Be Strong and Take Action 

By Kimba Campbell 

I just recently came across a verse in Daniel 11:32 which says, “… the people who know their God will be strong and take action.” Those words seemed to jump off the page to me!  

This verse is powerful for many reasons. First, how do people truly know their God? I do not mean to know about Him, I mean truly know Him. When my husband and I were dating, we were long distance for three years. I am two years older, so he was in college while I was in seminary miles apart. We craved the time that we could see each other in person and figured out our schedules on the weekends. During this time, we communicated daily several times a day. We wanted to truly get to know each other. I remember spending late nights on the phone talking for hours and hours. We would email each other notes throughout the day to say we are thinking about each other. We gave the time and commitment to deeply know one another. That is what we must do in our relationship with God. Before we can be filled with His strength and power, we must take the time to know Him deeply. This is done by setting aside daily time in Bible reading, prayer, worship, and being still before Him.  

This verse states that the people who know God will be strong! What does this mean to display strength? We face daily battles and challenges that can cause discouragement and fear. We are not called to live fearful lives. This verse says that if we are walking with Him, we will have strength through Him. We can find strength daily, through our difficult circumstances, knowing that He is by our side.  

"We can find strength daily, through our difficult circumstances, knowing that He is by our side."  Share on X

My favorite part of this verse says, “and take action.” Sometimes it is so easy in our Christian lives to become lazy and complacent. We are secure in our salvation and often we think we are “too busy” to add anything else to our lives. Are we busy though with the right kinds of things? Do we fill our calendar with events that are inward focused or outward focused? I struggle with these things at times. Where am I spending most of my time? Am I taking action in the right things that He has called me to do?  

As I reflect on this verse this week, I ask myself these questions. Am I spending the time to truly know Him? How have I seen God’s strength through me? What are some areas that I need to take action and follow Him? I pray that you ask yourself these questions in your personal life and in your ministry. May we truly know Him, feel His strength through us, and take action to a world that desperately needs His love. 

Kimba Campbell serves as the Lifeway Kids Publishing Team Leader for Bible Studies for Life. Before coming to Lifeway, she served on church staff for over 18 years in Texas, Georgia, California and Tennessee. Kimba is a Texas Aggie (Gig ‘Em Aggies!) and also earned a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She and her husband, Paul, stay busy with their three boys.