Phil Strong

All about living a life of purpose on purpose

Category: Stay Strong

  • Why You Can’t Stay Strong Alone

    Why You Can’t Stay Strong Alone

    “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17

    We’ve reached the final principle in staying strong, but in many ways, this is where the real adventure begins. Everything we’ve explored—strengthening ourselves in the Lord, holding onto His promises, taking meaningful action—all of these disciplines find their ultimate expression when we grow together with others.

    The writer of Proverbs understood something profound: we become our best selves not in isolation, but in community. When iron strikes iron, sparks fly and both pieces become sharper, more effective, more ready for their intended purpose.

    The Aquila and Priscilla Partnership

    In my book Stay Strong, I explore the remarkable partnership of Aquila and Priscilla—one of Scripture’s most beautiful examples of growing together. This married couple appears throughout the New Testament as a powerful team that demonstrates how healthy spiritual partnership transforms not just individuals, but entire communities.

    When they encountered Apollos—a gifted speaker with incomplete understanding of Jesus—they didn’t publicly correct him. Instead, “they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.” Their friendship created a safe space for growth.

    Paul later wrote about them: “They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.” Their commitment to growing together benefited not just themselves, but entire communities of believers.

    The Anatomy of Spiritual Sharpening

    Think about what happens when a blacksmith sharpens a blade. The process involves friction, heat, and intentional contact between two hard surfaces. It’s not always comfortable, but it’s necessary for effectiveness.

    Similarly, when we allow others to speak into our lives, to challenge our thinking, and to hold us accountable, we become more effective in our calling.

    What does healthy “iron sharpening iron” look like? These are people who:

    • Love you enough to tell you the truth, even when it’s difficult
    • Celebrate your victories without jealousy and support your failures without judgment
    • Challenge you to grow and refuse to let you settle for mediocrity
    • Sometimes simply sit with you without trying to fix everything

    Finding Your Growth Partners

    Not every relationship provides the healthy friction that leads to growth. Some relationships dull our edge rather than sharpen it. The key is identifying and cultivating relationships that truly help us become better.

    Look for people who demonstrate these characteristics:

    • Integrity: They’re committed to their own spiritual growth
    • Courage: They love you enough to speak truth into your life
    • Loyalty: They celebrate your victories and support you through struggles

    Don’t be afraid to assess your current relationships honestly. As I’ve told my kids: “You become like who you hang out with.” Sometimes you need to quietly and politely shift toward more constructive relationships.

    The Multiplication Effect

    One of the most exciting aspects of growing together is how it multiplies beyond our immediate relationships. When Aquila and Priscilla invested in Apollos, they weren’t just helping one person—they were investing in everyone Apollos would eventually influence.

    Your commitment to growing together isn’t just about personal development—it’s about God’s larger purposes. Every relationship that helps you grow closer to Christ increases your capacity to help others do the same.

    As you stay strong in this season, remember: God has incredible things planned for you and the communities you’re part of. Find your people. Be someone’s iron. Create communities where growth is expected and celebrated.

    GRAB PHIL’S LATEST BOOK:

    Ready to discover how biblical heroes found unshakeable strength in surrender? Order Stay Strong now and learn the timeless secrets of spiritual resilience that can transform your overwhelming circumstances into testimonies of God’s faithfulness.

    You can purchase a PDF version of the book here: https://philstrong.com/shop

  • When we pray, our faith grows

    How Prayer Builds Unshakeable Faith

    Prayer is perhaps the most fundamental spiritual discipline, yet it’s often the one we struggle with most. We know we should pray more. We feel guilty when we don’t. We wonder if we’re doing it right. But here’s a truth that can transform your entire approach to prayer: when we pray, our faith grows.

    This isn’t just a nice sentiment—it’s a spiritual reality. Prayer isn’t simply asking God for things; it’s entering into conversation with the Creator of the universe. And in that conversation, something miraculous happens: God affirms His truth in our lives, and faith takes root and flourishes.

