After an Encounter Sample

Day 4: Power to Live Strong

After an Encounter, you experienced God’s power at work in your life. You can be certain that His power is available to you every day through His Holy Spirit. God will enable you by His grace for any and all situations you might face. The Apostle Paul endured many difficulties and found he could rely on Christ’s strength within him.

Philippians 4:13 (AMP)

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].

Take a moment and write a few sentences that describe the areas of your life where you know you require additional strength and help from God. Include thoughts from any area of your life - spirit, soul, or body.

Read the list of items out loud to yourself and preface each item with the phrase “I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me to . . .”

In verse 11 Paul states: “I have learned how to be content.”

Similarly, in verse 12 he was able to say “I know how . . .”

What Paul shows us is that there was a growth process that occurred as he matured in his faith. He did not become a spiritual giant overnight. Think of a skill you have learned at some stage, perhaps learning to drive a car. As you started to learn to drive, you were required to have an experienced driver sit beside you, and you were required to display your “L” plates on the front and rear of the vehicle.

After a year or so of driving experience, you passed the driving exam and no longer were required to display “L” or “P” but could say about yourself “I know how."

Walking strong in God is a spiritual skill. There may be days when you take matters into your own hands and begin to rely on your own strength. Learn how to continually receive God’s grace and power for every day and every circumstance.

Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you when you are relying more on yourself than on His mighty power.

Once again, look at the list you just wrote. In which areas does it seem you are still on your “L plates”? No shame in that – remember it’s a learning process. Write a note to yourself . . . "Still on my L Plates with . . ."

Joyce Meyer said:

“Choose to do what you can do, and God will help you to do what you cannot do.”

Philippians 2:13 (NLT)

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.