Strengthened with Might: Building the Inner Man
“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?”
— Psalm 27:1 (NIV)
In times of challenge, fear, or uncertainty, the believer must learn to draw strength—not from external conditions—but from the fortified inner life that is sustained by God’s Spirit. The strengthening of the inner man is a key aspect of spiritual maturity, and it is essential for walking in the fullness of God.
1. The Lord: Our Light, Salvation, and Stronghold
Psalm 27:1 reminds us that God is not only our light and salvation, but also the stronghold—our defense and strength. The Hebrew word for “strength” here also implies “refuge” or “fortress.”
📖 Reflection:
When the Lord is our strength internally, fear loses its power externally. A strong inner man is fearless, anchored, and unshaken.
2. Paul’s Prayer for Inner Strength
Ephesians 3:14–21 is Paul’s profound intercessory prayer, where he asks the Father:
- To strengthen believers with might by His Spirit in the inner man (v.16)
- That Christ may dwell richly in their hearts through faith (v.17)
- That they may be rooted and grounded in love (v.17)
- To be filled with all the fullness of God (v.19)
📖 Key Insight:
The Spirit of Might is necessary for Christ to dwell fully in us. The fullness of God is only accessible when the inner man is fortified and rooted in divine love.
🛐 Practical Application:
These are essential prayers for every believer, especially those newly in Christ. Each verse in this passage is a personal prayer point that must be prayed regularly.
3. The Anointing: Weight in the Spirit
Isaiah 10:27 (not 27:10):
“…the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.”
The anointing is the spiritual weight a believer carries. It represents the measure of God’s presence, authority, and power within a person. As your spiritual weight increases, the yokes—bondages, limitations, and demonic resistances—begin to break.
1 Samuel 2:3 reminds us:
“The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.”
🧭 Insight:
God weighs our spiritual stature and responds accordingly. Growth in the spirit cannot be faked—it is measured by the strength of the inner man.
4. Why Believers Faint
Proverbs 24:10
“If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.”
Many fall in trials not because of the size of the challenge but due to lack of inner strength. When the inner life is weak, adversity easily overwhelms.
5. How to Build Spiritual Strength
Jude 20
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit…”
🛠️ Two Primary Tools for Building the Inner Man:
- Feasting on the Word of God – A continual intake of Scripture transforms the soul and renews the mind.
- Praying in the Holy Spirit – Spiritual language strengthens the believer, edifies the inner man, and aligns the heart with the will of God.
🧎🏽 Encouragement:
Shift your focus from what you think you need. Instead, build yourself spiritually. As your inner man grows in strength, the desires and provisions you seek will naturally follow.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” — Matthew 6:33
Final Declaration and Prayer
Father, strengthen me with might by Your Spirit in my inner man. Let Christ dwell richly in my heart through faith. Root me in Your love. Fill me with all the fullness of God. Increase my weight in the spirit that every yoke may be broken. Help me to build spiritual stamina through Your Word and by praying in the Holy Ghost. I receive strength, stability, and dominion, in Jesus’ name. Amen.