    Anna’s 60-Year Prayer Journey

    In my book Stay Strong, I explore the remarkable story of Anna the Prophetess—one of Scripture’s most compelling examples of faith through prayer. After being widowed after just seven years of marriage, Anna could have become bitter. Instead, she chose a different path.

    Luke tells us she “never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” For possibly sixty years, Anna maintained this discipline, waiting faithfully for God’s redemption to come.

    Think about that dedication. Anna wasn’t praying occasionally when she felt like it—she had committed her entire life to conversation with God. Night and day, through decades of waiting, she remained faithful.

    Her reward? When Mary and Joseph brought infant Jesus to the temple, Anna was there. After decades of faithful prayer, she witnessed the fulfillment of everything she’d been praying for. She saw the Messiah with her own eyes.

    Prayer as Conversation, Not Performance

    The key to understanding prayer as faith-building is recognizing it’s fundamentally relational. We’re not performing a religious duty or following a formula—we’re entering intimate conversation that builds trust, deepens understanding, and strengthens bonds.

    Every time we pray, we choose to believe God is there, that He cares, and that our words matter to Him. This very act is itself an expression of faith. When we consistently engage in this divine conversation, our perspective changes, our confidence in God’s character grows, and our trust in His promises deepens.

    Starting Simple: Your 15-Minute Challenge

    If Anna’s example feels overwhelming, remember that every prayer warrior started somewhere:

    Begin with Scripture Prayer Pray the Psalms as your own prayers. Find a modern translation that flows naturally and simply read these prayers before God. Don’t worry if it feels formal—written prayers can be incredibly powerful and heartfelt.

    Establish Consistent Time and Space Set aside fifteen minutes daily for the next week. Put it in your calendar. Choose a distraction-free location. Turn off notifications. Consistency matters more than duration.

    Find Your Prayer Rhythm Prayer doesn’t require formal sitting. Some find walking, driving, or even mowing the lawn perfect for extended conversation with God. Discover what works for you.

    Prayer Positions You for God’s Work

    Anna’s decades of faithful prayer didn’t just build her faith—they positioned her to participate in God’s work. Her spiritual alertness prepared her to recognize the Messiah when He appeared.

    Consistent prayer builds spiritual sensitivity, tuning our hearts to God’s frequency so we can recognize His voice and work around us. It develops the faith necessary to take Kingdom risks and believe God for impossible things.

    GRAB PHIL’S LATEST BOOK:

    Ready to discover how biblical heroes found unshakeable strength in surrender? Order Stay Strong now and learn the timeless secrets of spiritual resilience that can transform your overwhelming circumstances into testimonies of God’s faithfulness.

    You can purchase a PDF version of the book here: https://philstrong.com/shop

  • From Broken to Beloved

    Healing Through Grace

    We all carry baggage. Like reusable shopping bags accumulating in your garage, emotional wounds and hurts seem to pile up without us really noticing. We don’t set out to collect this baggage—life just happens. People disappoint us. Circumstances crush dreams. Words leave lasting scars.

    But here’s what I’m sensing God saying to His people: it’s time to step into healing through His grace.

    When Reality Becomes Your Truth

    Here’s something crucial about healing: our reality often becomes our truth. What we believe based on our experiences, emotions, and circumstances—what I call “little t truth”—guides our lives. But it might not be God’s capital T Truth.

    If you were told as a child that you were worthless, that might feel absolutely real. Your emotions confirm it, your self-talk reinforces it. But it’s not God’s Truth. His Truth is that you are fearfully and wonderfully made, chosen, beloved, and precious in His sight.

    The wounds in our hearts become tools the enemy uses to manipulate us, creating strongholds that resist God’s truth and keep us trapped in limiting patterns.

    Mephibosheth: Grace That Transforms

    In my book Stay Strong, I explore the remarkable story of Mephibosheth—a man whose life was marked by trauma but transformed by grace. At five years old, he lost his father Jonathan and grandfather King Saul in battle. In the panic that followed, his nurse dropped him while fleeing, leaving him lame in both feet.

