Take Over

“When I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength].” (2 Corinthians 12:10 AMP)

My husband is a good driver, and he knows it. He is also aware that driving is not my strong suit. Whenever we get in our car together, my husband insists on driving. A few years ago, my husband was sick enough to be taken to the hospital. It was one of the few times he allowed me to drive while he sat in the passenger seat. He let me take over, not because he thought I had suddenly become a competent driver, but due to his infirmity. 

Unlike me, God is always competent, wise, powerful, good, and dependable. However, we don’t acknowledge this truth until we become aware of our own powerlessness. Our desire to be in control, feel competent, and seem independent keeps us from allowing God to take over. Until we hit rock- bottom and accept our weakness, we do not fully surrender. And, until we fully surrender, we remain oblivious to God’s power. Thus, it is only in the depths of vulnerability, when our human abilities are completely depleted, that we can truly draw from God’s strength. 

“I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over!” (2 Corinthians 12:10 MSG)

Divine Potential

“Continue to walk surrendered to the extravagant love of Christ, for he surrendered his life as a sacrifice for us.” (Ephesians 5:2 TPT)

Have you ever stretched a rubber band and watched it shoot across the room? The more you pull it back, the farther it goes. The potential energy in a stretched rubber band is converted into kinetic energy when it is released. The invisible stored energy is transformed into visible motion.  

Life is full of challenges that stretch us in a multitude of ways. The resulting strain is often accompanied by discomfort. Yet, there is also Divine potential in the tension. Surrender is how we release our potential. When we let go, allowing God to take over, a hidden power is set into motion. The invisible potential energy within us is transformed into visible action.

Imitate God

“Be imitators of God in everything you do.” (Ephesians 5:1 TPT)

My son walks just like his dad. Their voices are also very similar. Over the years, my son has picked up many of my husband’s movements, interests, and habits. This is natural since they have spent a lot of time together, and my son has always looked up to his father.  

Imitation is a form of adoration. When we admire someone, we observe and consciously replicate their behavior. We learn and develop by copying those we hold in high regard. 

When we imitate God, we worship and honor Him. We walk and talk like Him. But how do we know what God is like? We observe Christ who is God incarnate. We keep company with Him--watch, listen, and understand Him. The Gospels describe Christ as intentionally living according to His Father’s will. He loved unconditionally, forgave those who wronged him, and prayed constantly. He was filled with the Holy Spirit, and His speech and actions reflected this.  To follow Christ is to imitate Him. Thus, let us strive to be loving, forgiving, and prayerful--living consecrated lives that honor the God we worship.  

Taken for Granted

“Never grieve the Spirit of God or take for granted his holy influence in your life.” (Ephesians 4:30 TPT)

How often do you think about the air you breathe? You couldn’t survive more than a few minutes without oxygen. How about the water that you drink, wash, and cook with--how long could you survive without it? We often fail to appreciate the essential until it’s gone. We take air, water, food, shelter, health, love, safety, and a multitude of other things for granted. We treat these precious commodities carelessly. We assume they will always be available. 

The Spirit of God moves and breathes within us. This Holy Essence is integral, powerful, protective, and sustains everything. Yet, we fail to acknowledge this energy. We drift through our days as if we can manage on our own. We take the Holy Spirit for granted. 

How can you treasure the gift of the Holy Spirit? Soak in the Presence of God. Communicate constantly. Ask for guidance. Listen. Follow instructions. Express gratitude. Recognize the Divine Energy that permeates everything and yield to its influence. 

Lying to Yourself

“When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.” (Ephesians 4:25 MSG)

Get to know yourself. Go ahead. Take all the time you need. 

What do you want and need?

What is important to you?

What are your core principles? 

Do not merely drift along with the mindless crowd, conforming to the expectations of others, addicted to approval, picking up scraps that are thrown your way. This is not what you need or want. Stop lying to yourself.  Refuse to participate in pretense. 

Ask God for discernment, to open your senses, to grant you spiritual enlightenment, to understand your soul’s true needs. Pray for detachment from human validation. Instead, seek awareness and self-acceptance. Explore your feelings, thoughts, and wants. Take your interior life seriously. For this is where the Spirit of Truth resides. 

Influenced by Deception

“We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.” (Ephesians 4:14 NLT)

Cruise ships dock in ports where the cruise lines own and operate most of the restaurants, bars, and souvenir stores. This way, they continue to make a profit on the passengers at each stop. By creating these artificial environments, the corporations also camouflage the poverty, inequality, and exploitation of the natives. Tourists who want to experience new countries and cultures know better than to fall for these gimmicks. Yet, there are plenty of others who are influenced by these deceptive practices. Does any traveler think they are broadening their perspectives and not just their waistlines on such trips? Or is it that they are complicit in the charade?

Deception is not limited to a single industry. Misleaders are all around us constantly peddling what we want to hear. Are the lies so clever that they sound true? Or are people willing to go along with the pretense because it allows them to indulge without guilt? Perhaps reality is too harsh and delusions are less troubling. 

When faced with deceptive offers that appeal to your ego, it may be hard to resist. You may want to believe the lies or just not analyze things too much. We all desire to feel important, be comfortable, and enjoy ourselves.  However, without truth, life becomes a farce. When we go along with liars, we become participants in the sham, emboldening manipulators, endorsing hypocrites.

Indirect Communicators

“We open up our souls to you by presenting the truth to everyone’s conscience in the sight and presence of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:2 TPT)

I believe in opening my soul and presenting truth to everyone. I am a direct communicator; thus, I have a tendency to verbalize my feelings and thoughts even before I finish processing them. Not everyone is like me, and that is okay.  Indirect communicators tend to convey their emotions nonverbally. Sometimes they have difficulty understanding and expressing feelings. 

Indirect communicators used to confuse me. I wasn’t sure if I could trust them, because they were so hard to read. Were they sneaky or just introverted? Sometimes it took years to understand them. Once I assess that someone is indirect but not manipulative, I try to learn their language. I pay attention to their facial cues, sighs, and eyes. I listen to their pauses--to what is left unsaid. I repeatedly explain my direct approach so as not to offend them. All this takes effort. Yet, like learning any new language, it helps me grow and understand others who are different.