Before you start to sweat, don’t worry. I’m not asking you to flex your biceps or show me how much you can bench press. I want to talk with you about your strength system.
Spiritually speaking, your strength system is your ability to embody and express the beliefs that you hold dear. These beliefs could be theological beliefs and philosophies. They could also be reflected in your mindset and self-discipline.
People who live primarily out of their strength system are known for independent thinking and ability to master difficult tasks.
If you’re a strength person, for example, your friends probably know you as someone who gets things done. You’re the person people call on when they need help. And you love giving that help: nothing brings you more joy than equipping your friends to achieve the success they’re looking for.
Faith relates to strength.
Spiritually speaking, your strength is demonstrated by the way you live out your faith. As Jesus’ brother James wrote:
My brothers and sisters, if people say they have faith, but do nothing, their faith is worth nothing . . . Show me your faith without doing anything, and I will show you my faith by what I do. (James 2:14, 18 NCV)
The practice of living out your faith is an essential part of what it means to grow and develop into the fullness of your true self and the fullness of God. You are, however, destined to do it in a clumsy and imperfect way. That’s why all of us need to fall in love with the idea of practicing faith. This is what Paul meant when he encouraged us to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).
Engaging the feelings in your heart, hearing God in your soul, and gaining insight from scripture with your mind all culminate in the strength system. That’s because the strength system is where you receive God’s guidance for your strength.
When you engage with God in the strength system, remember that you are not engaging a military leader with marching orders. You are interfacing with a loving Father who invites you to embody your true self and to participate with him in creating heaven on earth (Matthew 6:10).