How To Put On Strength

“She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. Proverbs 31:17”

There are days that I do not feel very strong, let alone equipped to meet the challenges that arise during a day. I was recently asked to write a devotional for my church about the Proverbs 31 woman. One thing I found really stood out to me – the source of her strength:

The Proverbs 31 woman is described as dressing herself in (or putting on) strength. It does not say she digs deep and looks within for her own strength. It says she puts it on. So how do we put on strength?

“.. strengthen me according to your word.” Psalm 119:28b

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him.” Psalm 28:7

“but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.” Isaiah 40:31

We put on strength by going to God’s Word, by trusting in Him, and by putting our hope in Him. The Proverbs 31 woman was not full of superhero powers- she was full of a super God. She lived her life in dependence on Him and in His strength.

She was able to meet the demands and challenges of her day through the strength of God’s Word and His power.

Isn’t this wonderful news for us for those of us who feel overwhelmed by our to-do list; who feel as though we barely have enough strength to get through a day – let alone evening and bedtime responsibilities; and who come slightly unglued by the person who dares to ask us to do something not on our schedule. We do not have to do it in our own strength. The author of Creation is willing and more than able to help us meet each challenge we face in a day. And who better to help us organize our days than the One who made all of Creation with a whole day to spare!

True strength is found in admitting our weakness and embracing God’s power. We make our arms strong as we train ourselves to run to God first, pick up His Word, and spend time making it apart of us. Physical training is important, but spiritual training is eternal.

Before we write our to-do lists, before we start running, chauffeuring, working, cleaning, etc, let’s put on strength by asking God to fill us with His strength. 

Let’s fix our eyes on the One who sits waiting for us to come; and then run boldly into His strong arms so that we might find true strength.