Isaiah 40
27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
and complain, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD ;
my cause is disregarded by my God"?
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Those who hope (or wait) on the Lord will renew their strength.
How do we renew our strength?
By hoping (or waiting) on the Lord.
However this hope is not a passive thing. It is like waiting for a child to be born during pregnancy. There is nothing passive about that. This is a tendering period as you observe the child grow, even though you cannot see the child physically.
1. By prayer - Acts 4:23 - 31
By the end of the disciple?s prayer in verse 31 notice how they were all filled with boldness. They had waited on the Lord. We receive strength when we place our hope in the Lord. Prayer is a vital part of waiting.
2. Cry from the Heart - 1 Samuel 1: 8 - 18
Sometimes words cannot express the burden of our heart. Sometimes the pressure and stress we are under is so great that we find it hard to express ourself in words. God hears the cry of our heart. Hope in the Lord sometimes means crying out to God without even uttering a word, or maybe you can only use one sentence like - Lord help. As long as you direct your expectation to God your strength will come from Him.
3. By faith in His promise - John 10: 1 - 10
Jesus assured us that we would hear His voice. A voice of a stranger we will not follow.
Sometimes it takes pure faith to receive strength from the Lord. Do you need to make an important decision? Then place your hope in God and believe that He will lead you the right way. This will mean that you stop going around saying things like 'I do not know what to do. I am confused'.
He that promised is faithful. Believe He will grant you wisdom and direction at the right time. Then live, talk and act as if you have confidence in God. Place your faith in Him and receive His strength.
4. By fellowship and unity with other Christians - Psalm 133, Hebrews 12
There is wisdom in counsel. Do not forsake the fellowship of the church. Keep in contact with your fellow Christian brothers and sisters. Do not withdraw and live in isolation. It is possible to be in a crowd yet still be alone. Many people find themselves in this situation. It is your responsibility to make godly friends. Seek people that can help you. God has placed His anointing and presence among His people. Never let anything cause you to withdraw from this. Find a good church and stay with it. Do not become an island.
5. Music and worship - 1 Samuel 16: 14-23 (also see 1 Samuel 10:5, 1 Chronicles 25:3)
When an evil spirit troubled king Saul he called David to play the harp. When Elijah needed inspiration to prophesy he called for worship. There is something about worship that brings down the presence of God. There are times when all you need to do is surround yourself with Christian worship songs. Put on a good tape, CD or DVD. Invite the presence of God into the place. You will soon find His strength filling you.