Renewing Your Strength

Consider the Eagle

Understanding that we are in a time of Warfare, it is critical that we are aware of the importance of being strong in ourselves, that we are able stand with perseverance in the midst of battle - the process for becoming strong is in its first instance through ‘Waiting on the Lord’, He is our strength and source for all battles - when considering Ephesians 6: the weapons of warfare, instruction commences with 'be strong in the Lord and the Power of His might' - this being so, we want to consider the eagle first to learn from some of its behaviours and responses as they grow and mature to become the great bird they are and because of the Scriptural reference to them:

The Eaglet Matures -

A young Eagle after leaving and then returning to its nest will find it completely broken; after being its home and refuge is no more there; its parents have vacated it, therefore is now forced to look for its own site and build his own nest. It is forced to be independent which brings him into maturity.

Trials, disappointments, weaknesses and so-called failures in our lives are nothing but stepping-stones to maturity and adulthood. We can learn from the Eagle; not be depressed nor feel defeated as God allows things to come our way so we can prove His Word; "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13).

If God has stirred your nest and seems that He has deserted you, be assured that He is doing so because He wants us to grow up and mature spiritually.

Rise above Storms

Let us look at how storms benefit the eagle. The eagle's main feathers, called the primary, are tapered at the ends to form slots, which serve as shock absorbers. These primary feathers also increase the wings' efficiency by reducing the drag when flying. When storms approach, strong thermal updrafts together with the strong wing structure enable the eagle to be lifted higher than when flying in calm weather.

The more violent the storm, the higher the eagle soars, he is never overcome by it, the eagle benefits from the storm and uses it to lift himself higher, whereas other birds, like turkeys and ducks will flutter in fear - sparrows will scatter when a strong wind comes as they have no control when caught in a storm, however the eagle is different, ‘using a storm to rise higher where it has not gone before’.

God's Word teaches us that when storms come into our life; He promises His presence. It is not true to say; when you receive Jesus Christ, your life will be a bed of roses, you will never get sick, nor experience problems and everything you touch will turn to gold – rather He calls us to faith.

It’s the trials and challenges that that we face which build our dependence and Knowing God - He does not remove the storms but gives us the ability to rise and go ‘through’ life's storms.

The Eagle's Unique Eyes

Food is scarce in the lofty heights, because of this, the eagle instinctively develops binocular eyesight to search for food. He can accurately determine the exact location of his prey and his eyes can detect small movements many feet below him. The reason for such powerful and keen eyes is his hunger.

Our hunger, in the same way create a hunger and thirst within us to seek after God – resulting with our spiritual eyes being developed, to see clearer and deeper into the things of God. The eagle has a unique pair of eyes in that they have double lids set on his forward-facing eyes. With one blink, he can look into the glaring sun and not be blinded, with another blink, he is able to view the land below. As it looks up and down its vision is not affected.

Likewise, God has given us 'double' vision - that is the vision to see heavenly things as well as earthly things. As your eyes are focused on Him you to will be able to adjust your spiritual eyes!

The Eagle Renewed

When the parent eagles have grown old, their feathers begin to shed, their eyes grow weary, their beaks become blunt, and are no more sharp and strong. The eagle which was once powerful in splendour and positioned/flying in a lofty place, finds himself a rock to perch on. Here, he faces the sun and focuses his eyes only on it. He stops drinking and eating, being still, not giving in to distractions around him, an eagle will not move, storms will rage but he remains motionless.

For days and weeks, he is immovable, for us it is like fasting and waiting on the Lord - as the eagle stands on that Rock, Jesus Christ, and focuses his eyes on the Son of Righteousness with the sun shining upon his face, all the ugliness, blindness, bluntness begins to shed from the eagle. And you will see a naked eagle but that is not the end. That eagle does not give up, He waits to be renewed!

As the days and weeks go by, this unattractive bird is still standing firm on  the Rock, looking into the sun. He is still waiting, then one-day, new feathers begin to replace the old ones with a shine more brilliant. His beak is now sharpened. New talons begin to grow, He becomes sharp sighted. His ears begin to clear. And there standing on that same Rock is a renewed and dignified eagle. He has exchanged his weaknesses, blindness and deafness for God's newness and strength.  "Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." (Psalm 103:5)

We can learn; while the Eagle is standing on that Rock (the Rock Jesus) he continues to focus his eyes on the sun (the Son of Righteousness), He attunes his ears to the direction and speed of the wind (move of the Holy Spirit). and when there is a sudden blowing of the wind (timing of the Holy Spirit), the eagle will give a loud cry. It is the cry of victory as he leaps off and soars with the wind.

The Bible declares; "But those who wait on 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. (Isaiah 40:31). It may take you days, weeks or months but God says if you are willing to wait, He will do what He's done to the eagle. He may strip you little by little, remove your hurts or shame and the things that imprison you, or leave you naked or exposed to perform spiritual surgery on you, but it does not end there as He will then mend and make you whole. He will exchange our weaknesses for His divine strength, exchange our human frailties for divine enablement, and exchange our human failures for God's strength and victory.

"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength . . ..” The literal interpretation of the word 'renew' is 'exchange'. "But those who wait on the Lord shall exchange their weaknesses for His strength ... they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."

The eagle is designed to achieve his full potential at a time of adversity. His strength is only shown through afflictions. His sturdiness is only seen during a storm. His power is only manifested when an enemy appears. Some of us are like flightless birds and can’t take off. We Gobble, gobble, gobble, while losing our vision and our spiritual heights leaving our life’s in turbulence.

Find someone to strengthen

A great strengthening behavior is encouragement

Isaiah 35:3

Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees

Romans 15:1

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 

 Luke 22:31-32

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Benefit from considering “others”

Isaiah 58:10-11

And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: 11And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

In the power of His might

Being strong in His power and not ours is the key to effective warfare and taking dominion - Consider the following scriptures, so we/you can apply the principles noted and truths of God, to be effective in rising into His Strength and Power!

Power - Greek; vigour -"great" (lit or fig): - dominion, might [-ily], power, strength.

Confession gives strength

Proverbs 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Isaiah 40:29

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases strength.  –

Faint - Hb; fatigued; fig - exhausted: - faint, weary.  Might - ability, power, (fig) wealth: - force, goods, might, strength, substance.

Micah 3:8

But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.

Christ is the source of our power

Matthew 28:18

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 

Luke 4:14

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.

Acts 1:8

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

2 Timothy. 1:7

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Once we have become Strong in the Lord and the Power of His might, we must put on - the Whole Armor of God and go to prayer, communicating and responding the Lords direction as we go about ‘destroying the works of the devil’ in our time and generation.

Is it one thing to have ownership of the armour and to know it is there, but the fact is if we do not 'put it on' we stand naked and exposed to the devil to sway (wrestle) circumstances that could direct or destroy us. The armour is given to protect and prevent satan from being effective against us with his ‘wiles’, accusations, mental torment or physical affliction.

The Pre-eminence of Christ

Colossians 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

I encourage you to refer to the Scriptures outlined in this study and 'give yourselves' to them in preparation for this great time of history that we are living in!

God bless you – print this study off and share it with someone.

Trevor Davis