“Jesus knew what they were thinking, so He asked them, ‘Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? Is it easier to say “Your sins are forgiven,” or “Stand up and walk”? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!’” (Matthew 9:4-6 NLT)
There are two words in the Greek language that are translated “power” in our English translations. One is the word from which comes our English word “dynamite” and the other, used above, is the word that means “authority.” This isn’t the manager at Walmart who is given “authority” by those who hire him, it’s the God of the universe who is in and of Himself inherent power. It’s power that resides in Him by virtue of His nature; it’s who He is. He has power and authority because He IS power and authority.
When you’re feeling weak, powerless in and of yourself; when what looms before you is clearly too much to handle in your own strength, who will you call? Yeh, I get it, you can call “Ghostbusters” if you’d like, or you can call the manager at Walmart or your boss, your mother or any other human being, but you won’t find the help you need until you focus your attention on the God of the Bible.
Thom Rainer points us to the right source when he writes: “We are powerless when we are prayerless.” As weakness seems to be my new “normal,” my primary recourse is to run to my Father’s arms. There I find comfort, peace, hope, strength, relaxation, assurance and everything else I need to push forward with hope and confidence.
Putting on a veneer of strength isn’t what will solve our problems or sustain us through our trials. The Holy God alone is enough because He not only IS power, He IS authority! How does that translate? It means nothing or no one touches my life without His express permission. It means if the Lord allows it, it has purpose, not to cripple or destroy me, but to make me more like Him.
In my weakness, my powerlessness, is my strength. I’m never more like Jesus than when I’m cradled in the arms of my heavenly Father. His voice will never be more clear, His power more evident than when He’s holding me, protecting me, teaching me, loving me. There is no greater security than being in the shelter of the most High God.
Satan is powerless in the presence of our Savior and Lord. The demons quake in fear at the mention of His holy Name. If we’re feeling powerless it’s because we’re choosing to be prayerless. Prayer is our lifeline to the Father; the anchor for our soul; our shelter in times of trouble. To not run to the Father with our every need is to display an arrogance that is like a slap in His holy Face. It’s to essentially say, “never mind, Holy, all-powerful Father, I’ve got this!” when clearly we do not!
Feeling powerless is for non-believers, those who haven’t yet learned that we have a heavenly Father who loves us and who has our backs. The weaker my body gets, the stronger my spirit grows and the more determined I am to see Him more clearly, love Him more dearly, and walk with Him more nearly!
I love these words Overheard in an Orchard, by Elizabeth Cheney (1859) “Said the Robin to the Sparrow, ‘I should really like to know Why these anxious human beings Rush about and worry so!’ Said the Sparrow to the Robin, ‘Friend, I think that it must be That they have no heavenly Father Such as cares for you and me!’”
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 