Original Entry: June 24, 2008
McMinnville, OR
Look to
the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Psalm 105:4
Yesterday
was the first day my oldest son James and I lifted weights together. Next year James will enter his freshman year
of high school and after a season ending broken arm, along with being small for
his age, we decided to beef him up. So,
I designed a strength program just for him, but on a more selfish level I am
excited about spending three days a week him.
He is one of the most courageous people I know but added strength will
give him the edge he needs to succeed and remain uninjured.
As we
moved through the exercises yesterday I had to smile at James’ awkwardness. His
muscles struggled to balance the weights.
I too was a freshman the first time I lifted weights and was able to
relate to him. I look forward to
watching James’ strength increase over the next few months. James and I are seeking a strength that will
fade and one day be exhausted unlike the psalmist who wrote, “Seek
the Lord and his strength; seek his face continually.” This brings up an important principle for men
to take note of: When a man is around a strong man long enough he too will
become strong.
Think
about it. You become what you seek. You are most like those you associate with.
I am
convinced that men are only as strong as those they choose to associate
themselves with. Birds of a feather
flock together. As I pen these words I
am preparing to remove a young woman from our ministry who, in an effort to
reach out to her party crowd of friends, allowed them into her inner circle and
subsequently became one of them!
Be careful
of who you call your associates.
Human
strength fails. It is a vapor. The only strength to remain is that which is
from the Source of all strength. Maybe that is why an aging Paul could write, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though
outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2
Corinthians 4:16). Men, seek the strength that will never fade. Seek the
Strong One and let his power make you the man you were designed to be.
“For when
I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).
