God Is Able

Last weekend I was browsing through Bible verses about strength and power in preparation for the songs we were playing for our worship service. Usually when I think about strength my mind always goes to 2 Corinthians 12:9…

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

I get it. The less I rely on self, the more God-power capacity there is. This makes perfect sense. I’ve never had a hard time understanding this. What’s difficult for me to understand is why, when asking for God’s power to overcome sin, do I continuously fail as though I’m acting on my own power? Why, when asking for His strength to be fulfilled in Him, do I often find myself discontented? The question is not “Do I need God’s strength?” but rather “How do I tap into it?”

I feel like Popeye sometimes. I know the spinach will make my forearms ridiculously strong and huge, but standing between the spinach and me is big, bad Brutus. Usually it takes Popeye’s being one blow away from death before he finally can get to this performance-enhancing drug known as spinach. I know how frustrating it is to be so close to the Source of all my strength and not know how to tap into it.

In cross-referencing bible verses with lyrics to the song “God is Able” I came across Ephesians 3…

"16) I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17) so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18) may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19) and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20) 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, 21) to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

This passage is mind-blowing to me! Paul was praying for God’s power, not to overcome sin or be fulfilled, but for power to grasp the depth of God’s love! Wow! All this time I’ve been wearing myself out trying to take on God’s job of overcoming sin, when really what I should be doing is focusing on the One who already overcame. Sure, with sin also comes the aftermath of shame and regret, but that shouldn't be our motivation not to sin. Instead of hanging my head in guilt, I can raise my head and thank God for His unfailing love. There is no sin so great that it can survive the fatal blow of the cross. God is at work within us, and He is for us! May we pray for God’s power to better understand His incomprehensible love for us! HE has overcome! HE will fulfill.