HE WHO IS ABLE

Ephesians 3:20 (NIV 1984) "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

If you told me three years ago I would write devotions for a weekly blog, I would have laughed and questioned your knowledge of even knowing me. I didn't know what a blog is. I mean, what kind of word is that anyway? I didn't even have a cell phone three years ago and, I can hardly figure out our remote control or microwave! For me to navigate anything technological is like asking a five year old to drive a car.

If you told me three years ago I would have articles published in magazine and be a contributing author to a book I would have wanted to believe it, without really thinking it would come to fruition. Because truthfully, fear of the unknown kept me withdrawing from this venture. That is, until the Spirit convicted me right out of my nice little cozy comfort zone. Then, He demanded an expression of active faith, without knowing how things would come to pass.

Here we are friends. By "we" I mean God and I: Two years ago on April 23rd, God launched "Hester's Heart". My awareness of His mighty power humbles me. 100 devotions later, I stand back, no . . . I kneel, in contrite reverence of God's work in my life. It's any wonder God would even use me; a fallible, fearful, failure.

Ephesians 3:20 rings loud and clear in my sometimes deaf and confused mind. "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." The more I learn about God's power available to me and the more I trust Him, He continues to do more in my life than I can conceive or imagine.

In essence, Paul tells us in this verse that He who is able, will enable the unable. Christ's power within us exceeds the measurable and imaginable. How? According to His power, which is in accordance to who Christ is.

The word for power is "dunamis." It is the same root word we get the English word for dynamite. It means strength, power, or ability residing in a thing by virtue of its nature (studylight.org). God humbles me often. I fail miserably when I strive to accomplish tasks in the strength of myself. When I relinquish my tendency to do things on my own, His power enables me to fulfill the unexpected.

For example, He unfolds the next leg of my journey in completing a Bible study He asked me to write awhile back. Again, I am forced to choose to trust in me or trust in Him, despite my lack of seeing the details fit together. Trusting self proves futile every time, so I take one step each day in the direction I believe He is leading.

If you told me three years ago I would fly overseas to share the Gospel well, you know. . . When this post is published, I will be in Port au' Prince, Haiti ministering with Mercy League International by speaking at the Haitian Christian Women's Conference. This opportunity is stretching me to express obedience to His lead. I worked through my initial fears and am excited to witness God's work in a new cultural setting. May the women hear my heart for the Lord and be challenged in their faith. Would you pray for this too?

I'm passionate about what God is doing and I'm compelled to testify to His mighty work. His power is available to all who believe. Corinthians tells us God gives us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:19-20); to lead others to His truth. How this looks in our respective lives may be different, but we're all given the charge to do so.

God expects us to step out beyond the comfortable. It is only when we are at the end of ourselves, that His power is truly made evident in us. This is when our faith moves beyond lip service to actual life service. Only He can accomplish God sized tasks. Read the stories of Abraham, Moses, Gideon, Daniel, David, and Paul. They too, were ordinary people accomplishing the extraordinary because of their King!

I've been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and am being led by the Great Shepherd's graceful hand. I'm just an ordinary girl striving to please my extraordinary King! "Not to me, O Lord, not to me, but to Your Name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness." Psalm. 115:1

He, Who is able . . . will enable . . . the unable.

Heart Work:

Memorize Ephesians 3:20 this week. Let this truth soak into the core of your soul.

Heart Exam:

What holds you back from following God's lead in your life?

What God sized task seems impossible to you?

Do you really believe that He who is able, will enable the unable? Why or why not?

Heart Changing Word:

Zechariah 4:6 (NIV 1984) "So he said to me, 'This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty."

2 Corinthians 12:9a "But he said to me, 'My grace in sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' "

Philippians 4:13 "I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

Colossians 1:10-11 "And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience."

Copyright 2012 by Hester Christensen. All rights reserved.