What do you think?
Rate this book
Strengthen Yourself in the Lord: How to Release the Hidden Power of God in Your Life
It's time to be strong and of good courage.Today's believer is faced with situations unknown fifty, thirty, even twenty years ago. To stand in victory and enter our hour of promotion is to learn how to Strengthen Yourself in the Lord. You will learn how * Encourage yourself.* Overcome seriously bad days.* Stay connected to your destiny.* Access Heaven's open door.* Disarm hell with thanksgiving. How can you "count it all joy"when facing turmoil at home, work, or within your family? Author Bill Johnson tells you how through Scripture and personal experience. You can be strong when you know the keys to encouraging yourself looking past failure and into a successful future.
176 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2007
858 people are currently reading
1,456 people want to read
About the author
Bill Johnson
720Ìýbooks522ÌýfollowersBill Johnson and his wife Brenda (Beni) Johnson are the Senior Pastors of Bethel Church in Redding, California. Johnson is a fifth generation pastor.
Johnson was born in Minnesota in 1951 and became a Christian as a young child. Soon after, Johnson read seven books on prayer, which significantly affected his perspective and subsequent ministry.
Bill Johnson and his wife have three children: Eric, Brian and Leah.
Johnson speaking at a conference
Bill Johnson and Beni (Brenda) began as singles pastors under his father at Bethel. In 1979, they became senior pastors of Mountain Chapel in Weaverville, California.
While pastoring in Weaverville, Johnson attended a 1987 conference led by John Wimber, founder of the Vineyard Church Movement. According to Johnson "A number of healings and manifestations broke out and I didn't know what to do with it. I didn't object to it, I wasn't opposed to it; I just didn't know how to pastor it in a way that it would continue and increase".
In 1995, Johnson attended the Toronto Blessing revival at the Toronto Airport Vineyard church. Johnson relates: "In Toronto I said, 'Lord, if You touch me again I will never change the subject.' So I went up for prayer every time it was offered. I didn't have anything dramatic happen, but I came home and said, 'I am going to give the rest of my life to this.'"
In February 1996, after 17 years of leading the Weaverville church, the Johnsons were invited to become senior pastors of Bethel. Today Johnson describes Bethel as a church where "everything we do either fuels revival or is fueled by revival." Under his leadership, Bethel left the Assemblies of God in 2006 to become a nondenominational charismatic church.
According to a recent book written by Johnson, "Face to Face with God", Bethel is "a church where supernatural encounters with God happen regularly, miracles are common, and the congregation has an infectious passion for spiritual growth." The church has approximately 1,500 members, and a School of Supernatural Ministry.
Their Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry has 1,200 students enrolled with over 370 from other countries. Johnson leads a network of churches dedicated to global, multi-generational revival, Global Legacy. Johnson has written a number of books and travels extensively as a featured revival conference speaker. Johnson is also involved with the Northern California Revival Fellowship, a group of north Californian pastors committed to revival.
Source: Wikipedia
Johnson was born in Minnesota in 1951 and became a Christian as a young child. Soon after, Johnson read seven books on prayer, which significantly affected his perspective and subsequent ministry.
Bill Johnson and his wife have three children: Eric, Brian and Leah.
Johnson speaking at a conference
Bill Johnson and Beni (Brenda) began as singles pastors under his father at Bethel. In 1979, they became senior pastors of Mountain Chapel in Weaverville, California.
While pastoring in Weaverville, Johnson attended a 1987 conference led by John Wimber, founder of the Vineyard Church Movement. According to Johnson "A number of healings and manifestations broke out and I didn't know what to do with it. I didn't object to it, I wasn't opposed to it; I just didn't know how to pastor it in a way that it would continue and increase".
In 1995, Johnson attended the Toronto Blessing revival at the Toronto Airport Vineyard church. Johnson relates: "In Toronto I said, 'Lord, if You touch me again I will never change the subject.' So I went up for prayer every time it was offered. I didn't have anything dramatic happen, but I came home and said, 'I am going to give the rest of my life to this.'"
