For thine is the power…
Series: Metamorphosis | Bible text: Isaiah 40, 29–31
It is about the power guzzlers of today and the very practical question: How do we Christians recharge our batteries with God?
Life needs strength! Children, young people and adults are sometimes stretched to their limits. That’s why there was a widespread sigh of relief at the beginning of July: «Holidays at last!» And isn’t it: We all need times when we can switch off. Times to breathe a sigh of relief, to draw strength, because life challenges us all and we ask ourselves every now and then: how, where and when could I best refuel? A change of scenery is a good way to do that; a change of air. On the other hand, we realise with disillusionment that the few weeks of holiday we can count on one hand are not enough! You can feel this when people moan soon after their holidays: «Oh, I need another holiday! Sources of strength like holidays, fun weekends, fitness subscriptions, wellness temples, healthy food, enough sleep – are often not so sustainable!
King David in the Old Testament had a source of strength that is worth studying! He was strong. He was a hero! He was a statesman of a special class. Of course, he had no idea about all the refuelling possibilities of today. One can only ask: Where did he get his strength from? He gives us an answer in the 1st book of Chronicles: «In your hand are power and strength, and in your hand (it is) To make each one great and strong». (1 Chronicles 29:12b ELB). David was a prayerful man and he was aware that if God turns his hand away from him, he will miss the most essential thing. We see this in Psalm 27: «My heart setteth before thee thy word, Ye shall seek my face. Therefore I also, O LORD, seek thy face. Hide not thy face from me, cast not thy servant out in anger. For thou art my help; forsake me not, neither turn away thy hand from me, O God of my salvation» (Psalm 27:8–9 LU)! David had to endure many struggles in his life and experienced much opposition. But the source of strength in God helped him get through! Isn’t our life and our being a Christian often a struggle too?
1. opposing forces
We always face forces that want to finish us off! Today we have very different challenges than David had back then. Other things that make us tired! We want to look at some of these «tired makers»:
- We live in a competitive society! This begins with the youngest children in kindergarten and the competition to see who has made the most beautiful drawing. And it ends in old age with the competition to see who is still the fittest or who still has the smoothest facial skin! Often it is the constant comparison with others that takes a toll on our physical and mental strength. «Have you seen what the neighbours can afford? Have you heard where they went on holiday? Did you also notice Alice’s beautiful dress? Now your colleague at work has a new car again!» Another thing to mention here is the cult of the body, which also eats away at your strength. Men work on their washboard abs; women have the unnecessary suctioned off… With all this scrambling for the perfect body, I sometimes ask myself: How much do we care about spiritual fitness?! Why don’t we take care to be strong in faith?! Don’t we need an injection of faith for our health?
- Another thing that makes us tired is the fast pace of our society. Personal mobility and social media not only bring advantages, but also a lot of stress! Much of what should make our lives easier, for example, does not bring any time advantage, on the contrary. The time gap is immediately filled with other things. And again the deadlines are pressing! Workers are under so much pressure that they have to sweat overtime. Professionals live with the constant fear of falling by the wayside professionally if they don’t continue their education. Others wonder if it’s time for the next rung on their career ladder.
- Another destructive force is that of advertising. It makes us believe in a world that does not correspond to reality. Your success certainly lies not in what is advertised! Your personal life force is not dependent on your purchasing power. Our greed is the playground for this opposing force that makes us tired with constant dissatisfaction.
2. incomprehensible reserves of strength
First of all, I want to remind you that in faith we are connected to ingenious reserves of power. Jesus dwells in us with the spirit of his power, his resurrection power. This power has a lot to do with our everyday life! We have to use this power, otherwise we will constantly reach the limit of our strength! Peter holds on to this in his 2nd letter: «Jesus Christ in his divine power has given us everything we need to live as it pleases him. For we have come to know him; he has called us to a new life through his power and glory» (2 Peter 1:3 Hfa). Divine strength for everyday life! Nothing more valuable can be given to us. This puts everything that robs us of strength in a completely different light. This brings power into our everyday life! That is why Paul can call out to us: «Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might» (Eph 6:10). Paul expresses himself correctly. It is not about my Force or my Weakness! Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his strength.