    For years, Mephibosheth lived in exile in Lo Debar—literally meaning “no pasture” or “barren place.” He lived in obscurity, poverty, and fear, believing himself forgotten and possibly hunted.

    Then King David asked a life-changing question: “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness?”

    Notice David wasn’t looking for someone who deserved kindness—he was looking for someone to whom he could show it. Grace isn’t based on merit but on the character of the one showing grace.

    The Moment Everything Changed

    When Mephibosheth came before David, he fell down calling himself “a dead dog”—seeing himself as worthless and expendable. But David’s response revealed the heart of grace:

    “Don’t be afraid, for I will surely show you kindness… I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”

    In one moment, fear was replaced with security, poverty with abundance, exile with belonging, shame with honor. Not because of anything Mephibosheth had done, but because of grace.

    Your Invitation to Healing

    The great news is that healing and freedom is fully accomplished in Christ. You don’t have to work for it, earn it, or deserve it. For those in Christ, healing is available—you just need to reach out and embrace it.

    This involves:

    • Recognizing the lies you believe about yourself that contradict Scripture
    • Choosing to forgive those who hurt you and releasing bitterness
    • Receiving grace for yourself—you’re not the exception to God’s love
    • Walking in your new identity based on who God says you are, not your wounds

    Like Mephibosheth taking his place at David’s table, you have a seat at the King’s table. Your past doesn’t define you—His grace does.

    GRAB PHIL’S LATEST BOOK:

    Ready to discover how biblical heroes found unshakeable strength in surrender? Order Stay Strong now and learn the timeless secrets of spiritual resilience that can transform your overwhelming circumstances into testimonies of God’s faithfulness.

    You can purchase a PDF version of the book here: https://philstrong.com/shop

  • The Secret to True Community Connection

    “I just don’t feel connected. I just don’t feel plugged in.”

    If I had a dollar for every time someone said this to me, I’d be wealthy. It’s one of the most common struggles I encounter—this deep longing for authentic connection and belonging. People drift through life feeling isolated, even when surrounded by others. They attend church but feel like spectators. They live in neighborhoods but barely know their neighbors.

    But here’s a phrase that might change your perspective entirely: The way for you to feel connected is for you to choose to serve the very thing you want to be connected to.

    The Barnabas Model: Building Connection Through Contribution

    In my book Stay Strong, I explore the remarkable story of Barnabas—nicknamed “Son of Encouragement” by the early church. While others focused on what they could get from community, Barnabas consistently looked for ways to contribute.

    When the early church needed financial support, Barnabas sold his field and gave the proceeds. When Saul of Tarsus (later Paul) needed someone to believe in him after his conversion, Barnabas vouched for him when everyone else was afraid. When young John Mark needed a second chance after disappointing Paul, Barnabas invested in him—and that young man became the author of the Gospel of Mark.

    Barnabas understood a fundamental truth: connection follows contribution.

    Community in Layers: Where You Can Serve

    Think about community in expanding circles:

    Your Inner Circle: Family Start here. If you want to feel loved by your spouse, start loving your spouse. Want deeper connection with your kids? Choose to serve them consistently, especially when they seem to push you away. God chose you for this family—it’s your first and most fundamental community.

    Your Extended Family: Church Community Your faith community needs your contribution to thrive in its mission. This isn’t about massive commitments—look for ways to add value rather than just consume. Volunteer, encourage others, help with practical needs.

    Your Broader Context: Neighborhood and City God told the exiles in Babylon to “seek the peace and prosperity of the city” where they’d been placed (Jeremiah 29:7). You’re not just passing through your community—you’re planted there with purpose.

    The Focus Principle That Changes Everything

    Here’s a truth that will transform your relationships: What you focus on is what you move toward.

    If you constantly focus on what you’re not getting from community—how they don’t appreciate you, include you, or meet your needs—you’ll find yourself moving away, becoming more isolated and bitter.

    But when you focus on what you can contribute, how you can serve, where you can add value, you naturally move toward deeper connection and greater fulfillment.

