Apicontent

“The Lord your God is living among you.” (Zephaniah 3:17, NLT)

Our relationship with God is not passive or dormant; it is dynamic, full of purpose, active, creative, and productive. In order to accomplish all that God has willed for us, it is critical that we utilize the time we have on earth. We are here for such a short time, and Scripture actually instructs us to “number our days” (see Psalm 90:12, NIV).

God has created us in Christ Jesus to do good works (see Ephesians 2:10, NIV). And we need to be busy doing them until he either comes for us or we physically die and go to live with him. It is our responsibility to be the hands and feet and voice of Jesus. God has taken each one of us, transformed us, and now has a plan for how we can make a difference in his world.

I personally have experienced how God can take a totally self-absorbed, selfish, self-ambitious person (do you see the word self showing up in every adjective?) who lived a life consumed with pursuing earthly goals, giving no thought to what happens after one leaves this world, and transformed that individual into a person committed to helping fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. Prior to Jesus Christ coming into my life, I listened strictly to the message of this world. I had no time for or interest in God’s Word. I had earthly goals to pursue. Surely, earthly treasure was my god. Then, after hearing the good news of the salvation of Jesus Christ, I invited him into my life to be my personal Lord and Savior. Over time, God has transformed my worldview, and subsequently, the use of my time, talent, and treasure. At times, it has been traumatic, painful, and confusing, as I progressed from a person who was pursuing more and more of the world’s riches to a kingdom boy who desires more and more of Christ. But all along God has been renewing and energizing me for a new mission in this life.

It’s difficult to stay focused. Many things vie for our attention: family, friends, work, hobbies, sports. Many of these things are good, but they can actually get in the way of God’s plans and purposes for us. Paul wrote, “I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (Philippians 3:13–14, NLT, emphasis added). As you consider your days, do they just “happen” or are you intentional in how you are going to use your time? Are you focusing on earthly goals or heavenly goals? And how do you balance it all? As we focus on God’s purposes, read his Word and apply it to our lives, and take time to discuss all of it with God, the Holy Spirit will empower us to keep our eyes on the heavenly prize. But it takes time. Time every day with God.

And in the process, it is imperative that we choose to bring every thought into captive obedience to Christ (see 2 Corinthians 10:5, NIV) so we can live in accordance with his will and plan for our lives. One of the ways that I accomplish this in my life is to ask the Holy Spirit to control my mind. Romans 8:6 tells us, “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace” (NIV). There’s a lot of garbage out there to feed your mind. But when your mind is controlled by the Holy Spirit the Bible tells us we will experience life and peace.

Honestly, are you consistently living your life for Christ? What steps do you need to take to daily keep your relationship with Christ a priority?

Son Power transforms you day by day.

“We never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13, NLT)

Are you reading and studying God’s Word every day, letting its message soak into your mind and heart? As we consider the lives of the great Bible heroes, we see that they depended on the Word of God to guide and direct them. God told Joshua that if he wanted to be successful he would need to meditate on God’s Word (see Joshua 1:8). David valued God’s Word more than thousands of pieces of gold and silver (see Psalm 19:10). Job said he treasured God’s Word more than his daily food (see Job 23:12). Jeremiah said when he found God’s words, he ate them and they became his heart’s delight (see Jeremiah 15:16). Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”

The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to lead and direct us. We can trust the Word and the Spirit to guide us. God’s Word is powerful and we need to sow the truths of his Word into the soil of our hearts, giving it a chance to grow and work inside of us.

I like to think of God’s Word as if it is powerful medicine. In order for medicine to work in us we need to swallow it and internalize it. We must do the same with the Word of God. We need to read it, get it inside of us, and actually internalize it. The more we soak in God’s Word and the more we reflect on it, the more we will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to apply it to our lives.

In what ways does your behavior indicate that God’s Word is or isn’t a priority in your life?

Son Power is released in you through God’s Word.

Link to chapter 8 “Living the Son-Powered Life Day by Day” and/or article “Living the Son-Powered Life Day by Day” under Supernatural Power

Your Daily Commitment to Prayer

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7)

Talking to God about all of our life and believing he will answer our prayers is critical for the life of every Christian. As we talk with God about our life situations, the Holy Spirit empowers us with wisdom, guidance, and the strength to deal with each one. The Bible is clear that God will answer our prayers as we take time to soak in his Word.

Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7–8, NIV). And later in the New Testament we read, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (1 John 5:14, NIV).

So often we want God to accomplish our will. It is important that we align ourselves with his will. As we pray, we need to ask God to enable us to see how he sees our current situation and pray for his solution. Whether we are facing everyday life, difficulties, or ministry opportunities, I believe Son Power is available to us in equal measure.

No matter what I am experiencing or what kind of decision I need to make, I use this equation to help me remember to rely on Son Power:

PRAYER + SUPPLY OF THE SPIRIT = DELIVERANCE

The principle here is that prayer (talking to God) about the problem or situation plus the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ will result in our deliverance. It is the supply of the Spirit that gives us life and empowers us to confront life. Paul described this in his letter to the Philippians: “For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:19-21, NKJV).

As we face each day, we can be confident that God hears our prayers and is working in us to take care of us.

Honestly, are you daily seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength from God? What changes do you need to make in your habits to make this more of a priority?

Son Power gives wisdom, guidance, and strength through prayer.

“This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise.” (Isaiah 43:21, NKJV)

The apostle Paul was committed to exalting Jesus Christ in all things. In Colossians 1:15–20 we read:

We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body. He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he’s there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross.

—The Message

When we take time to read God’s Word, it reminds us of our focus … God’s glory. In this passage, we see Paul focusing on everything he knew about Christ. Even in the midst of incredible preaching success, Paul stayed true to his message of exalting Christ. However, it wasn’t always easy for Paul. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul had this to say:

We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.

—2 Corinthians 1:8–10, NLT

I love where Paul says, “We have placed our confidence in him.” Paul knew that he had been delivered by God’s power. Hard and scary times are difficult to endure, but God may lead us from time to time to experience them so that the life of Christ might be manifested in us. It is in the tough times that we learn to trust in the power of God to deliver us. It is the Holy Spirit working in us and through us that allows us to continue to exalt Christ no matter our circumstances.

In what ways are you currently exalting Christ?

Son Power empowers you to exalt Christ no matter your circumstances.

“I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:13–14, NLT).

It’s difficult to stay focused. Many things vie for our attention: family, friends, work, hobbies, sports. Many of these things are good, but they can actually get in the way of God’s plans and purposes for us.  As you consider your days, do they just “happen” or are you intentional in how you are going to use your time? Are you focusing on earthly goals or heavenly goals? And how do you balance it all?

As we focus on God’s purposes, read his Word and apply it to our lives, and take time to discuss all of it with God, the Holy Spirit will empower us to keep our eyes on the heavenly prize. But it takes time. Time every day with God. And in the process, it is imperative that we choose to bring every thought into captive obedience to Christ (see 2 Corinthians 10:5, NIV) so we can live in accordance with his will and plan for our lives.

One of the ways that I accomplish this in my life is to ask the Holy Spirit to control my mind. Romans 8:6 tells us, “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace” (NIV). There’s a lot of garbage out there to feed your mind. But when your mind is controlled by the Holy Spirit the Bible tells us we will experience life and peace.

Philippians 4:6–7 is a favorite passage of mine: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (NIV). I cannot tell you how many times the Spirit, by controlling my mind, has brought me great peace, thereby guarding both my mind and heart from fear and anxiety. As we focus on the Word of God, the Holy Spirit guides and directs our everyday decisions, and it helps us to keep our focus in the right place.

In what ways does your life reflect that you are focused on heavenly goals?

Son Power allows you to experience life and peace.

“In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness.” (2 Peter 1:5–6, NLT)

I know God has work to do in my heart, and so, I daily ask him to shed the light of his presence into the inner recesses of my heart to show me whatever needs to be changed. Then his Word can prosper and accomplish in my heart whatever is needed to be done to strengthen it for his purposes as the Spirit works within me. As his Word grows in my heart, I am set free. I begin to see the finger of God at work in me and in my circumstances. I learn to trust him, and by the power of the Holy Spirit I am able to put to death all of the sinful desires and works of the flesh that want control over my life. However, this can be a painful process, and sometimes I simply want to jump ship.

