Dressed For Success

Some days are hard, and I’m tired. 

Overwhelmed by the day's tasks.

Stressed by the emotions involved in dealing with people.

Grief can also weigh us down. Even when life is good, we may grieve the life we hoped for, the loss of loved ones, and changes in life circumstances beyond our control. 

Thinking I can handle it on my own.

“I am weary, God, but I can prevail.” Proverbs 30:1 NIV.

Even when our struggles feel very earthly, we are not fighting a battle against humans but a spiritual one. Those battles can test us physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Maybe you can relate. 

But God doesn’t want us to live tired, stressed, and overwhelmed. He promises us the fortitude to be courageous, brave, and resilient.

What does it mean to have fortitude? The Biblical Hebrew word for fortitude(Chazaq) means to be strong, firm, and courageous. In Greek (Hypomone), it means to remain under a load, meaning endurance or perseverance.

God has given us the secret to success. He has given us the recipe for renewal, the battle plan, and laid out the tools for us to win the battle - here on earth and in the heavens. 

The Bible promises us that we will be fortified, strengthened, and buoyed up when we seek the Lord and rely on his provisions each day. 

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:10-11 NIV

The rest of the chapter details the pieces of armour we are to clothe ourselves in to prepare for battle, protect ourselves, and stand firm. 

My husband loves watching action movies, especially historical ones. Therefore, I can easily picture a warrior suited for battle, standing firm and courageous before the fight, ready, willing, and able to conquer their foes. 

What has God given us to put on? We have our own armour, anointed by God. Each piece is designed for a specific purpose. The belt of truth. The breastplate of righteousness. Footwear of peace. The shield of faith. The helmet of salvation. And finally, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

But the final piece of advice is to stay alert. We are admonished to pray. Pray on all occasions. Pray with all kinds of requests. Pray for all the Lord’s people. Pray for fearless preaching of the gospel. 

With this Godly combination of our armour in place, our prayers, and our confidence to stay alert and stand firm, we will have the fortitude to stand firm in any battle we face alongside the Lord.

"The Lord is on my side. I will not fear." Psalm 118:6

(footnote: this devotion was written for the "Abide" women's conference 2026)