Psalms 18:1
I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
Psalms 18:1: "I will love thee, O LORD, my strength."
This opening line to Psalm 18 declares love and trust in God as strength. David’s psalm is a triumph hymn, recounting deliverance and the power of God who acts on behalf of the righteous. Declaring love for God as “my strength” reframes reliance from personal abilities to divine power. The text reflects a conviction that God’s strength sustains, empowers, and enables victorious living. In the wider context, the psalm celebrates God’s rescue in crisis—an experience many in Israel could identify with: danger faced, prayer offered, and deliverance granted by a mighty God. The phrase also invites a personal, intimate relationship with God—the longing to love Him as the primary source of power in life.
Theologically, the verse anchors strength in God’s character rather than in human capacity. It preserves the priority of love as the motive for trust: love leads to reliance on God’s power, which then enables righteous action. It also foreshadows the biblical pattern of God as deliverer, victor, and source of safety. The verse affirms that true strength is relational: loving God deeply is the foundation for living with courage, wisdom, and endurance.
In everyday life, declare God as your source of strength. When facing deadlines, conflict, or fear, reframe your energy around dependence on God rather than self-sufficiency. Practical steps: begin the day with a brief prayer acknowledging God as strength, create a plan that uses your gifts for His purposes, and lean on Him for resilience in trials. Use Scripture to recenter your heart on God’s power. For example, when tempted to give in to anxiety, recite this line and turn your attention to God’s past faithfulness in your life.
Cross-References: Psalm 27:1; Psalm 28:7; Philippians 4:13; Isaiah 40:29-31; 2 Samuel 22:1-3