Be Strong in the Lord
Month 12: Sent & Standing Firm · Bible Story
Today's Scripture
Read together: Ephesians 6:10-13
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.
Memory Verse
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.”— Ephesians 6:10 (BSB)memorize this week
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Ezekiel 40-42
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 338 of 365 — God shows Ezekiel a vision of a glorious new temple, a picture of His presence restored.)The Heart of It
Paul is finishing his letter to the Ephesians. He saves something big for the end. For five chapters he has told Christians who they are in Jesus. They are loved. They are forgiven. They are adopted. They are alive. Now he tells them what to do with all that: "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." Notice carefully where the strength comes from. He does not say, "Be strong because you're tough." He says be strong in the Lord. A small child can stand against a giant problem when she is standing inside her Father's arms. The Christian life is not about how much muscle you have. It is about Who you are holding onto.
Then Paul tells us why we need strength. There is a real enemy who does not want you to follow Jesus. So God gives us armor. There is a belt, a breastplate, shoes, a shield, a helmet, and a sword. We'll look at each piece this week. The goal is not to go hunting for trouble. The goal is to stand. Three times in these verses Paul says "stand" or "withstand." The hard day will come. It's the day you're tempted to lie, to quit, to be afraid, or to go along with the crowd. You don't have to run away. You don't have to win by being clever. You just have to stand firm in the strong Lord who is already holding you.
Around the Table
When something feels too big or too scary, we can be brave — not because we are strong, but because God is strong and He is with us!
Let's do it: Flex your muscles, then point up and say together, "Not my strength — God's strength!"
Paul tells us to put on God's armor so we can stand firm. Standing means you don't run away. It means you don't give up when doing right gets hard.
Let's talk: What is one situation where it's hard to "stand firm" and do the right thing?
The strength is "in the Lord and in the power of His might." It's borrowed, not made by us. We fight from a victory Jesus already won. We don't fight for a victory we hope to earn.
Let's go deeper: How does it change your courage to know the battle's outcome is already settled in Christ?
💬 Conversation Starter
What is something you could NOT do by yourself, but could do easily if a strong grown-up helped you? That's a tiny picture of being "strong in the Lord."
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Sometimes people say that following Jesus makes you weak. We can kindly answer them. It actually takes great courage to stand for truth when everyone else sits down. Our strength isn't pretend toughness. It's God's power working in people who trust Him (; ).
For Dad · Go Deeper
comes after Ephesians 1-5 on purpose. Paul never asks believers to fight for a standing they don't have. He tells them to stand in a standing already given. That order matters in your home. Kids who only hear "try harder, be good, be strong" learn to lean on willpower, and willpower runs out. Kids who first hear "you are loved and secure in Christ" can then be told "now stand firm" without it crushing them. Lead from grace into obedience, not the other way around. And be honest with yourself this week. When pressure hits your day, what do you reach for first? Do you reach for the Lord's strength, or for caffeine, control, and gritted teeth? Your sons and daughters are watching where Dad runs when the battle gets loud.
Draws on: Tony Evans, Victory in Spiritual Warfare.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, we are not strong enough on our own. And we don't have to be. Make us strong in You and in the power of Your might. Help our family stand firm when it's hard. Help us hold tightly to Jesus. In Jesus' name, amen."
I don't have to be strong on my own. I get to be strong in the Lord.