“If life is such a gift, then why does it feel like I’ve got the consolation prize?”
It’s pretty easy to lose heart in what can easily be seen as a heartless world. Unfairness seems to be the sport of the times.
Anyone with a weakness is perceived as less—not merely less fortunate, but less of a person somehow. Less important. Less valuable. And with a lesser voice to be heard.
Our world doesn’t like weakness. People become scared when they see the weakness of others. It reminds them of their own susceptibility, and that they are also prone to weakness—just steps away from their own failing.
People try desperately to live on their own strength. But sooner or later, they come to the end of themselves.
Have you come to the end of yourself?
No doubt, you’ve struggled. Maybe you have hoped for things—held your heart out—just to find it crushed.
Staring out through those silent hours, you search for the peace described in the Bible—that “perfect” peace which goes beyond your own understanding. But it eludes you.
I know about times like that.
Times when you know that you need to cry, but you refuse the tears—afraid that the flood may overtake you, or make you lose the little strength you have left.
You steel yourself—and with the very best face you can put on, you manage to get through another day. And another. And another.
Another day. More pain. Another day. More pain.
And hidden within, your wounded soul wonders why. Why? There is no ready answer.
I would never presume to know your pain, except for this pain of my own. I wouldn’t pretend to understand your wounds, without these scars that I wear.
And I’m telling you that when you come to the end of yourself, it’s time to plug in. Resist the temptation to distance yourself from God.
Just like plugging into an outlet, you must connect to your source of power—Christ Jesus—the most tortured, rejected, despised and grieved person ever to walk the face of the earth. He plugged in. And His life of resurrection power flows into your own.
Plug in to the Power of His Purpose
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Your Father has brought you to this place and time. Right here, and right now. In His perfect timing, His heart’s desire has placed you here. There is incredible power in knowing this. And there is incredible freedom in trusting in His purposes.
There is a popular trend lately, where people search yard sales, and even the garbage for household items to be “repurposed.” A dented, antique washtub could become a flower pot, or an old wooden door could be made into a shelf. People love to take things that many would consider junk, and make them into something useful—or even beautiful.
Plugging in to the power of God’s purpose for your life is as simple as repurposing each and every new day that you live—to be His.
Repurpose your life, and give it back—with gratitude—to the One who has purchased it for you. Repurpose your desires, and be willing to obediently do whatever He calls you to do. Repurpose your heart, and open it up to Him. Repurpose your mind, and make it set on knowing Him.
Do you feel that you and your life aren’t good enough for Him to use? Well, God is the greatest Repurposer of all! Go ahead and give Him your junk. He already sees the beautiful end result of what He died to do with your life.
Plug in to the Power of His Potential
“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:31-33)
Each new morning that you awaken, the sun will rise—you can be sure of that. But beyond the sunrise, there are plenty of uncertainties ahead.
Jesus promises that God will provide for all of your basic essentials of life, but He wants the potential of your life to be His.
When you believed in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and received His work on the cross in exchange for your Sin, you were reborn as a new creation. You were translated from a kingdom of self-centeredness and darkness, into the Kingdom of the Almighty God.
So if you are seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness first, you’re really doing what should be perfectly natural. You live in the Kingdom of your Lord and Christ, and you are on the King’s business.
Plugging in to God’s potential for your life is achieved with simple acts of obedience. With each act of obedience, God opens the door to places and possibilities that otherwise might have remained off limits, or out of reach.
You no longer desire or labor for the old kingdom. Each new morning, you embark on a completely new journey, with a new heart—to please your Lord and Master.
Consider the power of such an assignment. Imagine the unlimited potential contained within your one small life, waiting to be released.
Your ultimate potential—everything He created you to do, and be—was held within His heart, as He died on the cross for you. Seek His Kingdom and His righteousness first, and you will be set free to really live.
Plug in to the Power of His Placement
“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:2-4)
A typical feeling that you may struggle with, is one of feeling out of place in this world. But the reality is that your true place is in God.
Through Christ Jesus, you have been placed within God. His divine power gives you everything you need to live a Godly life—through knowing Him—and you are called to a life of glory and virtue (goodness). You are able and expected to partake of (participate in) His divine nature.
But your real adversary, the devil, is in the business of preventing you from knowing your place. He constantly attempts to make you forget where you actually stand.
He discourages you with lies. He makes you feel dissatisfied, and disinterested with the things of God. He distracts you with idols. He disorients you with confusion. He tempts you to be disobedient. He disables you with strongholds of sin. And then he accuses you of being distanced from God, and disqualified from serving Him. The devil “disses” you!
But you can just tell satan to “talk to the hand!” Tell that devil to just get behind you! Keep those lies behind you, and God’s truth out in front of you. Keep your eyes firmly fastened on Jesus, who holds you by the power of His Word. Through Him, you have already escaped the corruption of this world, and the devil’s tactics.
Plug in to God’s power of placement for your life, by remembering your true place in God—keep it in the forefront of your mind.
When you do, you walk in the power and authority of your placement. And you are a force to be reckoned with.
Plug in to the Power of His Patience
“Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.” (Psalm 37:7-9)
At first glance, patience doesn’t seem very powerful. It could even appear to be weakness. And if you’re anything like I am, you probably like to get things done in a hurry.
That may seem like an effective strategy in the short term, but it can lead to mistakes, if our actions outdistance our faith. That makes us prone to fretting over others who seem to prosper without God.
Those people will be cut off. But as Christ-followers, we are expected to “wait on the Lord.” We need to hear from God. He must be allowed to order our steps.
There is an old country song which goes, “one day at a time, sweet Jesus, that’s all I’m asking from you.” It’s true that one day at a time is all we really have. One day to receive. One day to believe. And one day to act on what we believe.
Plugging into the power of patience is approaching life in this manner—living each new day, one at a time—in Jesus.
- Welcoming the day: acknowledging that it is uniquely formed, by He who framed the world—with new beginnings, and new life lessons.
- Expecting the day: looking for good things to happen—not just by working up some good feelings, but expecting in faith.
- Seizing the day: not like some grabby opportunist, but looking for opportunities, as they are offered—and obediently acting on them.
- Offering the day: by practicing offering back to the Lord what He alone has made possible. An offering is something that is not required, but is freely given—with a true heart of gratitude, honor and adoration of Him.
So, are you still at the end of your rope? Take a good look at it.
Check out the plug at the end of it! God didn’t leave you helpless, and without a source of power. Don’t let go!
Grab hold of it, Friend. Grab hold of it with the authority you have been given, and plug into the resurrection power of Christ Jesus.
“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)
And remember—I’m plugged in too. Though we may be separated by many miles, or even half a world away, your Father is also my Father. Your King is also my King. Our prayers ascend up to the same throne room. And we are plugged in to that same source of power.
We are family. Formed in God’s own image. Kept by His strength. And destined to reign with Him, throughout eternities to come.
I can’t see you, and I don’t really know you yet. I can’t know exactly what you are facing, or fearing.
But I love you, friend.
And that’s the greatest power of all.