Nurtured by Power
Just a couple of quick provocative questions: How empowered do you feel? Who lives in your core? If he’s there you are empowered! When you are weak, he is strong! When you feel at the end of your rope, He is undergirding you! You must trust the power of Holy Spirit within you. “Be filled and keep on being filled with Holy Spirit…Ephesians 5:18b, NIV.
“Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart: His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted.” Ephesians 4:30, The Message. This question must be answered daily, moment by moment. We must stop dwelling on our circumstances and become enraptured by the wonderful and powerful presence of Jesus and his Spirit in our inner man. Focused there we will not grieve God or break His heart by taking Him for granted.
“God’s way is not a matter of mere talk: it’s an empowered life.” Ephesians 4: 20, The Message. Listen to this admonition from another version. It will rock your world! Does your world need rocking? Okay here it comes…”For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” So, do we need to shut up and release this power within us? It is time!
Our life is intimately consumed by the powerful presence of God. But, are we in touch with that powerful truth? We can become enraptured by the presence of Jesus and His Holy Spirit within us! But, it takes an intentioned lifestyle of putting Him and His Kingdom in proper perspective through our lives. “But seek first His Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 5:33, NIV.
“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving…steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”Matthew 6: 30-34, The Message, emphases mine.
Giving your entire attention to what He’s saying and doing in each moment of your life is the key to your empowerment. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34, NIV.
If your projecting your entire attention on tomorrow, you will be consumed, not empowered! In the unique wisdom of Bob Newhart, “stop it!” You have a New-heart with Jesus living in you! Therefore, “stop it” and focus your entire attention on “Christ in you, the hope of Glory!” That speaks for itself!
In the Grace empowerment of the moment! Ron Ross
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