In February 1996, after 17 years of leading the Weaverville church, the Johnsons were invited to become senior pastors of Bethel. Today Johnson describes Bethel as a church where "everything we do either fuels revival or is fueled by revival." Under his leadership, Bethel left the Assemblies of God in 2006 to become a nondenominational charismatic church.
According to a recent book written by Johnson, "Face to Face with God", Bethel is "a church where supernatural encounters with God happen regularly, miracles are common, and the congregation has an infectious passion for spiritual growth." The church has approximately 1,500 members, and a School of Supernatural Ministry.
Their Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry has 1,200 students enrolled with over 370 from other countries. Johnson leads a network of churches dedicated to global, multi-generational revival, Global Legacy. Johnson has written a number of books and travels extensively as a featured revival conference speaker. Johnson is also involved with the Northern California Revival Fellowship, a group of north Californian pastors committed to revival.
Source: Wikipedia
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
August 4, 2014
Love this book. Reading it for the third time. One of his best. Very practical and helpful for me right now, learning tools and skills to strengthen myself spiritually in a time of trouble and testing. Confirms me in tools that I have learned and taught but been too inconsistent in applying to my own life - thanksgiving, determined praise, tongues, praying promises, testimony etc. Show Bill Johnson at his best, demonstrating that true spirituality is deeply practical and applicable. Yes it is devotional and practical rather than directly theological but Johnson has substantial and reflective theology beneath his spiritual and practical exhortations.
July 19, 2018
4 Stars
Great upbuilding read.
Great upbuilding read.
March 26, 2021
I mean .. Bill Johnson is so full of wisdom, how could I not love this book?
Bill talks about King David, and how he strengthened himself in the Lord when everything seemed to be going against him. Through personal experience, Bill talks about a few things it takes to strengthen yourself in the Lord.
There's so much gold that I'll take from this book. But I think for the season I'm in right now, the most important part was that thanksgiving sanctifies whatever it touches.
Bill talks about King David, and how he strengthened himself in the Lord when everything seemed to be going against him. Through personal experience, Bill talks about a few things it takes to strengthen yourself in the Lord.
There's so much gold that I'll take from this book. But I think for the season I'm in right now, the most important part was that thanksgiving sanctifies whatever it touches.
December 3, 2023
Will definitely be reading again!
November 18, 2017
The author, Bill Johnson, provides good insight into the ways in which Jesus called us to be disciples. Jesus said in Matt. 10:38, "He who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me." The author explains that "our cross is not about us, but about living our lives for Christ and doing our part to make His mission succeed on earth." We are called to be fruitful and multiply. Unfortunately, we often tend to turn our eyes to the way of the world and seek answers from people instead of focusing and turning towards God.
This paragraph hit home with me as a good summary of the book. "To do this, we will need great courage because we will be required to take risks when we step out in faith into what we've seen and heard from the Lord. We will never take that step if our hope rests on experiencing another great event, like waiting for the next wave of revival to sweep in or a prophet to call us out and give us a word. We must take personal responsibility to strengthen every weak place and break our agreement with fear. We must become the ongoing manifestation of revival and stop waiting for outside circumstances to line up with our dreams. We do this by giving thanks and rejoicing, praying as He prays, meditating on promises and testimonies, and associating with people of faith--not just when others around us are doing so, but continuously, as a lifestyle."
I think this is a good book and recommend that you read it if this is something that interests you. It is a bit repetitive and I'm not sure I got out of it as much as I would have liked, which is why I gave it three stars, but it is a quick read that you should check out.
This paragraph hit home with me as a good summary of the book. "To do this, we will need great courage because we will be required to take risks when we step out in faith into what we've seen and heard from the Lord. We will never take that step if our hope rests on experiencing another great event, like waiting for the next wave of revival to sweep in or a prophet to call us out and give us a word. We must take personal responsibility to strengthen every weak place and break our agreement with fear. We must become the ongoing manifestation of revival and stop waiting for outside circumstances to line up with our dreams. We do this by giving thanks and rejoicing, praying as He prays, meditating on promises and testimonies, and associating with people of faith--not just when others around us are doing so, but continuously, as a lifestyle."
