.
The point is that today I encourage you to choose STRENGTH in 2012. No matter what circumstances have come your way in 2011, whenever you stand at the intersection between Strong & Weak, choose STRENGTH.
Choose strength. Choose victory. With one blow, defeat failure. Even if you failed at something in 2011, remember that the Word of God says, "For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again," (Proverbs 24:16). Also remember the Word that says, "Through the Lord's mercies, we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness," (Lamentations 3:22-23). It is never the end of the battle until the victory is won. So dear friends, aim for the crown in 2012. It is yours for the taking. Isaiah 61 prophesied about Jesus saying, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon [Him], because the Lord has anointed [Him]...to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." Any year can be your acceptable year if you believe. 2012 can be your acceptable year. Because Jesus was born, you are free to take the victory. Because of Him, you can start afresh because of God's grace. Sin no longer has any hold on you because He bore your sins when he died on the cross. Because He chose to be strong for you, you can also choose to be strong today. And whatever you believe by faith will be yours.
Please, when you stand at the intersection of Strong & Weak in this new year, tell me you will choose STRENGTH and defy all odds.
God bless you, readers. HAPPY NEW YEAR...and looking forward to writing again in 2012. May God strengthen you with His own strength in 2012, and may you never give up because He has not yet given up on you. Would love to read from you in the comments, and until 2012...Ciao!!! Choose strength :)