Apicontent

“I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8, NLT)

As I consider how Son Power works in and through all believers, I believe it is best explained by what I like to describe as the “4 Rs”: Relationship, Revelation, Reflection, and Redemption. All of these Rs are connected to and interrelated with each other.

Relationship

We have a relationship with almighty God through his Son, Jesus Christ. This relationship is established by receiving Christ as our personal Savior and trusting in his saving work on the cross.

Revelation

The relationship we have with God, when it is alive and growing, leads to revelation. As we spend time in God’s Word, he reveals his will to us. In Jeremiah 33:3 we read, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (NIV). As we spend time in God’s Word, he will guide and direct our steps as we trust in him. All of this becomes a reality in our lives as we allow the Holy Spirit to renew our minds and transform us from within.

Reflection

After something is revealed to us, we must reflect upon it. What does this mean? What should we do with what has been revealed to us? How does this impact our lives and the world around us? Does this revelation require action on our part? This really is the beginning of Son Power working its way in and through our lives.

We have a relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ, his Son; the Holy Spirit reveals God’s will to us; and we must reflect on what is revealed to us in order to move forward in the strength and wisdom of the Spirit. All of these principles are interrelated. When we are faced with the claims of Christ, we must make a decision. We must be careful to act in whatever way God is directing us when his will is revealed to us. Son Power enlightens us in the process of revelation. It directs us to make right decisions and empowers us to follow through on those decisions.

Redemption

Once we decide to act on what has been revealed to us, we are in a position to redeem our world for God and his purposes. Because of our relationship with God through Jesus Christ, we understand that we are living in a world that in its present form is passing away. Everything we can see and touch is in the process of perishing. But we know that we can converterlate the perishable items of time, talent, and treasure of this world into the imperishable values and treasure of the world to come. The New Testament instructs us, “Make the most of every opportunity” (Ephesians 5:16, NLT), and “Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity” (Colossians 4:5, NLT).

If you were to ask a friend, What does the word redemption mean? they might be a little perplexed. The definition of redemption according to Merriam-Webster is the act of making something better or more acceptable, the act of exchanging something for some kind of award. Other definitions include repurchasing something or making a deliverance or rescue. We could also include the idea of exchanging something by using something else of value. To redeem something essentially means to buy it back or regain possession of it. It is a “recover and restore” process.

When we decide to move into the redemption phase of God’s revelation, we are not merely making the most of something. We are actually intentionally seizing an opportunity for a special work.

The 4 Rs are intertwined and represent a cycle. They also intersect with the “soak, sow, and flow” principle. Since this is a circular illustration, I’ve also added a “grow” component to the “soak, sow, and flow” that takes the process one step further. I believe this concept is best illustrated by what I like to refer to as a “Sonburst of Revelation.” This is actually a circle that represents a continuing reference to a key revelation from God.

Take a moment to really consider your life. Do you move through the 4 Rs or do you often get “stuck” at one place in the cycle? What steps can you take to be more intentional in continuing to move around the circle?

Son Power empowers us to intentionally seize an opportunity from God for his special work.

“Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:24, NLT)

Picture the sun rising on a beautiful, clear morning. We see it slowly peeking out over the horizon. As time passes it becomes more noticeable, the heat increases, the light becomes stronger until it is fully visible, a ball of light casting its intense glow over everything. The earth awakens each day to this light; plants grow and life is sustained. In much the same way, the Son rises in our hearts. We accept him into our lives and he progressively overcomes the darkness of our old lives, lives without him and full of self. As bits of this darkness are forced away through our increasing knowledge of him, the Son blazes forth, in ever greater intensity, into our everyday lives. We become partners with him as we become more and more aware of his power in us.

I believe the Bible calls us to this progression of experienced power when it says, “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (Ephesians 5:14, NIV). We see in this verse a wonderful promise of seeing Jesus Christ work in and through our lives and circumstances. And when Christ shines on the life of the believer, things happen!

Our focus here is on spiritual power. There are many kinds of power: secular, political, physical, informational, and even personal. However spiritual power, God’s power imparted to us by Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, trumps all other power whether it be earthly power or other supernatural power.

The Son-powered life is Christ, the power of God, living in and through us. However, knowing this fact and experiencing the reality of that relationship are two different things. The Son-powered life begins at the moment of spiritual birth and develops as we cultivate our relationship with Christ. We learn to trust Christ daily to live his life in and through us.

As we grow in our relationship with Christ Jesus we experience not only more and more of him, but more and more of his love and power and grace in our daily lives.  And as we experience more and more of Jesus in our lives, we also can start to happily experience less and less of self. In the book of John we read these words spoken by John the Baptist, “He must become greater

and greater, and I must become less and less” (John 3:30, NLT). This process can take place without us noticing, but eventually we should see evidence of this occurring in our lives as we cultivate our relationship with Christ. This is literally the power of Christ beginning to permeate our entire life.

The object of our faith is critical. If we trust in the power of self to live the Christian life, we will fail. Self is always ultimately powerless. Self relies on the old “try harder self-effort” model and is intent on meeting the demands of the law through works. We try and try to do and be what God wants, but unfortunately, the flesh is incapable of satisfying the perfect, exacting demands of the law. However, when Christ is the object of our faith, we trust him to live his life in us and we accept his power to achieve it. As we learn to become less and less, Jesus Christ becomes more and more.

What is currently happening in your life because of Son Power?

Son Power is all about you becoming less and less and Christ becoming more and more.

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever!” (Ephesians 3:20–21, NLT)

The late Dr. Bill Bright once wrote, “The more we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit and allow Him to guide and control our lives, the more Christ’s character will shine in what we say and do.” That’s what I want for my life, for the Son to be shining in all that I say and do.

It is by daily walking in the power of the Holy Spirit that we live our new lives in Christ. We’ve talked a lot in this book so far about what it means to experience Son Power in our lives, but now it is time to discuss what we should actually be seeing in our lives when the Son is working in us and through us.

I frequently begin my day by asking our heavenly Father to direct my heart toward his grace and love. I want my heart to be prepared so that I am ready to have communion with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit knows the mind of God, and he is the deliverer of all that God desires for me to know about my life and living for him. He is the one who teaches me all things and also empowers me to do what God desires. It is vital that I keep my heart and mind open to him. He enlightens me, enables me, teaches me, and imparts his life to me.

To live righteously, we need supernatural power. This supernatural power comes to us through the Holy Spirit and it is through God’s Word that we learn about this power and what it can accomplish.

Faith is the key. Faith releases the Son Power of God. Faith and trust in self will fail for all of our true power is sourced in Jesus Christ. Paul said it well, “Our great power is from God, not from ourselves” (2 Corinthians 4:7, NLT).

Fortunately, God has already made this resource available to us. “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires” (2 Peter 1:3–4, NLT).

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the ways in which he is empowering you through the moments of your days. Ask him to fill you with supernatural power to live a life of purpose and passion. Read God’s Word and allow it to fill your mind and your heart so that Son Power might be a force in your life that makes a difference.

In what ways are you currently experiencing supernatural power in your life?

Son Power is released by faith.

“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.