DAY 21

Day Twenty-One:  WE ARE NOT BATTERY OPERATED!

Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV) 

Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.”

It is important to know that spiritual gifts are not like toys whose packages say, “batteries required.”  What the Holy Spirit provides is not dependent on perishable batteries for power.  Instead, when the Spirit secures our new life in Christ, He also empowers and strengthens us with every spiritual resource we will ever need to serve Christ and minister to others.

The Holy Spirit draws from an infinite supply of strength and power, as Paul indicates in Ephesians 3:20.  In Ephesians 3:16 he had just prayed that the Ephesians would be “strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner being” (NIV).  Paul was certain that God’s Spirit can do far more in the lives of believers than most of us ever imagine.  So many of us don’t ever get past the phrase in Ephesians 3:20, “to Him who is able,” and with that failure we limit how much the Holy Spirit can do in and through us.

Without a doubt, Paul had much more than just a theoretical understanding of the Holy Spirit’s infinite power supply, he literally had experienced it firsthand!  Even when he was stretched to the limit physically and spiritually, he said, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (II Corinthians 4:8 NIV).  We can’t attribute his inner perseverance and determined strength to any other source than the Holy Spirit.

No matter how difficult or discouraging our own circumstances become, we can rely on the Holy Spirit like Paul did.  If we feel stuck, we don’t have to be frustrated.  If we are confused, we don’t have to feel anxious.  If we are persecuted, we don’t have to face it alone.  Even if we are dying from a terminal disease, we have the capacity to be alive in our heart and spirit!  Although our outer person might be exhausted and completely stressed, we have the complete assurance that we are being renewed with fresh strength daily from the Holy Spirit.  

II Corinthians 4:16 says, “Therefore, we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (NIV).

Heavenly Father, we thank you that even though we face daily challenges and trials, we have the Holy Spirit as our source of strength and power to help us through every difficulty.  May we continue to have the discernment and tenacity to follow Your will despite our circumstances.  We thank You that You are always present to guide and provide for us.  We humbly ask You to transform our hearts and minds to become more like You in every area of our life!  You are loving, kind, compassionate, giving, faithful, merciful, strong, forgiving, good, righteous, caring, sovereign, my shepherd, ever-present, my refuge, gracious, my healer, and all powerful.

Prayer Points:

Personal:   Provision and Finances for the people of The Cause

Community: That we would share the heart of Jesus to “seek and save the lost”