I think this is a good book and recommend that you read it if this is something that interests you. It is a bit repetitive and I'm not sure I got out of it as much as I would have liked, which is why I gave it three stars, but it is a quick read that you should check out.
Read
January 23, 2025I know, I know. You love Bethel. You hate Bethel. You think Bethel is the most exciting move of God on the earth today. You think Bethel is a hive of false teachers insidiously trying to infect the church with their theology through culture. You think Bill Johnson is one of the greatest living apostles. You think Bill Johnson is a false teacher.
My opinion of Bill Johnson and Bethel is similar to my opinion of most charismatic movements and leaders today.
All that aside, this book is great.
My opinion of Bill Johnson and Bethel is similar to my opinion of most charismatic movements and leaders today.
All that aside, this book is great.
March 7, 2011
This is an excellent resource by Bill Johnson on how we can posture ourselves to receive all that we need from God to face the trials of life. Using the life of David, Johnson shows that even in our darkest hours we can seek the Lord for the strength we need to persevere. The second half of the book is full of personal examples of how Johnson "strengthens himself" in the Lord. I found it to be very helpful to see what others to to encourage themselves towards their destiny. Great book!
January 20, 2020
I honestly love to read anything Bill Johnson has written. He brings a fresh perspective to every topic in his books.
This book has made me aware of what God has called me to do and how to steward that in my daily life. That just because we recieve Jesus one time in our life, doesn't mean there isn't a greater relationship to be had with Him. There is so much more God wants for us, that what we see can't be it. But by pressing in, we are able to see the fullness of who He is in our lives.
This book has made me aware of what God has called me to do and how to steward that in my daily life. That just because we recieve Jesus one time in our life, doesn't mean there isn't a greater relationship to be had with Him. There is so much more God wants for us, that what we see can't be it. But by pressing in, we are able to see the fullness of who He is in our lives.
February 23, 2016
This is a good book to keep on your shelf and reread from time to time . It's important to apply principles to keep our faith strengthened. I highly recommend this book. Pastor Bill Johnson has recently come up with a DVD curriculum to go with this book. I think every one needs to read this book so they will finish the race strong.
July 1, 2018
So important and practical
This came at such a vital time for me! This is easily my favorite Bill Johnson book. I love the practical strategies in it and the way Bill can lead you through a thought from beginning to end. This is important information for healthy Christian Living.
This came at such a vital time for me! This is easily my favorite Bill Johnson book. I love the practical strategies in it and the way Bill can lead you through a thought from beginning to end. This is important information for healthy Christian Living.
July 20, 2013
I love all of Bill Johnson's writings. He is an encouragement to the body of Christ, and a very humble man! I was encouraged and strengthened in my walk with the Lord by this book.
January 5, 2014
I think this is the first book I read by Bill Johnson. It was a while back now, but I know I have been pleased and edified by every book by this author.
October 20, 2014
Practical practices for growing in faith and strength as a Christian. Short and a easy read, worth every penny.
August 3, 2015
A book full of simple steps we can take to partner with God in the work he wants to do in our lives.
Bill focusses on things he's put into practice in his own life over years of pastoring people.
Bill focusses on things he's put into practice in his own life over years of pastoring people.
September 4, 2012
This Book is good,
May 7, 2020
Bill wondering if you can help...
