Tonight at JBC Dr Matt Bain preached, and he will preach again tomorrow in both services. Tonight as I listened and took notes he said, “The Bible commands us to be strong, being strong is something we choose to be.” I thought to myself, “right on!” A strong person manages life, they run with endurance the race that is set before them by God, they don’t get all stressed out by the unexpected and the unwanted events that happen to them. Five characteristics of those who are strong.

1. Strong people believe in the sovereignty of God. They know the difference between what can be changed and what can’t, they zealously change what they can and they trust God for what they can’t.

2. Strong people know that God is not concerned with our life being comfortable and free of trials; he is primarily concerned with our character growth, that we become like Jesus. Strong people know that problems make us like Jesus but only if we rejoice instead of whine.

3. Strong people continually ask God for His strength so they can run with endurance the race set before them. They believe God gives His strength to those who ask.

4. Strong people are always looking for opportunities to serve the Lord, to serve others, and to serve their church. God gives His strength to those who will use it.

5. Strong people are much more concerned about the well-being of those around them than themselves, and they are continuously looking for opportunities to change things for the better.