Discover His heart: He provides all the power we need to accomplish His will
Traveling in Europe presents an interesting set of challenges for someone from the United States. Besides the language barrier from country to country, there is the electrical outlet mismatch. I’m able to do without a lot of conveniences, but please don’t ask me to forgo my blower dryer and flat iron – a girl has to do what she can do to look her best. The bottom line is that U.S. appliances have flat prongs conducive to 110 current, and European outlets have round holes for 240 current, a problem similar to a square peg in a round hole.
Now I could try to force my plug into those round holes, I could stand on my head and whistle Dixie or even recite the Pledge of Allegiance, but it’s just not going to fit. However, with some outside help from a transformer when necessary and a little object called an adapter, I am able to plug right into that current that is much more powerful than I am, and voilà! I have power!
@ Zechariah 4
After the Israelites returned home to Jerusalem from Babylon, Zerubbabel was put in charge of rebuilding the revered Temple. The hindrances and opposition were so high that the building was put on hold for ten years because of discouragement and conflict. God sent along two prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, to encourage Zerubbabel and the Israelites to finish the project in order to receive the blessing of the Lord.
The refugees had done everything in their power to move past the opposition, but they were unsuccessful. They needed to plug into a higher source of power to get the job done, the power of the Holy Spirit. “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’?” (6-7)
The Spirit of God is neither enhanced by our strength nor hindered by our weakness, but we do need to plug into the flow of the Spirit to receive His power. Zechariah’s vision of the lamp and two olive trees depicts an unlimited reservoir of the Holy Spirit that we can plug into for a constant source of power in our lives to do whatever He has called us to do.
We don’t need to rely on our own force and strength that come and go and are often short-circuited when we are weary, but through the Holy Spirit, we can plug into an unlimited reservoir of His power that never fails and never flips a breaker.
I join with Paul in praise to the One who provides all the power to us that we will ever need and deserves all the praise for it, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20)
Moving Forward: By His grace, I’m plugged in and flowing in the Spirit today. With His power and strength, I can do all things! (Philippians 4:13)
Tomorrow @ Acts 15-16
Phyllis Benigas 