Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Power Source

Watch your thoughts for they become words
Watch your words for they become actions
Watch your actions, for they become habits
Watch your habits, for they become character
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny
(Anonymous)

I Can Do Whatever I Need to Do in Life Through Christ

I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me. Philippians 4:13

The fact of the matter is, while some situations may be intensly undesirable or difficult for you, you can do whatever you need to do in life.  I know this because God tells us in His Word that we have the strength to do all things because Christ empowers us to do so.  He doesn't say everything will be easy for us.  He doesn't promise we will enjoy every little thing we do, but we can enjoy life in the midst of doing them.  He does guarantee us the strength for everything we need to do because He Himself empowers us and we are sufficient-we have everything we need-in His sufficiency.

We must understand that Philippians 4:13 does not say we can do anything we want to do because we are strong enough, smart enough, or hard-working enough.  No, in fact, it leaves no room at all for human effort or striving of any kind.  The secret to being able to do what we need to do is realizing that we cannot do it alone; we can only do it in Christ.

For some reason, we often fail to use our faith to believe and act on that truth.  Instead, we think we have to do it all and, forgetting that the power of Christ works through us, we are defeated before we even begin.  We are partners with God, we cannot do His part and He will not do our part.  He wants us to believe and take action on His direction and leading, but He insists that we trust Him every step of the way.
(Joyce Meyer-Power Thoughts)

I closed my Bible this morning and just spent some time in prayer.  I have to be mindful that I don't just spend all of my time reading His Word and writing in my journals; prayer has to be a part of the process.  I can get so "busy" with the spirituality of it all that I'm neglecting my Power Source.  The Lord pointed out this morning that I'm quick with, "I'll pray for you"  to people, and the results are toss up prayers.  Prayers that are just thrown upwards without too much thought put into them.  Once said I can "check it" off my list-- so I'm brought to the awareness of actual time spent talking to Christ and allowing His Spirit to minister to me.

Don't Forget Your Power Source Today



We had our annual (3rd year) Christmas book club dinner last night.  My daughter and I used to exchange ornaments every year; then we decided to make it books. This year my son's girlfriend joined the club.  We ate dinner at Carrabas and headed over to Barnes and Noble.  Letting loose an avid reader into a book store and writing down every book she wants, is my idea of heaven on earth.  We had a lot of fun; then we exchanged lists.  We will meet again at my daughter's house for the "book exchange."







2 comments:

Susan Rowe said...

I didn't know you did the book exchange! How fun...I think my mom and I need to do that!

Retta said...

"I CAN do all things THROUGH Christ..."

A few years ago that was a can-opener verse for me. God used it to pry open my thinking, and make me stop saying "I can't". He told me to stop arguing with Him! He said that I could IF I depended on Him for my strength.

I tend to wander off and get unplugged. The cord is only so long... to stay plugged in I need to stay close to the power source. :-)

Loved this post!
Loretta
=^..^=