There is so much we do not understand and so much for us to learn. It can be daunting. However, I make it my daily goal to concentrate on what I do understand from God’s Word and what he reveals to me along life’s pathway. My desire, plan, and purpose is to do what he has revealed to me in this moment. I want to make sure I am faithful in doing the work assigned to me by God now. By keeping my focus on what God’s Word is telling me, I keep my focus on God’s plans and purposes. The New Testament encourages us with these words: “[May you be] strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience” (Colossians 1:11, NIV).

God’s ways are not our ways. He often uses people and circumstances that we could never have imagined to work out his will in our lives. Solomon said it well, “Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind … so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things” (Ecclesiastes 11:5, NLT).

Jesus himself used the same imagery when he told about how a person is born of the Spirit, “The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit” (John 3:8, NLT).

We cannot understand the path of the wind or the activity of God. However, even though the wind is unseen, we can see manifestations of it when it blows. We see the flag waving in the wind. We see a leaf skip down the street. We see the trees swaying in the summer breeze. There is power in the wind, sometimes slight, sometimes magnificent. When I consider the many places where the wind is mentioned in the Bible, I see God’s power. God used the wind to blow the plague of locusts into Egypt, and then he used it to blow the locusts into the Red Sea. He used the wind to hold back the waters of the Red Sea so the Hebrews could pass over on the dry land. He used the wind to bring quail to feed the people in the wilderness. Psalm 104:3 tells us, “You [God] make the clouds your chariot; you ride upon the wings of the wind” (NLT). God used the sound of the wind when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples at Pentecost, and they were empowered by the Holy Spirit to accomplish incredible things for the Kingdom. God works in many different ways.

God is still at work through the power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers today. We need to adjust the sails of our lives to the winds of the Spirit. We must be discerning. We are not to simply sit around waiting for the wind to change so that it is blowing in the direction we might want it to blow. We must finetune our sails to the direction of the Holy Spirit’s and say, “The sails are up, and the power is on!”

In what ways is Son Power currently giving you strength to persevere?

Son Power is the source for perseverance.

“Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.” (Galatians 1:4, NLT)

Let’s face it, the difficulties we see and experience on a daily basis are beyond our ability to fix. Satan is doing everything he can to convince us that we really don’t need God or his power working in us, for us, or through us. The world around us continues to become increasingly hostile to anything remotely related to God and his purposes. But the fact remains, a life without God is a life without meaning or purpose. How do we deal with the opposition we inevitably are encountering?

The Bible is clear that we are facing a very real enemy. Paul wrote these words to the Ephesians: “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12, NLT).

It is for this very reason that it is important for us to understand the Son-powered life. We need to be prepared and ready for war against these unseen powers with the weaponry that God has readied for us in order that we might live a life of victory. However, “We don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3–5, NLT).

Real power belongs to God.

For this reason, it is critical that we depend on God’s power released in us through the Spirit to face whatever spiritual opposition is coming at us. I often use 2 Corinthians 13:14 as a personal prayer, “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with [me]” (NLT). When I am fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit, God the Father can direct my heart into his love and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and it is from this point that I can receive revelation. It is the Holy Spirit that reveals God’s plans and purposes to us, and by him we experience the power and presence of the Father and the Son. It is this power and presence exactly what we need to face spiritual opposition and obstacles.

What spiritual opposition are you currently experiencing? How can Son Power enable you to deal with the situation(s)?

Son Power destroys the devil’s schemes.

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3, NKJV)

This is a statement made by the Creator of the universe himself! When I first read this verse, my initial thought was, How can this overwhelming promise become personally operative in my life? The statement seems so simple, but the reality of it is almost beyond belief … almighty God will answer me! All I need to do is call out to him.

Second Chronicles 16:9 explains, “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (NLT). I want my heart to be fully committed to God because then I can be strengthened and empowered by him.

We need to remember how great the counsel of God is and how mighty his work is. By his mighty power he created the heavens and earth. Throughout the Old and New Testaments we read of his intervention in the lives of his people. As we expand our knowledge and experience of just how great God is, we will more quickly remember to turn to him when the going gets rough. God has promised to answer us! He has promised to show us great and mighty things! He has promised to strengthen us! I want to pursue God as the first priority in my life. I want to be a Converterlator, an agent of change. I want to fulfill the Great Commission by strategically investing my time, talent, treasure in God’s purposes. I want to call on God … first … when I need help and guidance and protection.

