The resources of God through the Spirit

I am the Lord All-Powerful. So don’t depend on your own power or strength, but on my Spirit. ~ Zechariah 4:6 (CEV)

But the Spirit makes us sure that God will accept us because of our faith in Christ. ~ Galatians 5:5 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

The resources of God are made available to us through his Spirit.

PRAYER:

Holy Spirit, thank you for being here for us -- caring for us, empowering us, sharing divine insights with us. I don't rely on you in the way that I should. Help me to put my faith in Christ and you instead of putting faith in my ability to control my circumstances. I'm going to let you direct me. Amen.

Powerful

You, Lord, are the God our ancestors worshiped, and from heaven you rule every nation in the world. You are so powerful that no one can defeat you. ~ 2 Chronicles 20:6 (CEV)

I pray that Christ Jesus and the church will forever bring praise to God. His power at work in us can do far more than we dare ask or imagine. Amen. ~ Ephesians 3:20-21 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

Trust in what God is doing because his power is greater than anyone or anything that we can imagine.

PRAYER:

You God, are good and powerful -- more so than we an possibly realize. I have that idea down. Yet, the thing which troubles me is that I still live as though you are basically powerless. I wring my hands when I see injustice or the political games of our leaders. I allow it all to drag me down -- a defeated, hopeless, nonbeliever. Refresh my awareness of your power at work through Christ Jesus so that I can join all the believers who have gone before us in their glorious worship. Amen.

The nobodies

Bethlehem Ephrath, you are one of the smallest towns in the nation of Judah. But the Lord will choose one of your people to rule the nation— someone whose family goes back to ancient times. ~ Micah 5:2 (CEV)

Isn’t it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these “nobodies” to expose the hollow pretensions of the “somebodies”? ~ 1 Corinthians 1:28 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

God uses the least important nobodies to carry out his plans.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for noticing me. I'm sort of a nobody in this world. I confess that I try too hard to be a somebody -- even though I can see that you are predisposed to work through the nobodies. Please help me to accept who I am and to find my confidence and significance in you. I can't wait to see what adventures you have in store for my life. Amen.

God is getting close

The one who is about to give me justice is getting very close. Who, then, could dare to bring more charges against me? My accusers have suddenly become invisible. So let's take our stand together. Won't you join me? ~ Isaiah 50:8 (ABP)

When Jesus came to that spot, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down at once. I must stay in your home today.” ~ Luke 19:5 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

Through Jesus, God is moving in even closer to us.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for calling my name and inviting yourself to stay with me. I know that I should be inviting you myself but I'm ill-prepared to extend such an invitation. Yet I welcome the closeness that you initiate. Help me to be hospitable to your divine presence -- to know the words to say -- the food to serve -- and the guests to invite. It may be a little awkward at first but I think that this is going to be good. Amen.