Like last Sunday, it is again about the inner eye that looks away from my strength or my weakness to the power of the Lord and his strength! In Psalm 59 we read how David did this. In all the hostilities he holds fast before God: «You are my strength; I trust in you to save me, for you are my refuge, God. I will sing of your power. Every morning I will shout for joy at your mercy. You my strength, to you I sing praises, for you, God, are my refuge. Lord, you show me your grace». (Psalm 59:10;17–18 NLB). Actually, David’s conviction can be described in one sentence like this: He draws his strength from what God is to him and God gives to him. Clearly. David also knew times when he was down. «I am exhausted and at the end of my strength. I can only moan and scream in agony». (Psalm 38:9). We may stand by our weakness, like Paul, to whom God said: «My grace is all you need. My strength is shown in your weakness». To this Paul responds: «And now I am content with my weakness so that the power of Christ may work through me. Knowing that it is for Christ, I am reconciled to my weaknesses, hardships, difficulties, persecutions and insults. For when I am weak, I am strong». (2 Cor 12:9–10 NL). But actually we are still preoccupied with the question: «How does it work in practice, how do we recharge our batteries with God? How do we live from this source of strength?
3. sources of strength
David has already given us some answers: I introduced him as a praying man. Prayer is a very important source of strength for Christians. Talk to God as you feel like it! He understands when you complain and lament like David in some of the Psalms! But David also sang and rejoiced. That’s not everyone’s thing. But we can all give thanks. In a crisis, look back at the good things you have already experienced with God. Give thanks anew for what HE means in your life. Thank God for each new day. Thank God for the abilities He has given you. Thank you for your work, for your health, for God’s grace. Thank you for the people around you; for the people with whom you can share faith. Thank you for God’s help in suffering, in times of sickness. When God is with his power has a place in your life, you are connected to the decisive source of power!
Perhaps you should first pray a prayer of repentance: «Lord, forgive me, I didn’t say thank you enough when I was doing well. I attributed my strength to everything but you, forgive me.» Repenting and claiming forgiveness is like a power drink for the soul! When I think of this keyword power drink, our son comes to mind. In his teenage years, he once had a longing for a really masculine body, bursting with muscles. He bought a fitness subscription and pepped himself up with body-building supplements. He had a protein powder with banana flavouring and mixed his drink every day. Despite the banana flavour, it tasted awful. And he quickly asked me once: «Dad, don’t you want some too». Of course I turned him down. But I think: «That would be great if there was a power drink like that for the faith, for example with strawberry flavouring!» That would be much easier! But back to the sources of strength:
Experiencing church services, here or at home in front of the screen, strengthens our faith! Just like the meetings in smaller groups: Small groups, all glow groups, men’s evenings, Sisterhood, Generation+ occasions etc. The fact that Covid19 has brutally limited our opportunities to meet is partly to blame for our almost empty power tanks! We have a lot of catching up to do to refuel! It is strengthening to have people by our side with whom we can exchange openly and honestly, without reservations. Good relationships are so important! It is so strengthening when we hear from others what they have experienced with Jesus! There is also a lot to hear in various media. I am thinking of «Gottkennen.ch», «Fenster zum Sonntag» or the testimonies of the King’s children on YouTube!
It is also profitable if we maintain contacts with missionaries so that we can hear what they experience with God. Let us not forget the Bible with its stories and truths. We can read them again and again, because they encourage and uplift us. Or why not read a Christian book again? There are people who have had adventures with God and these stories can shape us. I have received another valuable tip from friends to recharge my batteries: When you are in the hole and can hardly get up, take care of others! Ask yourself, who can I do something for, write a few lines or make a phone call? If you can do that, it will get you back on your feet!
Get me right! You can also thank God for the fitness centre, for premium super food, for shape shakes and protein supplements, but you must not forget the power that God has prepared for us. Recharging with God is similar to recharging an electric car: you have to stop, plug in the cable and give the battery the time it needs. This is also how drawing strength from God works: stop, dock with God and have time! For you, this may mean simply being still, being silent, putting your mobile phone away, distancing yourself from everything that can distract you; waiting until you feel that you are online with God.
Talking to God and consciously listening to him can also be done while hiking, jogging, cycling or swimming in the lake. Psalm 84, which is a song of the sons of Korah, sums it up: «Happy is the people who have strength in you, O Lord; there is confidence in their hearts. They pass through the valley of tears and make it a spring. Yes, with blessings the early rain covers it. They go from strength to strength» (Psalm 84:6–8a ELB). This is the strength we need every day, in good days and in bad.
Amen!
Possible questions for the small groups
Read the Bible text: Isaiah 40, 29–31
- Any other powerhouses come to mind?
- Recharge your batteries with God! How do you do that?
- Do you need to change anything in your «spiritual fitness programme?»
- Suggestion: Write encouraging Bible passages on small cards and have them ready in case of emergency. Or do you have other ideas?
- Read Isaiah 40:29 ff and share about it.
- Encourage one another and celebrate the Lord’s Supper together.
