Make yourself strong
“A man's weakness and strength, purity and impurity, are his own, and not another man's; they are brought about by himself.”
— James Allen
Reflection
Strength is not a gift given to a fortunate few; it is a capacity built through disciplined thought. “Make Yourself Strong” emphasizes that self-mastery begins within long before it expresses itself in outward achievement. Many people wait to feel strong before acting, not realizing that strength is formed through the very actions they avoid.
Allen teaches that a person weak in thought cannot remain strong in life. If your inner conversation is filled with self-doubt, hesitation, or excuses, your will weakens accordingly. But when you feed your mind with courage, clarity, and conviction, your character slowly becomes equal to the challenges you face.
Strength grows every time you confront something uncomfortable instead of retreating from it. It grows when you refuse to indulge self-pity, when you choose discipline over impulse, when you keep commitments that no one else can see. These small victories accumulate into a resilient, steady inner life.
God never calls you to overcome in your own strength alone. He calls you to participate in the strengthening of your soul by cooperating with His truth. As your thoughts align with His, the strength you once doubted becomes the strength you now trust.
And that’s worth thinking about.
— Vic Johnson
Putting It Into Practice
- Identify one area where you feel mentally weak and practice one small act of courage today.
- Replace a self-limiting thought with a Scriptural truth about your identity.
- Keep one promise to yourself that you have repeatedly broken.
One Question To Ponder
Where is God inviting you to become stronger in thought so you can act with greater confidence?
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