1 Cor 16:13 (NIV) Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Jesus, You empowered me to allow You to teach me Biblical principles about how to be a person of courage. Now help me allow You to expose me to the truths about being strong.

Jesus, help me put this truth above all. empower me to understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet 1:20-21). Jesus, help me always be aware that the Bible is Your Book. Help me treat it with respect and faith. Keep me from thinking that the Bible was written BY the human “authors.” That would make it impossible for me to have faith in them and “their” words. But, as You help me realize it was written by You, I will find it easy to have faith in You.

Jesus, I once again open my heart to Your creative words that are telling me to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power (Eph 6:10). Help me not think Paul is telling me this; help me not misunderstand the Bible. Let me realize that just like my phone isn’t talking to the person I called, Paul isn’t telling me to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power; You are! I know Paul can’t speak creative power into me; only You can. If I read the Bible thinking that humans are talking to me, I will see the words as opinions, advice, or human instructions. Help me realize that You are speaking through EVERY verse I read in the Bible, then let me experience miraculous, supernatural transformations in my life through those creative words.

Jesus, help me fully understand that all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful (powerful) for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, SO THAT the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Tim 3:16-17). I now confess in faith, that when You speak to winds (Luke 8:24), speak to demons (Luke 4:35), speak to people’s crippled bodies (Luke 6:10), speak to people who are sinning (John 8:10-11), or speak to me through the Bible, You are speaking creative power. I accept that You are saying to me: “be strong in Me and in My mighty power.” I now receive words like this in faith; let them create miraculous result in me and my life.

Jesus, I now accept these creative words from You: You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus (2 Tim 2:1-3). Jesus, as You speak through Paul, I receive the power and transformation these words bring. The reason I will be strong is because I am receiving a gift of power from You. Your grace brings the gift of power through You in and through me. I accept this power as a gift; help me not try to earn it, deserve it, or claim it as being from me.

Jesus, just like You said this to Paul, I now realize You are also saying it to me: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Jesus, I now join Paul in saying: Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, SO THAT Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Cor 12:9-10). I thank you Jesus for helping me learn how to take advantage of the Bible like this. Help me not want to do things in my own strength, because I know You will let me. Help me want to acknowledge my own weaknesses, so You will make Your strength available to me. Show me that the weaker I am in myself, the stronger I am in You.

Show me that if a cup is empty, then there is room for me to fill it with what I want in it. Teach me to see how weak I am, so I can be helped to see my need for Your strength and provisions. Let it help me to yield to You and all You have to offer. Show me that if I see something I feel I can handle, You will honor my God-given free will. Jesus, I now confess in faith that I can do everything through You Who gives me STRENGTH (Phil 4:13).

Jesus, I am therefore Your ambassador, as though God were making His appeal through me. I implore others on Christ’s behalf: to be reconciled to God (2 Cor 5:20). Let me speak Your creative Words by using the Scriptures to fight the battles of life. Empower my words and sentences to be yielded to what You want me to say. Help this produce spiritual, powerful things in my body, life, and circumstances, and in other people’s bodies, lives, and circumstances.