To Get God’s Power, Give Him Your Trust

In review of Philippians 4:13 it says, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13 NLT).

Bottom Line:

We can do everything we need to do through Christ.

What this means to me:

It is Christ who can give me the strength, energy and guidance to do what is in front of me.

Paul knew how to be content whether he had plenty or whether he was in need. His secret was drawing on Christ’s power for his strength. Paul was content because he could see life from God’s point of view. He focused on what he was supposed to do, not what he felt he should have. Paul had his priorities straight, and he was grateful for everything God had given him. Paul had detached himself from the nonessentials so that he could concentrate on the eternal. Often the desire for more or better possessions is really a longing to fill an empty place in a person’s life. I should consider what I am drawn to when I feel empty inside? How and where can I find true contentement? The answer lies in my perspective, my priorities, and my source of power.

A right relationship with Jesus is foundational to every area of life. Through a secure relationship with Jesus, I can grow and change in ways that are impossible to do without one. In truth, I can’t accomplish anything without God: “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13 NLT).

A new challenge can seem tough or impossible when a major change occurs. What I’m reminded of this morning is that It’s impossible if I try to do it on my own! But God’s strength working through my faith will turn the impossible into the possible.

That’s why it takes faith to what God wants me to do. I’ll never be able to do it on my own. I was never intended to be able to! Anything I can do in your own strength doesn’t require faith, and when faith is not required, we’re living faithlessly.

When I come to Christ in acknowledgement of my weaknesses, he will turn my greatest weakness into my greatest strength. But that only happens through God’s power. The Bible tells me there’s a direct connection between faith and power. The more faith I have in God, the more power and the more blessings I’ll will have in my life.

I’m also learning that God will bless people who are not afraid to trust him completely. When I give him my trust, God fills me with his power. In the Bible, Abraham is considered the father of faith. It says, “He didn’t doubt God’s promise out of a lack of faith. Instead, giving honor to God for the promise, he became strong because of faith” (Romans 4:20 GW).

Without God’s power, I’m just running on my own energy. And that’s like having a laptop that’s unplugged; the battery will eventually drain and all the power will be gone. Why would I want to live like that?

Think of it like this: I’ve got a small battery within me. I can run through life on my own power, which means I’ll be tired all the time. Or I can have access to God’s power plant, provided I just plug in and admit I need God’s help. God has unlimited power to sustain my life and mission.

Today’s study is a great reminder for me. I’ve just started a new job and it has its own set of new challenges. I need to not just do this on my own, but call on and ask God for assistance, guidance and strength. This morning I pray, “God, I’m turning over my situation to you. I ask for your guidance and assistance to do things in a manner that is consistent with your character. I want to be a blessing to those I lead and work, and for the greater mission of SIS.”

Focus on Faith, Not Feelings

In review of Job 1:21 it says, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (NIV).

Bottom Line:

Regardless of what we get or lose, it is God who provides. He is to be praised no matter what.

What this means to me:

I came into this world with nothing, and I will leave with nothing. I need to understand that its God who gives and God who take away. Regardless of what happens or what I get or lose, God is to be praised.

I must remember that I live in a fallen world where good behavior is not always rewarded and bad behavior isn’t always punished. I’m reminded this morning that when I was a new Christian, God gave me a lot of confirming emotions and answered some of my most immature, self-centered prayers, He did this so that I’ll know he exists. But as I grew in faith, he began to wean me of these dependencies.

Overall God wants me to sense his presence, but he’s more concerned that I trust him than feel him. Faith is what truly matters to God, not what I feel.

The situations that will stretch my faith most will be those times when life falls apart and God seems nowhere to be found. This happened to Job. On a single day he lost everything, his family, his business, his health, and everything he owned. Most discouraging for Job was that for 37 chapters, God said nothing!

So how do I praise God when I don’t understand what’s happening and God is silent? How do I stay connected in a crisis without communication? How do I keep my eyes on Jesus when they’re full of tears? Rick Warren suggests that I do what Job did: Job fell to the ground in worship and said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (Job 1:21 NIV).

