Lifewords strength to strength series 3 of 30...3.2.12

Strength to strength series 3 of 30 March 3, 2012 The Lord will strengthen you today!  I love Psalm 84:5,7 "Blessed is he whose strength is in You....they go from strength to strength."  As the Lord increases our strength, we must always understand that it is from Him alone. Never assume that you can do anything apart from His grace and strength.  Look at Uzziah, Jotham's Daddy, who reigned for 52 years in Jerusalem. We can learn from his costly mistake in 2 Chron 26.  In the beginning, he did a good job doing right, pleasing God and seeking Him. He built cities, walls, cisterns and established successful farms. He was gifted in building armies, executing amazing war campaigns and  even trained up a very elite army to wage war with great power. He was so gifted and successful that the fame of his strength spread afar. Then, it happened. Remember this. We see in verse 16 that, "when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to the Lord his God." Relishing in his strength, successes and popularity, Uzziah then presumed to enter the temple and start burning incense near the altar, a task everyone knew was reserved for the priests, the sons of Aaron. When the priests opposed Uzziah, he was enraged with pride. Immediately, he was struck with leprosy. "And King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death; and he lived in a separate house, being a leper, for he was cut off from the house of the Lord." He went from strength and success to devastation and insignificance in a day. Thankfully, as God's people today, we are in the dispensation of GRACE and have a new covenant in which we don't get struck with leprosy because of our mistakes! But this account is written for our admonition and for an example to us to learn and humbly recognize that our strength in this life comes from God alone. He wants us to learn humility and obedience, both essential in our being established in His limitless strength for the journey. Run from pride. He alone is our All in All. Receive His Strength today!!!!