Leaving room for God’s Power

When the world talks about powerful people what is meant? Often those who exercise control, authority or influence over others is at the fore. That is the case with Forbes list of the World’s Most Powerful People in 2016. People of might, moxie and money dominated the rankings.

God’s power manifest in a person’s life is going to look different from that. Dallas Willard describes it like this:

How do we know God is with us? Because there is a power at work with us that is not of us…the outcome of your actions far exceed the possibilities of your talent and your effort.

That was the experience of 19th C American evangelist D. L. Moody. After observing his ministry for several weeks, a well-known minister came and said to Moody, “It is clear that the Lord is with you because there’s no way that we could account for what you do in terms of your natural abilities.” Moody accepted this as a compliment. He too had noticed a change in his ministry. No longer was he relying on his own efforts, rather he was open to be filled with God’s presence and power. Now when he preached the impact was doubled or tripled.

Does this mean there is no role for us? Do we just step back and wait on God to show up and do His thing? That passive approach misses the mark. We are to do our best wherever our present station of life has us. We could be raising a family, employed in the marketplace, or a senior adult to name just a few examples. In that place, we seek to do our best to follow God’s will. However, we don’t trust our best, we don’t rely on our own might, moxie or money. We intentionally look for God to empower us to do what he has called us to do.

Experiencing God’s power in our lives is not stepping back but stepping out. We don’t hold back from following God into doing things that are beyond our personal comfort, capacity or experience, instead we lean in and on Him. We open ourselves to Him filling the gap that exists between what is needed to do His will and what we have.

Where do you need to leave room for God’s presence and power to be manifested in your life?

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. (Ps 20:7 NIV)