    Your Next Step

    Don’t let this be just another inspiring idea you forget by next week. Ask God: “Where have You called me to contribute?

    What community do You want me to serve?”

    Start where you are. Choose one specific way you’ll begin contributing more intentionally—whether it’s being more present with family, volunteering at church, or simply getting to know your neighbors’ names.

    Remember: you’re not just trying to get connected—you’re called to help build the kind of community that reflects God’s heart to the world.

    GRAB PHIL’S LATEST BOOK:

    Ready to discover how biblical heroes found unshakeable strength in surrender? Order Stay Strong now and learn the timeless secrets of spiritual resilience that can transform your overwhelming circumstances into testimonies of God’s faithfulness.

    You can purchase a PDF version of the book here: https://philstrong.com/shop

  • From Burden to Breakthrough

    Finding Your Purpose Through Meaningful Action

    Are you just going through the motions of life? Wake up, work, pay bills, enjoy the weekend, repeat. It’s a cycle that leaves many feeling empty and disconnected from their true purpose. But what if you were created for something far greater than just existing?

    In Ephesians 2:10, Paul reminds us that “we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” You’re not an accident—you’re intentionally designed by the Creator for a specific purpose.

    The Nehemiah Model: From Burden to Breakthrough

    In my book Stay Strong, I explore the incredible story of Nehemiah—a man who transformed heartbreak into meaningful action. Serving comfortably in the Persian court, Nehemiah could have remained in his secure position. But when he heard about Jerusalem’s broken walls, something stirred within him that changed everything.

    Nehemiah’s journey reveals three crucial elements of purposeful living:

    1. Recognising Your Burden

    Nehemiah’s transformation began with heartbreak. The news of Jerusalem’s vulnerability didn’t just sadden him momentarily—it burdened him deeply. He wept, mourned, and prayed for days.

    What breaks your heart?

    What situation in your community, workplace, or family stirs something deep within you? Often, God plants these burdens as the first step toward our calling.

    2. Combining Prayer with Planning

    Nehemiah didn’t just hope things would improve. After praying, he developed a strategic plan. When opportunity arose, he was ready with specific requests—letters of passage, building materials, and permission to lead the project.

    This shows us that meaningful action requires both dependence on God and diligent preparation.

    We pray as if everything depends on God, and we plan as if everything depends on us.

    3. Persevering Through Opposition

    The moment Nehemiah began his mission, critics emerged. But his response reveals the heart of purposeful action: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it?”

    When you’re walking in God-given purpose, opposition is inevitable. But when you know God has called you to the work, you can stay focused on what matters most.

    Your Call to Meaningful Action

    Whether you’re working in retail, raising a family, or wondering what’s next in retirement, ask yourself: “God, what meaningful work have You prepared for me in this season?”

    Start where you are. Excellence in small things often prepares us for larger opportunities. The way you serve today develops the character you’ll need for whatever God calls you to tomorrow.

    Remember, you’re God’s workmanship—created not for self-glorification, but to represent Him well in whatever role you occupy.

    GRAB PHIL’S LATEST BOOK:

    Ready to discover how biblical heroes found unshakeable strength in surrender? Order Stay Strong now and learn the timeless secrets of spiritual resilience that can transform your overwhelming circumstances into testimonies of God’s faithfulness.

    You can purchase a PDF version of the book here: https://philstrong.com/shop

  • The Caleb Spirit: 45 Years of Unwavering Faith

    Holding Onto God’s Promises in Uncertain Times

    Life has a way of testing our faith, doesn’t it? One day we’re walking confidently, and the next we’re facing giants that seem insurmountable. In those moments, we need something solid to anchor to—something that doesn’t shift when storms hit or fade when circumstances get dark.

    That something is the promises of God.

    The Caleb Spirit: 45 Years of Unwavering Faith

    In my new book Stay Strong, I share the incredible story of Caleb—a man who understood what it meant to live by God’s promises. At 40 years old, he was one of twelve spies sent to scout the Promised Land. While ten spies returned terrified by giants and fortified cities, Caleb boldly declared, “We can certainly do it.”

