Exercise of Faith - Encouragement Café - January 27, 2016

Exercise of Faith, Trusting What’s Already There

Café Menu for Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Today’s Special is:  Trusting What’s Already There

Carefully prepared just for you by your friend, Joan Walker Hahn

Main Ingredient:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

Entrée:

I love watching my grandkids learn how to do new things.  One night my son-in-law was trying to show my 4-year-old grandson how to do a push-up.  He had him put his feet against the baseboard so that they would not slip on the hardwood floor.  Then he tried to show him how to push his arms up to lift his body off the floor. 

Of course, his little belly and behind was not in line with the rest of his body.  It was funny seeing him trying to coordinate the movements.

Growing up requires a lot of learning.  It can be amusing watching a child learn something we think is simple.  But it doesn’t seem quite as amusing when we are faced with something that we have trouble mastering.

As Christians, we never stop learning.  When we read God’s Word, we can learn something new every day.  The learning isn’t the problem – it’s exercising what we have learned that’s hard.

In our walk with Christ, we don’t have to rely on our own strength.  When we accept Christ as our Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live within our hearts.  Jesus said,

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you...

Acts 1:8 NIV

Picture in your mind my grandson lying on the floor, his feet against the baseboard.  That baseboard is not going to move.  He can use the strength of that entire wall to keep his feet from moving.

And the floor can surely hold his weight and the force he pushes against it.  He hasn’t quite gotten the hang of that exercise, but he will learn.

Now think of this.  God’s power is like that wall and floor.  My grandson knows, without even thinking about it, that the wall and floor will not move or give way.  God’s power through the Holy Spirit is within us just as surely as that wall and floor.  We don’t have to wonder if we have it, or worry it will go away, it’s there.

As we take advantage of that power being there, we are able to “exercise” our faith.  If we try to do things in our own strength, we will fail every time.  But when we take advantage of the power that God gives us full access to, we will be able to do all He asks us to do.

Take Out:

Do you find yourself doubting whether or not you can do the things God is telling you to do? 

Remember, as His child, He has already equipped you with the very thing you need the most – His power.  It is already there inside of you.  Exercise your faith by trusting God to work in and through you to accomplish whatever He is leading you to do.

Dessert:

Dear Heavenly Father,

So often I try to do things in my own strength.  I fail to remember that you have given me full access to the same power that raised Christ from the grave.  Help me to learn how to rely on Your power and not on my own strength.  Work in me and through me to perform the work You would have me to do.  Thank You, Lord, for filling me with Your Holy Spirit, by which I can do all things in You.  Amen.

For more encouragement, visit Joan at joanwalkerhahn.com

© 2016 by Joan Walker Hahn.  All rights reserved.

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