It’s ok to tell God exactly how I feel. Its ok to pour out my heart to God. Unload every emotion that I’m feeling. Job did this when he said, “I can’t be quiet! I am angry and bitter. I have to speak” (Job 7:11 GNT).

He cried out when God seemed distant: “Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God’s intimate friendship blessed my house” (Job 29:4 NIV).

Job did not hide his overwhelming grief. He not not lost his faith in God; instead his emotions showed that he was a man and that he loved his family. God created our emotions, and it is not sinful or inappropriate to express them like Job did. Job had lost his possessions and family in the first of Satan’s test, but he reacted rightly toward God by acknowledging God’s sovereign authority over everything God had given him. Job passed the test and proved that people can love God for who he is, not what he gives.

When things happen, I am to focus on faith, and not my feelings.

True Faith Is Active, Never Passive

In review of James 2:20 it says, “When will you ever learn that ‘believing’ is useless without doing what God wants you to? Faith that does not result in good deeds is not real faith”.

Bottom Line:

Real faith is more than just belief, its showing itself in good deeds.

What this means to me:

It takes more than just belief. I need to do what God wants me to do. For faith on my part that does not result in good deeds is not real faith at all.

Faith is more than a frame of mind. It's really passive to just wait to see what God has in store: such as a promotion, cancer, depression, betrayal, blessing, wealth, or injustice saying, “I’ll just wait to see what God is going to do for me and go with the flow.” However, that’s foolish thinking.

I’m reminded this morning that faith is active. It’s not passive. It’s a commitment. I should look at my lifestyle and see what kinds of actions follow as a result of it. If I have a faith that’s real, it can and should be demonstrated.

I am to start following the pattern of Jesus. My faith is proven by how I live. However I must keep in mind that my salvation is not based on my works. For the things I do, my walking-around, everyday life alone won’t get me into Heaven. My actions don’t make me a Christian; they show that I’m a Christian.

Here are some next steps I can take in my faith:

First, celebrate the lavish gift of grace I have been given. I was saved because Jesus absolutely loves me and wants me to be with him in Heaven.

Secondly, show my faith. A wedding ring doesn’t make me married, but it declares it in a visible way. In the same way, baptism isn’t the thing that will get you into Heaven, but it’s an act of obedience. (Jesus commanded us to be baptized and to baptize others.)

Lastly, share my faith with the people around me. If I’m excited about what God has done in my life, then share it. There are lots of ways to do that. Continue to be plugged in to serving God. There are literally millions of possibilities. Point people to Jesus and love them like Jesus did. It’s a choice that will bring eternal joy to myself, and to the people I helped bring to Christ.

True faith transforms my conduct as well as my thoughts. If my life remains unchanged, then I truly don’t believe the truths I claim to believe. I cannot earn my salvation by serving and obeying God. But such actions show that my commitment to God is real. Deeds of loving service are not a substitute for, but rather a verification of, my faith in Christ.

God Is Always on Time

In review of Galatians 6:9 it says, “Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up”.

Bottom Line:

Never get tired of doing what’s right. At the right time you will be blessed.

What this means to me:

Just because something doesn’t happen in my timing doesn’t mean I should give up doing what is right. God, In his timing will provide it at the right time.

What I’m learning is that In the waiting room of life, I can choose to trust God instead of panicking or just giving up. I also need to keep in mind two things: One, God is never in a hurry. And two, God is never late. God’s timing is always perfect. What’s happening is that God is getting me ready for a miracle!

I’m reminded this morning of the story of Lazarus (John 11) and Jesus’ timing. Mary and Martha had a brother named Lazarus, who was one of Jesus’ best friends. They lived in Bethany, which was just a few miles from where Jesus was on the day Lazarus got sick. They sent word to Jesus that his friend was gravely ill and asked him to come to them.

