“Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.”
– Ephesians 6:10
What a simple potent verse of Ephesians 6:10, and I would submit a perfect verse to close out 2020. So if you’re listening to this later, it’s not December 31st 2020, but for those who are following along each day when these podcast episodes come out, this is December 31st 2020, at the end of a long, hard year, in ways none of us could have imagined a year ago. But that’s why I just want to meditate on and pray according to this first in particular. Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. I don’t know many people who are coming to the end of 2020 saying, “I feel refreshed, and invigorated, and strong, and ready to run into 2021.”
At the end of a long, hard year, we must be strong in the Lord and rely on His strength.
I mean, maybe we’re ready to run into the next year just because we want to run out of this last year. But this is the beauty. 2020 has put our weakness on display in so many ways. Certainly the weakness of medicine, the weakness of economies, the weakness of the world, in so many different ways. And there’ve been so many different struggles in the middle of it, but that’s what’s so significant about this chapter because what happens right after this verse is, we’re reminded by God in his word that our struggles are not against flesh and blood, against things we can see. But our struggles are against rulers against authorities, against causing powers of this present darkness, spiritual forces of evil and the heavenly realms, there’s a real spiritual battle.
Be Strong In The Lord
I hope and pray that Ephesians 6:10, and praying according to it, is a reminder to you today, there is an adversary who all throughout 2020, and all throughout 2021, wants to pull you away from God, wants to destroy your soul, wants to destroy your life, your marriage, your relationships, wants to destroy your church, wants to destroy the lives of people all around you.
There is an adversary who is aim is your destruction. And there is a God, capital G, God over this world, King, Sovereign Ruler, Lord and Savior, who loves you, and who has put his spirit inside you, for all who’ve trusted in Jesus. And you have in you, his strength and his might. Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. And so in amidst the struggles of 2020, and going into 2021, look to the King, the Sovereign Ruler, the Lord, the God who has saved you from your sin, the God who dwells in you by his spirit. Look to him as your strength for the New Year. Look to him as your strength every single day, for whatever may come. Be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.
Ephesians 6:10 Wants Our Trust In Jesus For Salvation Of Their Sin
So God, I pray, Ephesians 6:10, over every single man, woman, student, child, listening to this right now. And God, I pray for any who have not put their trust in Jesus for salvation from their sin. This would be the day, they would not go another day without trusting in you, Jesus, to save them from their sins, to be Lord over their lives. Thank God for all who have, that they would know your strength living in them. That amidst their weakness. And God, I pray they would know their weakness, and pray that they would admit their weakness. I pray for that in my own life, God deliver us from all pride.
We pray for humility, to see our weakness, to see our need for you and your strength, and to see your promise to provide for everything we need. Your promise to provide strength for every single thing we face. We praise you for your strength all throughout 2020, we praise you for the promises of your strength all throughout 2021. And we pray, God, I pray over every single person listening right now is trusted in Jesus, that they would be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of your might.
In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
