welcome to today's encouragement from our daily bread our reading titled strength to let go was written by Patricia Raven
 once known as the World's Strongest Man American weightlifter Paul Anderson set a world record at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne Australia despite a severe inner ear infection and a 103° fever falling behind FrontRunner his only chance for a gold medal what to set a new olympic record in his last event his first two attempts failed badly so the Burly athlete did what even the weakest Among Us can do he called on God for Extra Strength letting go of his own as he later said it wasn't making a bargain I needed help with his final lift he hoisted 413.5 lb or 100 87.5 kg over his head
 Paul the Apostle of Christ wrote in 2nd Corinthians 12 when I am weak then I am strong Paul was speaking of spiritual strength but he knew that God's power was made perfect in weakness as a prophet Isaiah declared in Isaiah 40 the Lord gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the week what was the path to such strength abiding in Jesus apart from me you can do nothing he said in John 15 as weightlifter Anderson often said if the strongest man in the world can't get through one day without the power of Jesus Christ where does that leave you
 to find out we can release our dependence on our own elusive strength asking God for his strong and prevailing help
 today's our daily bread devotional scripture reading is from Isaiah chapter 40 verses 28 through 31
 do you not know have you not heard the Lord is the Everlasting God the creator of the ends of the Earth
 he will not grow tired or weary and his understanding no one can fathom he gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the week even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength they will soar on wings like eagles they will run and not grow weary they will walk and not be faith
 let's pray
 all powerful God our life's burdens can feel heavy and overwhelming but abiding in you gives us your Supernatural strength to carry on and overcome thank you it's in Jesus name we pray amen
 thanks for listening today my name is Joyce Dinkins and today is encouraged what was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries