"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8, NIV)
The Power of One is an amazing concept. We are practicing this concept in our Mary Kay unit this month and learning how one more step can change a person's life. One more step takes faith and belief. If we take one more step towards our dreams, if we take one more step towards our Lord, if we take one more step to do an act of love and kindness what changes would be made in our lives and in our world?
There is a song that was written years ago called "One is the Loneliest Number" (or something like that) and I always thought that was a sad way to look at things. Now that I am older, I see what the power of one can do. The power of the One and only God can move mountains, cast out demons, raise the dead and heal the sick. The power of One can give hope and cause us to praise in the midst of our circumstances. The power of One can strengthen the weary and give power to the weak. He can renew our strength enabling us to soar on wings like eagles. The power of One saved us from sin and death. The power of One teaches us how to live for eternal life. The power of One teaches us what true love is. The power of One loves us enough to give us the Holy Spirit to be a witness to Him and to all the world.
When you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you were given the power of One. You were given the Holy Spirit, an everlasting power to be a witness to Jesus Christ. As Jesus said, we will do greater things than He did because He gave us the power of the Holy Spirit. This power doesn't have to be forceful or be used in a demonstrative way. Simple acts of kindness come from this power. Stopping to love, listen and do for someone else comes from this power. Doing something nice for someone you don't like or find repulsive for whatever reason comes from this power. Doing what you don't want to do comes from this power. Faith, belief, love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, compassion and passion come from this power. Being humbled, surrendered and faithful comes from this power. The boldness to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ comes from the power of One. Actually, all that you are, all that you do and all that you have comes from the power of One.
Are you being transformed daily by the power of One? Does it have dominion over your life? Is it giving you strength? Is it moving you to live your life for Jesus Christ? Is it moving you to be broken bread and poured out wine for our Lord and Saviour? If not, ask God to fill you once again and lean on this power, the greatest gift you will ever have and watch the Lord transform you into someone He can use for His glory.
Be blessed. Be the power of one.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
From a Place of Courage
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:7-9, NIV)
"Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid." (Matthew 14:27, NIV)
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines courage as the "mental or moral strength to venture, persevere and withstand danger, fear, difficulty." It also states that, "courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty."
As I write these definitions, I look at my own life and wonder where courage fits in. It pretty much needs to live everywhere within me. Courage takes faith and surrender. It requires complete trust in God and His promises. It requires us to lay down everything and let Him teach and love on us. It takes waiting on Him, wisdom and knowledge. It requires something, Someone much greater than ourselves. I know I don't have all that it takes to be strong and courageous.
Last night I went through the Bible searching for Scripture focused on God's promises. That pretty much sums up the whole Book! I found such hope and comfort in my search. As God has promised in Jeremiah 29:13, "You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with your whole heart." Knowing that I cannot do what God has called me to do on my own and knowing that in my own strength I cannot remain surrendered, I find comfort in His Word and Presence. Spending time in His Word, spending time in His Presence, loving on Him and letting Him love on me fills me with courage to do what I cannot do. My hope is that He will find a faithful servant and warrior in me.
Choosing to live the life He has destined for me and leaving father, mother, sister, brother and even myself, takes greater courage and greater faith. As I lay down my life, I find that God fills me with more hope, more belief, more faith and more courage to live each day. Learning to let go of even the things I don't want in my life takes a courage that can only come from the Lord. I know I don't have it and living for God will require Him to fill every inch of my being with all that He is. God is going to have to take over my life in order to make His plans happen.
Surrender is the hardest part of Christian life because it requires us to relinquish all that we are to be available for what we don't know. Each step of this journey with Him, requires us to surrender even more than our last moment on the altar. As we grow, He shows us what else He needs for His purposes. There is stuff He wants us to give up including our plans and expectations as to how we are to live this predestined life. Sometimes I feel that all I can do is sit, watch, wait and listen because I don't see anything in front of me to do. You hear so many people say that we can't just sit around and wait on God to move, but that we must do something every day for His kingdom. I have to say that we as humans are always busy doing something because we believe that that is what He wants from us all the time. My heart says He wants us to spend more time being still, praying, reading and meditating on His Word which is one of the greatest acts we can perform for His Kingdom. Then, when He is ready to move, we will be ready as well. We will then have sufficient courage to serve and fight for His kingdom because we will be full of Him.
Today I encourage you to be strong and courageous enough to be still and live in His sufficiency. When we are obedient in this, we will see that the mighty hand of God has moved mountains, strongholds and giants and is more able than we could ever be on our own.
"Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid." (Matthew 14:27, NIV)
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines courage as the "mental or moral strength to venture, persevere and withstand danger, fear, difficulty." It also states that, "courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty."
As I write these definitions, I look at my own life and wonder where courage fits in. It pretty much needs to live everywhere within me. Courage takes faith and surrender. It requires complete trust in God and His promises. It requires us to lay down everything and let Him teach and love on us. It takes waiting on Him, wisdom and knowledge. It requires something, Someone much greater than ourselves. I know I don't have all that it takes to be strong and courageous.
Last night I went through the Bible searching for Scripture focused on God's promises. That pretty much sums up the whole Book! I found such hope and comfort in my search. As God has promised in Jeremiah 29:13, "You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with your whole heart." Knowing that I cannot do what God has called me to do on my own and knowing that in my own strength I cannot remain surrendered, I find comfort in His Word and Presence. Spending time in His Word, spending time in His Presence, loving on Him and letting Him love on me fills me with courage to do what I cannot do. My hope is that He will find a faithful servant and warrior in me.
Choosing to live the life He has destined for me and leaving father, mother, sister, brother and even myself, takes greater courage and greater faith. As I lay down my life, I find that God fills me with more hope, more belief, more faith and more courage to live each day. Learning to let go of even the things I don't want in my life takes a courage that can only come from the Lord. I know I don't have it and living for God will require Him to fill every inch of my being with all that He is. God is going to have to take over my life in order to make His plans happen.
Surrender is the hardest part of Christian life because it requires us to relinquish all that we are to be available for what we don't know. Each step of this journey with Him, requires us to surrender even more than our last moment on the altar. As we grow, He shows us what else He needs for His purposes. There is stuff He wants us to give up including our plans and expectations as to how we are to live this predestined life. Sometimes I feel that all I can do is sit, watch, wait and listen because I don't see anything in front of me to do. You hear so many people say that we can't just sit around and wait on God to move, but that we must do something every day for His kingdom. I have to say that we as humans are always busy doing something because we believe that that is what He wants from us all the time. My heart says He wants us to spend more time being still, praying, reading and meditating on His Word which is one of the greatest acts we can perform for His Kingdom. Then, when He is ready to move, we will be ready as well. We will then have sufficient courage to serve and fight for His kingdom because we will be full of Him.
Today I encourage you to be strong and courageous enough to be still and live in His sufficiency. When we are obedient in this, we will see that the mighty hand of God has moved mountains, strongholds and giants and is more able than we could ever be on our own.
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