Jesus could have easily been in Bethany in an hour or two. But it took Jesus three days to go about five miles. When he got there, they told him, “You’re too late! We’ve already buried Lazarus.”  But Jesus wasn’t late. Jesus already knew what he was going to do. His goal was not to heal Lazarus. His goal was to raise him from the dead. Jesus’ goal was not to just make Lazarus well. His goal was to do a miracle of astronomical proportions. Jesus walked up to Lazarus’ tomb, told them to roll the stone away, and said, “Lazarus, come forth.” And Lazarus did!

It seems there can be times when God lets a situation get so bad that only a miracle will do. So I shouldn’t give up my faith. Just hold on. I’m encouraged to Keep praying and serving. Keep sowing. Keep believing. Because I’m being prepared for a miracle or the situation He wants me in.

I must remember that God already knows what he’s going to do in my life next month, next year, and in the next decade, and this plan is for my good. This really confirms what has transpired with things leading up to my new role. I had been praying for an opportunity where I could use the skills I have developed over the years and the opportunity to be of assistance to another organization. My new company seems to be filled to the brim with opportunities. I need to continue to trust God and obtain his guidance so that I can truly make a difference.

Faith Is Thanking God in Advance

In review of Mark 11:24 it says, “When you pray and you ask for something, believe that you have received it and you will be given what you asked for”

Bottom Line:

Faith is thanking God in advance

What this means to me:

Faith on my part is thanking God in advance, believing that He will give what I ask for.

As I read the context around this passage this morning, I see that the kind of prayer that moves mountains is the prayer for the fruitfulness of God’s Kingdom. God will answer my prayers, but not as a result of my positive thinking, but rather as a result of: (1) I must not hold a grudge against another person, (2) I must not pray with selfish motives, (3) my request must be for the good of God’s Kingdom and helping others. For me to pray effectively, I need faith in God, not faith in the object of my request. If my focus is only on my request, I will be left with nothing if my request is refused.

My prayers can be motivated by my own interests and desires. I’d like to hear that I can have anything. But Jesus prayed with God’s interests in mind. When I pray, I can express my desires, but I should want his will above my own.

So what I’m learning is that faith is not believing God can do something. Faith is not hoping he will do something. Faith is thanking God in advance.

Jesus said, “When you pray and you ask for something, believe that you have received it and you will be given what you asked for” (Mark 11:24 GNT).

Thanking God after I’ve got it, is gratitude. But When I thank him in advance, it’s called faith. It’s much like this illustration, If someone handed me a check right now for a thousand dollars, I wouldn’t wait until I cashed it to say “thank you”? I’d thank that person right away. Yet the thousand dollars wouldn’t really be mine until I actually cashed it, because that check is simply a promise. When I’m given the check, I can genuinely say thanks, believing that the promise is credible and that the person has enough money in the bank to cover that amount.

Faith is like that. It is thanking God in advance. Jesus said, “Because of your faith, it will happen” (Matthew 9:29 NLT).

This has been a great reminder for me. I remember thanking God in advance all along for the new job I just started this week. God has come through and given me an opportunity to use my skills to help another organization and to train/mentor new team members.

Telling It Like It Could Be

In review of Romans 4:17 it say, “[God] speaks of future events with as much certainty as though they were already past”

Bottom Line:

We can believe that when God says he will do something, his promise is good.

What this means to me:

Like Abraham, I can believe that when God says he will do something, his promise is good and will certainly happen.

I’m am learning that there is enormous power in my words. If I’m going to become a person of faith, I’ll have to change the way I talk. Rick Warren suggests that I have to announce it in order to experience it.

Sometimes speaking in faith appears totally foolish, totally arrogant, and totally out of touch with reality to people who don’t understand faith. Abraham knew about this. God came to Abram one day and said, “Abram, I’m going to change your name from Abram to Abraham.” Abraham means “the father of a great nation.”

