Topical Bible: The Heart: God: Strengthens

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In the biblical context, the heart is often seen as the center of one's inner life, encompassing emotions, will, and intellect. It is a focal point for God's transformative work, where He imparts strength and courage to His people. The strengthening of the heart by God is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, illustrating His desire to empower His followers to live faithfully and righteously.

Old Testament Insights

The Old Testament frequently highlights God's role in fortifying the hearts of His people. In Psalm 27:14, the psalmist encourages believers to "Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD." This verse underscores the connection between waiting on God and receiving strength, suggesting that divine empowerment is often linked to trust and patience.

Similarly, in Psalm 31:24, the psalmist exhorts, "Be strong and courageous, all you who hope in the LORD." Here, the hope placed in God is directly associated with the strengthening of the heart, indicating that reliance on God is a source of inner fortitude.

The prophet Isaiah also speaks to this theme, as seen in Isaiah 40:31: "But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint." This passage vividly portrays the renewal and strengthening that comes from a deep, abiding trust in God.

New Testament Perspectives

In the New Testament, the strengthening of the heart by God continues to be a significant theme. The Apostle Paul, in his letters, often prays for the spiritual fortification of believers. In Ephesians 3:16, he writes, "I pray that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being." This prayer highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in empowering the believer's heart, emphasizing that divine strength is an integral part of the Christian life.

Paul further elaborates on this in Philippians 4:13, where he declares, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." This well-known verse reflects the belief that Christ Himself is the source of strength for the believer, enabling them to face all circumstances with confidence and resilience.

Practical Implications

The strengthening of the heart by God is not merely a theological concept but has practical implications for daily living. Believers are encouraged to seek God's strength in times of trial and uncertainty, trusting that He will provide the necessary courage and resolve. This divine empowerment is often experienced through prayer, meditation on Scripture, and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

Moreover, the strengthening of the heart is closely tied to the believer's relationship with God. As individuals draw near to Him, they find their hearts fortified against fear, doubt, and temptation. This divine strengthening enables them to live out their faith with boldness and integrity, reflecting the transformative power of God's work within them.

In summary, the biblical theme of God strengthening the heart underscores His commitment to equip His people for the challenges of life. Through His Spirit, His Word, and His presence, God provides the strength needed to persevere and thrive in a world that often tests the limits of human endurance.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 27:14
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

God's Training
... God holds him up, strengthens and refreshes him, and ... the life of David, the man after
God's own heart. God guided him through all the dangers and temptations ...
/.../kingsley/discipline and other sermons/sermon iv gods training.htm

Abide
... As we do this, through the grace He gives, a character is formed, and a heart prepared
for the fuller experience: "I in you," God strengthens us with might by ...
/.../murray/the true vine meditations for a month on john 151-16/abide.htm

The Corruption of Man, his Conversion to God, and the Manner ...
... the things of the Spirit of God; but by the ... the closed and softens the hardened heart,
and circumcises ... obedient, and pliable; actuates and strengthens it, that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/synod of dort/the corruption of man his.htm

Twenty-Second Lesson. My Words in You. '
... In prayer, it is God's word strengthens me by giving my faith its warrant and ... and
awakens the response of a living faith that reaches the heart of God again ...
/.../murray/with christ in the school of prayer/twenty-second lesson my words in.htm

What to do with Doubt
... an authority superior to itself, and heart and intellect ... and affections are not fixed
upon God, or in ... in the very study of the Bible, skepticism strengthens. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/steps to christ/chapter 12 what to do.htm

The Shield of Faith
... the wicked.' He that receives into his heart God's strength; he ... to trust is an act
of the heart and will ... gives us wit and wisdom, and strengthens our fingers ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/the shield of faith.htm

The Will.
... and yet it is God who gives us a new heart; we are ... Do not think that God will act
for you. ... I can't." You can do "all things" through Christ, who strengthens you ...
/.../orr/food for the lambs or helps for young christians/the will.htm

'Thy Will be Done'
... Many a man is a good Christian in his heart, with real religious feeling, but when
you get him into the field of the ... Submission to God strengthens the will. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/thy will be done.htm

God's Works of Providence
... And this he strengthens by the supreme wisdom of God, who did direct ... than this, to
have that persuasion firmly rooted in the heart"that of God "are all ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture xx gods works of.htm

Eighth Sunday after Trinity Living in the Spirit as God's Children ...
... and, through faith in the forgiveness of sins, strengthens himself against sin ... of
God" means, then, to be given a heart which gladly hears God's Word and ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/eighth sunday after trinity living.htm