I bought this book (& loads of other similar titles) hoping it would address an angle of faith from a Trauma perspective. I work with the most horrific trauma cases people might come across. In trauma when you mix the moment you are close to death, with a sense of hopelessness or lack of control and its sudden you get a glitch called PTSD. I'll use my own example I had necrotizing fasciitis 2years ago in June. I had God show up in ICU for a 3 hr encounter but before he did there was a moment a few hours after I was admitted maybe 16hrs after I first had a searing pain in my arm, after being told they were keeping me in for antibiotics when I knew I was close to death... (nobody had spotted I'd got sepsis upon arrival) & the nurses kept saying oh I dont see antibiotics on your note yet... and slipping further out of the reach of lifes hold I knew I had no control over getting what I needed and the shock of being fine at 11.29 the Fri morning and not 24hrs later I was dying I said to God ok it's over to you and I let go... I simply couldn't hold on any longer. I didn't die but I mansged to create a glitch... looking back there wasn't anything I could have done differently even being an experienced trauma therapist... but now nearly 2 years on if I reach a point in a situation where I need something and it should be arriving but it doesnt I cant reach the bit in my conscious mind that remembers who God is or what his promises are... instead the sepsis replays. I physically feel like I'm going to die even though I can take my stats and I'm ok I only have a sense of death. You say in you book the disciples couldn't calm the see because the heart was hardened ... like it is the individuals fault ... if we cant find Gods tool box its because weve forgotten who he is and that he has prepared us for this next mission... but consistently clients repeat my story. They have a near death experience go to church find God but are told THEY ARENT DOING IT RIGHT! it's their fault they dont remember who God is... that GOD is good... but trauma isnt like that. I need to know that when we suffer trauma God doesnt kick us out as defects... because that's what I hear and my clients hear in church... it's our fault we dont remember Gods truth... but trauma creates a glitch and when you are in it you have no awareness there is any other world but living hell... when you get out of the glitch maybe a few hours later maybe you are triggered for a few days some take longer to resurface... you remember who God is but the damage of attack during the PTSD glitch literally destroys the soul. But I've yet to find a book that is written by anyone who has experienced trauma and knows how to navigate though this... if anyone reading this knows what I am referring to I'd love to hear your encouragement and kind wisdom... Bill can you help? You must have come across this in your ministry work. I need to find the answer for this to restore hope in those who have lost it. We can fix the PTSD but the traditional way we held on is lost. And books that say we have forgotten, dont work except for shaming us into feeling more like we are defects. Thanks... can anyone offer their wisdom please. CounsellingWiltshire.com
I bought this book (& loads of other similar titles) hoping it would address an angle of faith from a Trauma perspective. I work with the most horrific trauma cases people might come across. In trauma when you mix the moment you are close to death, with a sense of hopelessness or lack of control and its sudden you get a glitch called PTSD. I'll use my own example I had necrotizing fasciitis 2years ago in June. I had God show up in ICU for a 3 hr encounter but before he did there was a moment a few hours after I was admitted maybe 16hrs after I first had a searing pain in my arm, after being told they were keeping me in for antibiotics when I knew I was close to death... (nobody had spotted I'd got sepsis upon arrival) & the nurses kept saying oh I dont see antibiotics on your note yet... and slipping further out of the reach of lifes hold I knew I had no control over getting what I needed and the shock of being fine at 11.29 the Fri morning and not 24hrs later I was dying I said to God ok it's over to you and I let go... I simply couldn't hold on any longer. I didn't die but I mansged to create a glitch... looking back there wasn't anything I could have done differently even being an experienced trauma therapist... but now nearly 2 years on if I reach a point in a situation where I need something and it should be arriving but it doesnt I cant reach the bit in my conscious mind that remembers who God is or what his promises are... instead the sepsis replays. I physically feel like I'm going to die even though I can take my stats and I'm ok I only have a sense of death. You say in you book the disciples couldn't calm the see because the heart was hardened ... like it is the individuals fault ... if we cant find Gods tool box its because weve forgotten who he is and that he has prepared us for this next mission... but consistently clients repeat my story. They have a near death experience go to church find God but are told THEY ARENT DOING IT RIGHT! it's their fault they dont remember who God is... that GOD is good... but trauma isnt like that. I need to know that when we suffer trauma God doesnt kick us out as defects... because that's what I hear and my clients hear in church... it's our fault we dont remember Gods truth... but trauma creates a glitch and when you are in it you have no awareness there is any other world but living hell... when you get out of the glitch maybe a few hours later maybe you are triggered for a few days some take longer to resurface... you remember who God is but the damage of attack during the PTSD glitch literally destroys the soul. But I've yet to find a book that is written by anyone who has experienced trauma and knows how to navigate though this... if anyone reading this knows what I am referring to I'd love to hear your encouragement and kind wisdom... Bill can you help? You must have come across this in your ministry work. I need to find the answer for this to restore hope in those who have lost it. We can fix the PTSD but the traditional way we held on is lost. And books that say we have forgotten, dont work except for shaming us into feeling more like we are defects. Thanks... can anyone offer their wisdom please. CounsellingWiltshire.com
April 28, 2023
As I continue my spiritual journey, I found this book to be timely. It is full of reminders of how Christ want us to be his disciples on earth. ("On earth as it is in heaven"). Johnson says that God has already given us all we need, we just have to "push in" to receive it. There were reminders that we not only need to give thanks to God, but to also praise him.