What do you need to “call on God” for today?

Son Power allows you to personally call on God.

Link to chapter 9 “Facing Spiritual Opposition Head On” and/or article “Facing Spiritual Opposition Head On” under Supernatural Power

Focus on God’s Power

“God stirs up the sea with His power, and by His understanding He breaks up the storm.” (Job 26:12, NKJV)

When we take time to reflect on God’s power, we’re amazed. And this in turn expands our vision of what God can do in us and through us. Images of God’s power are presented throughout the entire Bible. His power gives us confidence that he can overcome anything that is causing difficulty in our lives. His presence can dissolve any obstacle. Since he is the creator of all things, he knows all about our world and has the creative ability to deal with anything that is in need of repair.

God sent Jesus Christ into this world to bring us salvation and hope. I have often heard it said, Jesus is “God with skin on.” Jesus Christ is God incarnate; God embodied in human flesh. Because of Jesus Christ we have seen God at work in our world: loving people, healing disease, doing miracles, raising people from the dead. It is this power that we can rely on.

I am a huge fan of acrostics, which are poems, word puzzles, or other compositions in which certain letters in each line form a word or words. An acrostic can help bring to mind important topics. For me, most often my acrostics are words associated with key Bible verses that help me remember key attributes of God. Here is one of the acrostics I have developed that helps me remember that when I call on the power of Christ, he will, through the Holy Spirit, provide what I need. The word is CHRIST, with each letter giving me a key attribute of God. I’ve then associated a key verse with each attribute. This word is important to me, but it is not a formula. You can put an acrostic together on your own.

C Companionship … “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5–6, NIV)

H Hope … “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13, NKJV)

R Revelation … “He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.” (Daniel 2:22, NKJV)

I I … “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20, NLT)

S Submission … “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:4–5, NKJV)

T Trust … “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.” (Psalm 37:3–6, NIV)

When I soak my mind and heart on this acrostic and its accompanying verses, I experience the wonderful peace and power that only come from God. I also use these verses in my conversations with the Lord, sowing my conversation with its contents. The Holy Spirit has often quieted my heart and mind. We can be freed and empowered when we use the Scripture in this way.

What situation in your life is requiring that you focus on God’s power?

Son Power expands your vision of what God can do in and through you.

“God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5, NIV)

We live by the Spirit. When we are filled with the Spirit, we will not fulfill our own desires, but those that God has given us. We are talking Son Power here, power that enables us to accomplish all that God has for us to do and be.

Paul said it well in his letter to the Corinthians: “That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.’ But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets” (1 Corinthians 2:9–10, NLT).

You and I are like ink pens. An ink pen is an instrument to be used by another. Without ink, the pen is useless. A pen without ink is left on the desk. Only with ink is it fit for use by the writer and prepared for the mission it was designed for. The Spirit is the “ink” in us. In order for us to be instruments God can pick up and use to continue “writing his story” in our world, we need to be filled with the ink of the Holy Spirit. When we are filled, we can flow with the Spirit into our daily lives with his power. This Son-powered life overcomes our sinful nature. For as Paul said in his letter to the Galatians, “Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit” (Galatians 6:8, NLT).

In what ways is Son Power currently giving you strength to persevere?

Son Power enables you to accomplish all that God has planned for you.

Link to chapter 9 “Facing Spiritual Opposition Head On” and/or article “Facing Spiritual Opposition Head On” under Supernatural Power

Use the Armor of God

“Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10–11, NLT)

Ephesians 6:12–18 presents one of the most powerful truths in the Bible: we have the ability to protect ourselves against the attacks of Satan.

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. (NLT)

This passage identifies the various pieces of armor that will protect us from Satan’s attacks: belt of truth, body armor of God’s righteousness, shoes of peace that come from the Good News, shield of faith, helmet of salvation. All of these represent defensive armor. When we are under attack, we often don’t think about using God’s truth, righteousness, peace, Good News, faith, or salvation. These words seem to lack power. But we need to remember they are not words; they are tools in the hands of the Holy Spirit to empower us.

