There are seasons when life itself feels like one long workout—not the kind that happens in a gym, but the type that tests every muscle of faith, focus, and perseverance. Proverbs 31:17 says, “She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.” When you read that verse, picture a woman rolling up her sleeves and preparing for whatever God has placed in front of her. She doesn’t wait for ideal conditions. She doesn’t wait to feel ready. She gets ready. She girds herself spiritually, mentally, and physically for the daily battle of faithfulness.
And the older I get, the more I realize that’s precisely what God calls us to do, too.
Spiritual Strength — The Core of It All
Psalm 18:1 says, “I love you, O Lord, my strength.”
I want those words to become a daily prayer for me. Real strength always begins with love—an intimate relationship with the Lord that becomes the heartbeat of every other kind of strength. For years, I treated my “quiet time” as one more thing to check off a list—something to squeeze between chores, work, and family. But somewhere along the way, I began to realize it wasn’t meant to be an item on my schedule. It was meant to be the source of my survival.
When I shifted from duty to dependence, everything changed.
Now, those early moments with God are not optional. They are what keep me going. There are days when the only thing keeping me steady is the time I have spent with God that day. There are days when my Bible stays open on the daybed in my office all afternoon because I need its words close to me. Spiritual strength doesn’t look like perfection; it seems like connection. It’s the continual choice to turn toward God, again and again, throughout the day. When I want to complain or fear rises, I pray, read His Word, or worship.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)
That’s real strength. It’s not loud, it’s rooted. It’s not polished, it’s anchored. It’s knowing who holds you steady when everything else begins to shake.
Mental Strength: Taking Every Thought Captive
I once read that our minds are like airports—thoughts are planes constantly circling, requesting to land. We can’t stop every thought from flying overhead, but we can control which ones we allow to touch down.
Second Corinthians 10:5 gives us a strategy: “We take every thought captive to obey Christ.” This verse has become my personal mental-fitness plan. When I catch myself spiraling: replaying a conversation, doubting my worth, worrying about tomorrow, I pause and ask, “Is this thought true? Is it noble, lovely, or praiseworthy?” (Philippians 4:8). If it’s not, I lift it to God and deny it permission to land.
It didn’t happen overnight. Mental strength takes training. I started writing Scriptures on index cards and taping them to my mirror, my refrigerator, and even my dashboard. Slowly, God’s truth began to replace the noise. But mental strength isn’t just about control; it’s also about rest. God calls us to renewal. Even Jesus withdrew to quiet places to pray (Luke 5:16). If the Son of God needed stillness, how much more do we?
Sometimes, the most spiritual thing I can do for my mind is to step outside, take a slow breath, and remember that I am not the center of the universe – He is.
Physical Strength — The Stewardship of a Body
For years, I separated “spiritual life” from “physical life.” But the longer I walk with God, the more I see how closely they intertwine. When I neglect my body, my spirit feels it. When I care for it, my heart follows.
First Corinthians 10:31 says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” That means even the smallest acts—such as getting enough sleep, walking in fresh air, and stretching sore muscles—can become worship when done with gratitude.
I’m learning to see my body less as a project to perfect and more as an instrument to serve. I exercise, not to have a particular image, but to stay strong enough to serve God well. I rest, not out of laziness, but out of stewardship.
Striving for physical strength isn’t vanity when it is preparing you for readiness. It’s caring for the temple God has given me, so I can carry out the work He has called me to do.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
When my body is healthy, I’m freer to serve with joy.
Preparing for the Day’s Battle
Every morning, we step into a world that can drain our energy and peace. The only way to stand firm is to prepare before the first wave hits. Ephesians 6:11 tells us to “put on the whole armor of God.” As we visualize that armor each morning, we can pray:
● The belt of truth - fastening our thoughts to God’s Word instead of the world’s noise.
● The breastplate of righteousness - remembering that Christ’s righteousness covers our weakness.
● The shoes of peace - to help us walk calmly through the chaos.
● The shield of faith - lifting it high when fiery arrows of doubt are aimed at you!
● The helmet of salvation - guarding our mind with the assurance of who we are in Christ.
● The sword of the Spirit - speaking Scripture into every situation.
When we “dress” ourselves this way before the day begins, we find that the battles don’t feel as overwhelming, because we are not fighting in our own strength.
When Strength Feels Small
Of course, not every day feels like a victory. There are mornings when I feel anything but strong and when the weight of life feels heavier than my faith. On those days, I try to remember God’s promise in Isaiah 40:29–31: “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength… but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Renewal doesn’t come from striving harder. It comes from waiting longer and resting in the presence of the One who never runs out of strength. Some days, my faith is strong. On other days, it is a conscious choice to take one step at a time. Either way, God calls victory.
Strength That Serves
True strength isn’t about self-improvement; it’s about service. The Proverbs 31 woman utilizes her strength to bless others, build her home, aid the poor, and nurture her family. Her strength overflows.
I’m learning that when my strength begins and ends with me, it burns out quickly. But when it flows from God and toward others, it multiplies. Serving keeps my heart soft and my spirit alive. Jesus said, “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant.” (Matthew 20:26) That’s what strength looks like in the Kingdom: hands that serve, hearts that trust, feet that go.
The Quiet Resolve
There’s a calm kind of power that comes when you finally realize you don’t fight alone. God never asked us to generate endless strength. He invites us to receive it, day by day, in His presence. Each time we choose prayer over panic, Scripture over scrolling, gratitude over grumbling, we build spiritual muscle. Slowly, faithfully, we become women clothed in chayil, holy might that steadies us and spills out to bless others.
Let’s Pray
Father, thank You for being my strength and my song. Teach me to prepare each day—body, mind, and spirit—for the work You’ve placed before me. Help me to serve with energy, think with clarity, and love with endurance. When I feel weak, remind me that Your power is made perfect in my weakness. Dress me in Your armor, and let my life reflect Your strength and grace. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Anastasiia Stiahailo
Related Resource: Calm for Your Anxious Soul: A Conversation with Becky Keife
Have you ever lain in bed at night, exhausted—but unable to quiet your thoughts? Or felt that tightness in your chest, the racing worries, the sense that you should be okay… but you’re not? If that sounds familiar, today’s episode of The Love Offering Podcast was recorded with you in mind.
I’m joined by my dear friend Becky Keife to talk about her new devotional, A Verse a Day for the Anxious Soul—and this conversation is both tender and deeply hopeful. Becky shares her own journey with anxiety, the freedom that came through honesty, and the simple, grace-filled ways God meets us right in the middle of our anxious moments.
We talk about:
• Why anxiety is so common—and why you’re not weak for feeling it
• How Scripture offers real comfort for weary, overwhelmed hearts
• Practical peace practices you can actually live out (even on hard days)
• Letting go of shame and learning to receive God’s compassion
• Resting in God’s presence when you don’t even have words to pray
What I love most about Becky’s approach is this reminder: God doesn’t shame us for our anxiety. He draws near. He invites us to come, to rest, and to receive His peace—one breath, one prayer, one verse at a time.
If your soul has been craving calm, reassurance, or simply the reminder that you are not alone, this episode will be a gift to you.
Originally published Wednesday, 31 December 2025.
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