Throughout the book, he makes references to David's faith in the Lord and how it led him through many adversities...not just overcoming Goliath. One of my favorite quotes from Johnson is " Our values communicate something in the spiritual realm that alerts others with the same values to our presence." I have to remind myself as I watch the news and see disturbing things around me that I must first listen to God's voice.
The book is deep and will require a few more reads for me, but overall, it was very inspiring and not really "preachy."
Throughout the book, he makes references to David's faith in the Lord and how it led him through many adversities...not just overcoming Goliath. One of my favorite quotes from Johnson is " Our values communicate something in the spiritual realm that alerts others with the same values to our presence." I have to remind myself as I watch the news and see disturbing things around me that I must first listen to God's voice.
The book is deep and will require a few more reads for me, but overall, it was very inspiring and not really "preachy."
February 4, 2025
I read this because a supervisor suggested it. It didn't hit me like the supervisor hoped.
Honestly, Johnson and I disagree theologically on a few things so I wasn't thrilled to read this, but also I'm not against reading differing perspectives (its probably better for the world if we all read a few people we disagree with every once in a while). This wasn't without a few gems!
He's just not a gifted writer (or at least this book felt like he just jotted down some random thoughts and threw them at a publisher who did no edits? Seems to be an epidemic among American pastors...) and I think that bothered me. I liked his evident passion for clinging to the promises of God and his call to seek an intimate relationship with God. There are some good one-liners about taking every thought captive and having the heart of the Father.
Not saying don't read it, but I can think of better books to read before this. And really, you're better off just reading the Bible.
Honestly, Johnson and I disagree theologically on a few things so I wasn't thrilled to read this, but also I'm not against reading differing perspectives (its probably better for the world if we all read a few people we disagree with every once in a while). This wasn't without a few gems!
He's just not a gifted writer (or at least this book felt like he just jotted down some random thoughts and threw them at a publisher who did no edits? Seems to be an epidemic among American pastors...) and I think that bothered me. I liked his evident passion for clinging to the promises of God and his call to seek an intimate relationship with God. There are some good one-liners about taking every thought captive and having the heart of the Father.
Not saying don't read it, but I can think of better books to read before this. And really, you're better off just reading the Bible.
January 28, 2021
I’ve read a couple of Bill Johnson’s books and this is by far my favourite. Almost every line written by Bill is so profound, I need to meditate on that thought repeatedly. I loved how this book explained the things we know and believe in the Christian faith in a fresh way that gave it more meaning and depth. It convicted me even more to continue in the things of God and sometimes I would just read the same page 3 times just to really soak in the truth. I loved it so much that I recommended it to many of my friends and they loved it too. This is one of his easier books to read but it doesn’t for a moment take away from the depth of truths shared
March 6, 2020
I wish I had read this book a few years back, I would have learned of strategies to keep hold of His hand tighter, I would have trained myself to keep my gaze on the lover of my soul, I would have defended myself better against all the lies and the confusion thrown at me by the enemy, I would have known about healthy disciplines to keep myself strong, I would have watered my roots so they could grow stronger and deeper in his Word, I would have kept my unwavering passion for Him raging. If only�
January 3, 2024
GENRE
Non-fiction religious
BASIC SYNOPSIS
This is a book about Spiritually and mentally strengthening yourself so that you can weather the bad times.
