Building a Strong Life

1 Peter 2:1–5 NKJV

1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

I want to talk to you about becoming a strong person; about building a strong life.

We live in a complex world with so many paths and so many options, even compared to previous generations. It is easy to be overwhelmed or overburdened wondering how we are going to move forward in life with all the decisions we have to make.

Do we remain single or get married?

What kind of career should we choose?

Where should we live?

Who should we associate with?

These are just a few of the big-picture questions that we all face. And for most of us we face them tentatively.

Even those who have made decisions have moments of uncertainty. Imposter syndrome is something that many people have. They are trying the best they can to make good decisions and live successful lives but at the same time struggle with doubts about their skill, choices, and accomplishments.

There is great pressure that we face to conform to the cultural system.

Illustration: Borg from Star Trek.

Romans 12:2 NKJV

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

You were created for community, but not conformity. Especially not conformity to the world. God designed you with purpose to be strong in your faith and secure in your identity.

What Is a Strong Life?

What does it mean to be strong and to have a resilient life?

Who defines what a good life is?

Adopting the cultural standard might be the easy, comfortable thing but it often just leads us on the wide path of least resistance (Matthew 7:13). This path leads to destruction. It doesn’t lead to a powerful life.

Ephesians 2:1–3 AMP

1 AND YOU [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins 2 In which at one time you walked [habitually]. You were following the course and fashion of this world [were under the sway of the tendency of this present age], following the prince of the power of the air. [You were obedient to and under the control of] the [demon] spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience [the careless, the rebellious, and the unbelieving, who go against the purposes of God]. 3 Among these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature], obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind [our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark imaginings]. We were then by nature children of [God’s] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of mankind.

If you follow the course of the world, you are not following the will of God. They are contrary. If you define your life based on the values of the world, you end up short of the kingdom of God.

It is important that we learn how to build our lives God’s way. To that end, we have been given a Helper, the Holy Spirit and the word of God (John 14:26, Romans 15:4).

Keys to Building

Jesus came to redeem you from sin and the corruption that is in the world through lust (2 Peter 1:4). He has given us a new nature with supernatural grace and power.

And there are three decisions that we need to make and steps that we can take to partner with God’s Spirit to build our lives in the right way.

Choose Progress

1 Timothy 4:7–8 NKJV

7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

Choosing to moving forward is an important part of building a strong life. You have to choose progress. Choose to grow and develop your life. In other words, be intentional.

Matthew 7:24–25 NKJV

24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

Building a strong life means building it God’s way, upon His word.

How’s your soul? This is a great question to get you started on where you need to develop.

How are you strengthening the different areas of your life—spiritually, physically, emotionally, relationally?

Illustration: Targeting different muscle groups in the gym allows you to strengthen different parts of your body.

Determine where you want to grow and then target those areas of your life.

Choose Purity

1 Thessalonians 4:3–5 NKJV

3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;

Did you know that your sanctification is God’s will? Sanctification is the process of being made holy and pure. It is essential to our being able to be in relationship with God.

Matthew 5:8 NKJV

Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

Choosing purity essential to a strong and vibrant life.

In metals, the more pure they are the more precious.

Purity is really about integrity and wholeness.

If you dilute something you compromise its integrity and potency.

Illustration: What you compromise to get you will have to compromise to keep.

This principle is true in every part of your life. Sexually. Morally. Relationally. In your goals. In your focus.

Choose Purpose

Isaiah 41:9–10 NKJV

9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its farthest regions, And said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away: 10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

2 Peter 1:10 NKJV

Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;

You need to make every effort to enter into and join the purpose of God for your life. This is necessary for you to flourish and prosper.

Make discovering in and walking in your purpose you goal.

Not the house you live in or the car you drive.

Not a 401k or large savings account.

Your life is more than these (Matthew 5:25).

Illustration: Olympic athlete preparing for the next games. Discipline with time, diet, etc.

If you are struggling to discover your purpose start with one thing: doing God’s will wherever you are (Colossians 3:17). If you work to do everything for God’s glory you will discover things that you excel at.

The more you do things you excel at, the more successful you will be. The more successful you will be, the more fulfilled you will be.

Judge your goals and activities against your purpose.

Conclusion

Pillars support buildings. In a similar fashion, these choices support a strong life.

If you want a strong life you need to choose one. Choose to grow. Choose progress. Determine that you are going to become all that God has called and created you to be. And then focus your energy and effort on moving toward that mark.

After you make that choice, reject compromise. Choose purity. Choose to remain in the will of God. Choose to reject the things that would keep you out. In doing so you will find supernatural strength and grace from God.

The third pillar is to choose your God-established purpose over any other option. Choose God’s will over yours. Choose it over the lure of success, fame, and other distractions. Let your goals and activities align with God’s will and purpose and you will discover a life of significance and success.

Choosing these things is about choosing a healthy and strong life.

No matter what you do in life, or who you choose to do it with, mastering these choices and building these pillars will make you a solid, strong person.

Believe it or not, these things will help you be a strong Christian, brother, sister, friend. They will help you be a reliable husband or wife. They will make you a fruitful employee or boss.

Living life on God’s terms will always result in His blessings, in this life and the next.

Pray