“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.” I Timothy 4:8 

In the 1970’s the Pittsburgh Steelers won four Super Bowls. Part of the reason was that their offensive front four could all bench press 500 pounds. Their superior strength protected Terry Bradshaw well and opened huge holes for Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier.

The weight room is a vital part of athletic programs today in professional, college and even high school sports. Strength training pays off in football, basketball, and other sports as well.

In Nehemiah 6, there were trying times in Judah with immorality, apathy, fear, and attacks from without and within, upon the Jews. Did Nehemiah want to give up, give in, or just move? No, he asked God in verse 9 to “strengthen my hands.” Was he talking of physical strength, or spiritual? Maybe he meant both, but certainly the latter. The opening verse tells us that physical strength is good and profitable, but spiritual strength is better. Our culture today is in trying times with immorality, apathy, fear, and attacks from without and within, upon Christians.

Are you becoming strong in the Lord during all of this, or do you want to give up, give in, or just move? We can’t fight these battles on our own strength. Good biceps and abs will last a long time if we keep working them, but strength form the Lord lasts forever. May we, like Nehemiah, rely on God to strengthen our hands in our times of trials.

By Stanley Tucker

Stanley Tucker writes devotionals for Sports Spectrum magazine. Log in here to access our most recent Training Table. Subscribe here to receive 12 issues a year and a daily sports-related devotional.