You've Got the Power…Are You Using It?
One of my favorite Scriptures is John 10:10. The Amplified version says, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." I love how this verse shows us that Jesus came so we can have abundant life – to the full – and enjoy it.
I was a Christian for a long time before I learned how to live a victorious, abundant life in Christ. During those years, I had a weak, pathetic, barely-get-by kind of life. I was pitiful, not powerful, and miserable because I was selfish, self-centered and focused on my problems rather than God and His Word.
It was an amazing revelation when I discovered that not only is God powerful, but He wants to fill us with His power. God doesn't promise us a problem-free life, but He does promise to give us the strength and ability to do what He's calling us to do if we will love Him, put our trust in Him, and lean on Him.
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It's in the Word
I want to share several Scriptures with you about God's promises to help us and equip us to overcome difficult times. Because if you don't understand that His power is available to you and believe it, you won't be able to release it in your life.
John 16:33 (NKJV) says, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Jesus is saying in this world, we'll have problems, but cheer up! Through our life in Christ, we can overcome them and have abundant life!
Romans 8:11 (AMP) says, "If the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you." And Isaiah 40:29 (AMP) says, "He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound]."
As believers in Christ, the Holy Spirit lives in our spirit. This means we are filled with the resurrection power of Jesus – the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead – and we have everything we need in every circumstance to help us deal with our problems victoriously, no matter what's going on in our lives. This is so encouraging because we all have weaknesses and limitations, but God has no limitations. And He wants to give us His power when we need it.
The Benefit of Being Weak
The key to accessing God's power is to understand how much we need Him to do anything that's of real value in life. The truth is, whether we realize it or not, we're all desperate for God every minute of every day. Because apart from Jesus, we can do nothing. (See John 15:5.) So in order to qualify for the power of God, you must first come to the place where you realize that in and of yourself, you are weak. But God's "strength and power are made perfect…and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9 AMP).
It's so easy to focus on the negative things in life, such as our weaknesses, limitations and problems. But if we give them to God and let Him use them to draw us closer to Him, they can become blessings in our lives. God will take all things – even the bad things – in our lives and work them out for our good (see Romans 8:28). We just have to believe in Him and His promises in the Word.
Through my walk with Christ, I've developed a simple philosophy for having abundant life: If I trust God and do what He's asking me to do to the best of my ability, then He is going to take care of me. In Christ, I have the confidence that whatever comes, I can handle it with God's help. I'm in Christ, and the same power that raised Him from the dead dwells in me. I can do whatever I need to do in life through Christ who strengthens me!
God loves you so much and He wants you to enjoy your life. When you're going through difficult times, remember to focus on Him, not your problems. Resist thoughts like "This is too hard. It's too much for me. I can't do this!" Instead, take hold of God's Word and boldly say, "God, I know You love me and You're with me. I am weak, but You are strong. And no matter what's going on in my life, I can do whatever I need to do through Christ who strengthens me!" You've got the power…you just have to release it.