    But here’s where Caleb’s story becomes extraordinary. Due to Israel’s unbelief, he had to wait 45 years to see that promise fulfilled. Forty-five years! Yet at 85, this remarkable man stood before Joshua with fire still burning in his eyes, declaring, “Give me this hill country that the Lord promised me!”

    What kept Caleb strong through nearly five decades of waiting? He never let go of God’s word. He didn’t just passively hope—he actively agreed with heaven’s perspective on his situation.

    Your Promise Treasure Hunt

    Scripture is loaded with promises waiting for you to discover them. Whether you need encouragement about God’s provision, strength for relationships, or clarity about your calling, there are specific promises designed to anchor your soul.

    I challenge you to go on your own “Promise Treasure Hunt.” Search for verses that speak to your current struggles. Use your Bible app, ask God to reveal His heart through Scripture, and approach it with expectation. When you find those promises, write them down. Make them visible reminders of what God has declared over your life.

    Remember, promises aren’t just meant to comfort you in the waiting—they’re meant to strengthen you for the fight. Like Caleb, you can face giants and claim mountains because you know what God has said.

    When circumstances look impossible and doubt creeps in, that’s when you pull out those promises and declare with confidence: “This is what God has said, and I believe Him.”

    GRAB PHIL’S LATEST BOOK:

    Ready to discover how biblical heroes found unshakeable strength in surrender? Order Stay Strong now and learn the timeless secrets of spiritual resilience that can transform your overwhelming circumstances into testimonies of God’s faithfulness.

    You can purchase a PDF version of the book here: https://philstrong.com/shop

  • How to Find Strength in God When Life Feels Overwhelming

    Have you ever felt like David—coming home to find everything you held dear has been ripped away? Or like King Jehoshaphat, staring down impossible odds with nowhere to turn?

    “David strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6).

    That single verse holds the key to something profound—something that transformed two biblical heroes from defeat into victory, and something that can revolutionize how you face your own overwhelming circumstances.

    When Everything Falls Apart

    David’s story isn’t just about a moment of crisis. It’s about what happens when you lose everything—your family, your security, even the support of those closest to you. His own men, desperate in their grief, actually talked about killing him. If anyone had a right to give up, it was David.

    But he didn’t. Instead, he did something that reveals a secret most of us miss when we’re drowning in our circumstances.

    King Jehoshaphat faced a similar moment. Three massive armies were marching toward his small kingdom—a coalition so large it could crush Judah effortlessly. The Bible says he was afraid (thank goodness it records that!), but his response reveals the same profound principle that saved David.

    The Secret They Both Knew

    What did these two men understand that most of us struggle to grasp when life hits hard? How did they find strength when everything seemed lost?

    In Stay Strong, I unpack the two simple but powerful truths that carried both David and Jehoshaphat through their darkest valleys—the same truths that have sustained me through my own seasons of overwhelming circumstances.

    These aren’t complicated formulas or fancy programs. They’re timeless principles that work whether you’re facing relationship struggles, financial pressure, health challenges, or dreams that seem to keep slipping away.

    Your Turn to Discover

    The beautiful thing about David and Jehoshaphat’s stories is that they didn’t end in despair. David’s situation was completely restored—and then some. Jehoshaphat’s impossible battle became a testimony of God’s faithfulness that echoed through generations.

    What impossible situation are you facing today? What has you feeling alarmed, uncertain, or overwhelmed?

    The same God who was with David in his darkest hour, the same God who fought for Jehoshaphat against impossible odds, is with you in yours. And the way they accessed His strength is available to you too.

    GRAB PHIL’S LATEST BOOK:

    Ready to discover how biblical heroes found unshakeable strength in surrender? Order Stay Strong now and learn the timeless secrets of spiritual resilience that can transform your overwhelming circumstances into testimonies of God’s faithfulness.

    You can purchase a PDF version of the book here: https://philstrong.com/shop