May 22, 2024 Power at Work Within Us
Read: Ephesians 3:14-21 The Power at Work Within
14 This is why I kneel before the Father. 15 Every ethnic group in heaven or on earth is recognized by him. 16 I ask that he will strengthen you in your inner selves from the riches of his glory through the Spirit. 17 I ask that Christ will live in your hearts through faith. As a result of having strong roots in love, 18 I ask that you’ll have the power to grasp love’s width and length, height, and depth, together with all believers. 19 I ask that you’ll know the love of Christ that is beyond knowledge so that you will be filled entirely with the fullness of God.
20 Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by his power at work within us; 21 glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus for all generations, forever and always. Amen.
(Ephesians 3:14-21, CEB)
God the Father is our Creator; God the Son is our Savior and Redeemer; God the Holy Spirit is the one who leads us and empowers our inner being to increasingly reflect the image of Christ.
After attending a Disciple study, our leader asked me to consider teaching the nine-month Disciple 1 course the following year.
I politely declined.
I still denied the results of the Spiritual Gifts Inventory two sessions earlier. Three times I erased answers and re-took that questionnaire hoping to change the outcome. It didn’t. The gift of teaching stared back at me, but I didn’t want it.
The following fall semester, I reluctantly accepted the call.
A series of providential conversations placed me squarely before a class of 24 students. Foolish woman, what were you thinking? I did the only thing I knew to do – prepare. I studied, researched, outlined, and thought through the most engaging ways to present.
The outcome: Night after night, the Spirit filled in where I fell short. Answers came from my mouth to unanticipated, complex questions that should have stumped me. A scant 30 minutes of prepared material drew out into two hours of engaging conversations that sometimes even continued out the door and into the parking lot. Most amazing were the thank-you’s for words I spoke that I never remembered speaking.
Only by the power of the Holy Spirit at work within me and through me, was I able to “do far beyond all that [I] could ask or imagine.”
Be Still and Reflect: The very same power that raised Jesus from the dead brings life out of death in us. What do you believe about the Holy Spirit power within you? Considering today’s scripture and story, how is God challenging you to think differently about His power within you?
Pray: Glory be to You, O God, who works in me with power beyond my imagination. I surrender my fears and insecurities to You. Strengthen my inner being and fill me with the richness of Your glory through the Holy Spirit. I trust in Your guidance and provision and ask that Your Spirit continue to lead me as I step out in faith to serve You and others. In Jesus’ name and the power of His Holy Spirit, I pray. Amen.
By His Grace,
Gloria
P.S. If this week’s devotionals are inspiring you learn more about how you can live more deeply into a Spirit-filled, purpose-driven life, then I encourage you to register here for our upcoming Spiritual Gifts Workshop on June 1.