There was only one problem: Abraham was 99 years old, and his wife was past the age for bearing children. He was probably ruthlessly ridiculed for his name. But God says that we don’t live in the world of human reality. We live in the world of spiritual reality, and we see it not as it is but as it can be, as it should be, as God wants it to be.

Romans 4:17 says that God “speaks of future events with as much certainty as though they were already past” (TLB). That’s called speaking in faith — you announce it in order to experience it.

Some say, “I just tell it like it is.” That’s one way to do it. However I should move from this and just tell it like it could be! Telling it like it is has never changed anybody. It only makes people defensive.

For example, I could say to someone, “You’re a lousy father. You don’t spend any time with your kids because your career is more important.” But when I label somebody, you reinforce it. Instead, you could say, “I see in you the potential for greatness. If you would let Jesus Christ take control of your life, you wouldn’t be perfect, but you could become a godly man of character that your kids admire.” That’s the kind of talk that motivates change!

So, I’m encouraged to not tell it like it is. Tell it like it could be, like it should be, like God wants it to be. Speak it in advance and in faith. Today I should consider how I speak. As a leader, I should be about building up and encouraging others.

Living By Commitments And Not Feelings

In review of Hebrews 11:27 it says, “It was faith that made Moses leave Egypt without being afraid of the king’s anger. As though he saw the invisible God, he refused to turn back”

Bottom Line:

Faith is what allows us to move forward, knowing God is there with us

What this means to me:

Faith is what will allow me to move forward in a situation. In faith I can see God right there with me

It took faith for Moses to give up his place in the palace, but he could do it because he saw the fleeting nature of great wealth and prestige. It is easy to be deceived by the temporary benefits of wealth, popularity, status, and achievement, and to be blind to the long-range benefits of God’s Kingdom. Faith helps me look beyond the world’s value system to see the eternal values of God’s Kingdom.

I have to admit that Sometimes I don’t feel like being nice to everyone. I don’t feel like doing the unselfish thing. I’d rather just sit in my recliner and watch TV. I don’t want to do one more thing today. I don’t want to handle another problem. But just because I don’t feel like it doesn’t mean I shouldn’t do it.

I’ve found that if the only time I pray is when I feel like it, the enemy will make sure I never feel like it. If the only time I read my Bible is when I feel like it, the enemy makes sure I never feel like it. I’m learning that maturity is when I live my life by my commitments, not by my feelings.

Also I’m finding the difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is that successful people are willing to do what unsuccessful people don’t feel like doing. They develop habits. They stay committed. You don’t get to the Olympics because you feel like it. You get to the Olympics by hours and hours of training that you didn’t feel like doing. You don’t become a master musician without hours and hours of rehearsal that you probably didn’t feel like doing all the time.

In the same way, I won’t become a godly man or woman by simply doing what I feel like doing. Godly men and women choose to develop the habits that produce godliness in their lives. It’s not any easier than working out or dieting or rehearsing or anything else that may be good for you but you don’t feel like doing.

So how can I develop this kind of persistence?

The key is to look not at my problem but at the Lord. Probably the greatest example in the Bible of persistence is Moses. For 40 years, he led a group of crying, squabbling, complaining babies around the desert while they questioned his leadership the entire time. Yet he never gave up.

Hebrews 11:27 says, “It was faith that made Moses leave Egypt without being afraid of the king’s anger. As though he saw the invisible God, he refused to turn back” (GNT). Moses “saw the invisible God.” He kept his eyes on God.

So one of the keys for me is to keep my eyes on God. If I focus on own problem, I’m going to be distressed and depressed. If I focus on God, I’m going to be at rest.

Today as I reflect on this, I may have been as diligent as I should be in my responsibility as grow group coach. With recent changes and not much response from the group leaders I have prematurely set this aside. Seems I need to be a bit more focused on what God wants to do though me in this role vs. what is convenient and easy for me.

I will keep my focus on Him today and listen to his voice and what he wants. I will ask for His help to push through and difficulties and not give up.