There is one offensive item listed in this passage, and that is the Word of God. Paul calls it the “sword of the Spirit.” It is the weapon used to aggressively counter the overtures of Satan as he attempts to ensnare us in his strategies of stealing, killing, and destroying. It is only when we soak our hearts in the Word of God, so much so that it actually becomes a part of our spiritual DNA that we will be able to use this weapon effectively. God has given us an incredible weapon that can and does thwart the enemy’s attacks. Therefore, we constantly need to be soaking our hearts and minds in the Word of God because it will work on our behalf when we allow it to be used as the sword of the Spirit.

Which piece of God’s armor do you need to specifically focus on today?

Son Power employs the weapons of the Holy Spirit for protection against Satan’s attacks.

“Christ will make his home in your hearts as your trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” (Ephesians 3:17–18, NLT)

When we are in the middle of a spiritual attack or trial we can firmly stand on God’s Word. I like to use acrostic words paired together with Bible verses to remind me of the truths that apply to my life. The word GRACE reminds me that God is working in my life in powerful ways.

G God’s Greatness 

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4, NKJV)

R Rejoicing

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4, NLT)

A Acceptance

“And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” (Mark 4:20)

C Compel

“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.” (2 Corinthians 5:14, NIV)

E Eternal Rewards

“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.” (Revelation 22:12)

It can be difficult to remember to turn to God and to his Word when we are experiencing difficult times. However, God’s power is what we need more than anything else in those times. Take time to soak your heart and mind in God’s great promises, so that you will have them ready when you need them.

Try and come up with your own acrostic word and verses to remind you in times of struggle of God’s great power working on your behalf.

Son Power is available to you at any time.

“Teach us to number our days.” (Psalm 90:12, NLT)

When you think about it, time is the most equalized resource available to us. Some people may have more talent, and some may have more treasure, but we all have the same twenty-four hours in each day. It is natural to look at that time as a resource to be used for oneself, but as we learn to partner in life with God, we become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading in the use of our time to fulfill God’s purposes.

God can use even the smallest portion of your time to make a difference for his kingdom.

Our time has been given to us by God—all of it. As we embrace this important principle, we need to evaluate how sensitive we are to the Spirit’s direction in our daily lives in using our time.

When our time is infused with Son Power we will find the Holy Spirit giving us wisdom and discernment as he directs our decisions about how to schedule our time. As we continue to follow his leading, we will become sensitive throughout the day as to where and when God is calling us to change direction and when he is reassuring us to persevere with our time commitments.

God has the ability to bring things into our lives that he wants dealt with, and he has the ability to rearrange our schedules, when we allow the Holy Spirit free access. We often view these types of situations as “interruptions,” but they are in reality “divine appointments!”

The Holy Spirit is the great provider of strength and wisdom. When you are feeling overwhelmed, you can depend on the Holy Spirit to help you with your time management and time commitments. I have actually found that the Holy Spirit can provide

me with more available time by intervening on my behalf so what I need to do takes less time. I have also discovered that the Holy Spirit can give divine flashes of insight that reveal steps to be taken, obstacles to be removed, or resources to be used to make things go faster. The Holy Spirit can also direct people to come alongside me to take on some of my work or responsibilities. Finally, the Holy Spirit can orchestrate events and circumstances that create a favorable environment for accomplishment.

The Holy Spirit can also protect us from distractions that absorb time. He can expose the thoughts and desires that get us off track and break our concentration on what God wants us to be doing (see Philippians 3:13–14). He can also guard us from the schemes of Satan who often uses other people to draw us away from what God wants us to be doing (see Nehemiah 6:1–16). Finally, the Holy Spirit can protect us from personal crises that require immediate attention such as health issues, financial problems, or relational tensions that ultimately take our attention away from the things that God wants us to accomplish.

As you stay in tune with the Spirit’s leading, he will keep the current of Son Power moving through you. Look for God to use your time in a supernatural way as you trust in the Holy Spirit’s intervention in you as you pursue God’s purposes in the use of your time.

In what ways are you expecting and allowing God to maximize your time?

Son Power maximizes your time.