MY THOUGHTS
I loved this book. My favourite insight was how he says that in every bad situation, God has an agenda, and Satan has an agenda. God's agenda is for you to to use the bad situation to grow and become stronger, while the devil's agenda is for us to fall apart and start doubting/panicking. I just find that since I read that, it's easier to conduct myself better in bad situations - knowing whose hands I might be playing into.
Non-fiction religious
BASIC SYNOPSIS
This is a book about Spiritually and mentally strengthening yourself so that you can weather the bad times.
MY THOUGHTS
I loved this book. My favourite insight was how he says that in every bad situation, God has an agenda, and Satan has an agenda. God's agenda is for you to to use the bad situation to grow and become stronger, while the devil's agenda is for us to fall apart and start doubting/panicking. I just find that since I read that, it's easier to conduct myself better in bad situations - knowing whose hands I might be playing into.
January 15, 2024
What an anointed book. At times, I would find myself weeping in the presence of Jesus as I read. Pastor Bill does an incredible job at simplifying and explaining some vital tools the Lord has already given to every believer from the moment they receive Him. It's not something we have to strive for. It's there for us, and this book teaches exactly how to tap into the supernatural strength of God during times of hardship. I am already excited to re-read this one and see what I get out of it the second time.
April 26, 2018
One of the best Bill Johnson books I've read - more focused and practical than most of his books, it gives you an arsenal of tools to sustain your faith and walk it out well, not just scrapping by by the edge of your teeth. I think it'll quickly become one of my favorites, as it's oriented around one of the things I care most about - having one-on-one intimate, powerful, and passionate relationship with Jesus.
October 2, 2024
Very good book on how to access the strength that God provides. Bill uses biblical examples of expressing our faith by TRULY relying on the Lord for our strength. The picture of David losing everything in battle then choosing to “Strengthen himself in the Lord� is a picture I ponder often. Great book for why we worship and our heart posture during worship both corporately and in the secret place with God.
November 28, 2017
The title is accurate! Great book. Potentially life changing.
As a believer, being drawn to "more;' more of God and His promises and how I can be more of an ambassador to my world. Bill Johnson takes you out of religion and into active faith. God is the same yesterday today and tomorrow. He still does miracles.
Thank you!!
As a believer, being drawn to "more;' more of God and His promises and how I can be more of an ambassador to my world. Bill Johnson takes you out of religion and into active faith. God is the same yesterday today and tomorrow. He still does miracles.
Thank you!!
December 4, 2017
This book is amazing. Not only has it revealed through the scriptures ways in which i can strengthen myself in the Lord it has also invited me to the great call of been a part of the army that show be expressions of Heaven here on Earth. I highly recommend this book. It has changed my mindset and life in general.
January 30, 2018
Great Devotional
Some people are wary of this author and don’t want to “swing from the Pentecostal chandeliers.� However, I found this book to be very balanced, practical, and encouraging - all the while challenging us to be open and available for God to accomplish every good thing He has promised for us. Lots of good truth in here.
Some people are wary of this author and don’t want to “swing from the Pentecostal chandeliers.� However, I found this book to be very balanced, practical, and encouraging - all the while challenging us to be open and available for God to accomplish every good thing He has promised for us. Lots of good truth in here.
September 27, 2018
There are some good quotes in this book (such as "we won't have the opportunity for sacrificial praise once we are in heaven") and the opening chapter on David strengthening himself in the Lord is very helpful. But the book is quite wordy and I had to make myself keep ploughing on to extract the gems.
April 29, 2020
Good perspective
This was very interesting and challenging to read. It requires one to really examine your walk with God and ask yourself some difficult questions. In the end I believe it will create in the reader a strong desire to be closer to Him and seek His power and presence.
This was very interesting and challenging to read. It requires one to really examine your walk with God and ask yourself some difficult questions. In the end I believe it will create in the reader a strong desire to be closer to Him and seek His power and presence.
July 14, 2020
I have read the book twice and found it very inspiring. Even if I partly disagree with Bill Johnson´s Christology, I recommend the book. The author believes that Jesus said what he said and did what he did only as a man, spirit-filled. Most believers agree that Jesus came to us both as man and God in combination.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.