Standing Strong: How to Storm-Proof Your Life With God s Timeless Truths

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I think all of us would agree that’s the kind of existence we wish to have—one that has a lasting influence on this world and beyond. We want to know that the days we live are actually making a difference and that there is a reason for what we do and for the difficulties we experience. We want to be sure that what we are standing for is worthwhile. Dr. Stanley’s motivation is best represented by the truth found in Acts 20:24, “Life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about God's mighty kindness and love.” This is because, as he says, “It is the Word of God and the work of God that changes people’s lives.” However, Charles refused to let the Great Depression or the difficulties of his life define him. Instead, like his father and grandfather before him, he clung to God’s Word and took up the mantle to preach the gospel to whoever would listen.

And, of course, from a verse many of us can quote, we know that He offers us an unshakable relationship with Himself: “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).Again, we can look to Saul to illustrate this point. The name Saul means “desired or asked for.” And certainly, that’s what he was. People wanted to know him and sought his counsel and favor. In Philippians 3, Paul describes his résumé as a Pharisee—one that would impress anyone in that day: Charles Stanley’s books are thought provoking and can be life changing. And Standing Strong is no exception. He communicates clearly and offers examples along with scripture to support his arguments. Standing Strong encourages the reader to examine what they believe and how they are building their lives. I took my time reading thru this book as it was so inspirational. He brought out ideas/points I had never considered. I would recommend this book for anyone who really wants to strengthen their faith.

I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ. (vv. 7–8 NLT; emphasis added) If others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more! I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. (vv. 4–6 NLT) Because the truth of the matter is, it usually isn’t when we’re feeling tough and confident that we go looking for books on standing strong. It’s not when we’re secure and assured that we need encouragement. Rather, it’s when the future is unsure. We become aware that we might not be as successful as we thought, and we long to know how to make it through—and how to do so well. It’s when the burdens get heavy, the challenges we face seem impossible, or the obstacles that stare at us from the horizon appear overwhelming. That’s when we realize that we are in danger of being less than we’d hoped to be or, worse, failing altogether. That’s when we reach out for wisdom about how to stand.

Why? Because if you don’t know Jesus, you are building on your own nature, which is damaged and unreliable. No one has to tell you what your sins, failings, and mistakes are; they come immediately to mind, no matter how hard you try to forget them. Likewise, you must understand that your own nature is limited and inadequate—not only can you not see the future or control anything outside of your immediate scope of influence, but you will die one day. Any foundation you can come up with by yourself can only be temporary and insufficient. This is why, in this book, we will take a long look into our convictions—the beliefs that influence our lives and shape our decisions. Our convictions define who we are and what we become—whether we become strong or weak, whether we build on or undermine the foundation of Christ. We live out our convictions every day in innumerable ways. So in Part 1 of this book, we will examine what our lives are built on: our most foundational views about the Trinity—God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—as well as what we really believe about Scripture and prayer.