Spirit At Work: Devotions From Time of GraceSample

God’s power

Commercial buildings and homes are lit from power plants, which derive their energy from burning coal or gas, nuclear reactions, giant wind turbines, or from solar arrays.

People need power too. We need food as the daily fuel for our bodies, but we need strength for our spirit as well--the strength to make the right choices, to stand up for what is right, protect those weaker than we, admit our mistakes and take responsibility, carry our own load plus help with somebody else’s, finish a job, and keep our promises.

We need power also to fight Satan, who plants the seeds of doubt, fear, rebellion, lies, suspicion, paranoia, impatience, quarreling, and hypocrisy every day. St. Paul had something even better than money to bring to his brothers and sisters in the Ephesus congregation: “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being” (Ephesians 3:16). Powered up by the Spirit we can be gentle when others want to fight, kind even when treated unfairly, truthful even when it will cost us, hardworking even when nobody is watching, and generous even when we have little.

Doing for ourselves comes naturally. Spending of ourselves to make somebody else’s life better never happens by itself--it is acquired behavior. It needs to be learned from the Spirit’s words and powered by the Spirit’s power.

May the Spirit strengthen you today in your inner being.