You’ve Got the Power

Two weeks prior to a super exciting speaking engagement the enemy tried to mess with my self worth. It’s an old tactic of that slippery snake. Some trauma as a child really took a toll on my self worth. It’s taken me years of prayer, Bible reading, and counseling to realize the truth, that the only one who defines me is Jesus, and He says I am holy, royal, chosen, wonderful, awe-inspiring, and a masterpiece. He says all these same things about you. No matter where you’ve been or what someone else told you. Yup, you. I think that’s worth repeating, Jesus sees you as holy, royal, chosen, wonderful, awe-inspiring, and a masterpiece. 

If you’re like me, you might read those words today, sit up straighter, get pumped up, inspired, and ready to roll. And then next week or tomorrow someone will say something nasty to or about you, you won’t get picked, things won’t work out, and you’ll believe something less than lovely about yourself. 

I’d been through this drill with Satan before. I know his game to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:9), and I wasn’t going down without a fight. The book of Ephesians has always reminded me who I am, what Jesus calls me to do, and why I am both equipped to and need to do it. So, I decided to read the whole book of Ephesians (it’s short) each morning until the day of the event. 

And each morning Jesus showed up. That’s what He does when we read His word, when we intentionally seek time with Him.

In the pages of Ephesians Jesus reminded me that we are so loved by Him (1:4). We are part of His family (1:14). He creates us intentionally and beautifully to join Him in wonderful work (2:10). God can do way more than we can imagine (3:20). We’re called to live this life He’s called us into (4:1). His love is extravagant (5:2). The enemy will attack, but we can protect ourselves with God’s armor and take Satan down (6:11). 

Which was exactly what I was doing as I read Scripture each morning. And each day of filling my head with these truths dismantled Satan’s lies. I got more and more excited and less and less insecure. On the morning of the event, I had to wake up early and drive over an hour to get there. So, I had the fantastic narrator on the Bible App (YouVersion) read the book of Ephesians to me. And as I listened Jesus told me something new.

Wait . . . Stop. Rewind. 

I’d been reading these passages for two weeks straight. I’d been journaling on them, praying over them. By then I’d even memorized phrases and sections of the text simply through the repetition. Then on day fourteen I heard something I hadn’t even noticed before. How is that possible? Because the Bible is the Living Word of God. God actually uses the Bible to speak to us. Super cool, right?

There’s this whole part in Ephesians 1 about how Jesus is the Master of the Universe and everything has to bow down to Him and this same power that He has, is available for us. This idea hit me like a lightning bolt. All the power that Jesus has—that’s available for His followers—it’s available for me and you! It’s wild to think about.

Whatever it is, we know what we’re supposed to do next, but we’ve been nervous or maybe even a little afraid to do it. If it’s for God’s glory, if we feel this is something He’d like us to do, let’s channel that power and take the first step forward. 

This does not mean we can do whatever the heck we want. For example, I love music, but I do not have the power to become a rock star, because that’s not God’s plan for me. If it was, I’d be able to sing on key. What it does mean for me is that headed into this event, I could teach people about Jesus, because His Universe-ruling power is for me. I could share some really vulnerable things, because His mighty power is for me! For you, that might mean you can go to the appointment, make the move, extend the invitation, have the challenging conversation, ask for help, take the class, propose the idea, step away from something toxic, apply for the promotion, start your own business, because Christ’s mighty power is alive and active and available for you! As I was driving and letting this truth sink in on a cloudy morning, the clouds literally parted and a giant, bright ray of sun shot through the sky. 

Power. 

For me.

For you.

Like Jesus could raise the dead, walk on water, heal the sick, and turn a few fish and a couple of breadsticks into a feast power. How are we tapping into this? Are we even tapping into this?

Let’s start today. And then the one after that. Because you and me? We have superpowers.

I pray. . . that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 1:19–20 NLT).

–Written by Laura L. Smith. Used by permission from the author.