Blessed are those

   whose strength is in You,

in whose heart

   are the highways to Zion.

...They go

       from strength to strength,

each one appears before God

                             in Zion.

                 Psalm 84. 5, 7

(It is God's strength in us,

evident not just in the hard times,

      but even in the favorable.

We move from one strength

            to the next,

a deeper trust step by step, 

   knowing Him a little more.

And we realize

it is not our strength after all,

                   but His

      from strength to strength.

We are not "just strong people,"

as if that happened on our own accord,

     but infused by Him,

one degree to the next.

"I can't do that,"

   is the opportunity to recognize

   His strength in us.)

O LORD,

Help us to not just strive harder

   after a self-imposed strength,

but to turn even more

    to Your strength upon strength,

in layers built into

   what You have placed before us

and by Your Presence with us.

Let our hearts be the highways

   that point others to You.

Empower our hearts

           to know You more today.