Tag: power

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His Strength Is Perfect

The Manna Chef

“I have to be strong!”  How many times have you said those words?  We ignore how we really feel for the benefit of those around us.  But is that really beneficial?  Is ignoring your feelings helping you grow or heal?  Probably not.  Society teaches us that we have to always be strong, even to the detriment of our well-being.  And we see that message everywhere, teaching us to bury our feelings and not truly process our emotions.  But Sisters, that does not help you at all.   

I’m going to let you in on a little secret.  You don’t have to be strong.  You already are strong because the God you serve is Omnipotent.  He is all-powerful, and you have access to His strength.  I want you to stop trying to be anything—just be who you are.  If you are feeling sad today, feel sad.  If you are angry, be angry (and sin not!).  If you are frustrated, that’s okay, talk to God about whatever is on your mind.  But stop trying to be so strong. 

Now, let me clear, I’m not telling you to forget to put on the whole armor of God.  He instructs us to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” (Ephesians 6:10)  But did you notice that He instructs us to be strong in the Lord.  He’s not expecting you to meet today’s challenges in your own strength.  That’s why Jesus came to restore our relationship with God—to give us access to Him. 

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Stop Looking!

The Manna Chef

Today I want to encourage you to stop looking back at the graves in your past.  You may not call them graves, but you are familiar with many of them.  They include the graves of shame, fear, sickness, unforgiveness, struggle, low self-esteem, and mediocrity, to name but a few.  Let’s look at Luke 24:1-6a (NKJV) for a moment:

Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.  But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.  Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.  Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?  He is not here, but is risen!”

So, you may be asking, “How does that verse apply to the challenges in my life?”  Well, I’m glad you asked that question!  I wonder if we, the daughters of the Most High God, really understand that we carry that same Resurrection power on the inside of us. 

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God, Make Me a Threat!

The Manna Chef

It’s time for us to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10).  We have taken blows from the enemy long enough! It’s time to fight back.  However, you must have a true relationship with God in order to be able to actually fight in a spiritual battle if you expect to have authority over the enemy.

When you have a moment, check out Acts 19:11-20.  It’s a great cautionary tale of why we need to be connected to God at all times and operate in obedience. The Lord did extraordinary miracles through Paul.  He was a bad brother!  Handkerchiefs and aprons that just touched Paul’s skin were taken to the sick and they recovered, and the evil spirits left them.  Now that’s anointed!  Paul wasn’t even physically present and God performed miracles through him. 

There was a group of Jews who were traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits.  They decided that they would jump on the bandwagon. “We exorcise you by Jesus, that guy Paul talks about.” (Be careful! Operate in what God has called you to do.  Don’t try to hop onto someone else’s anointing.)  Seven sons of a Jewish chief priest named Sceva joined in, but they were operating under no authority.  The evil spirit answered them, “I know Jesus.  I know Paul, but who are you?” 

With no power, they came up against an evil spirit; therefore, they were not a threat.  Are you such a threat to the enemy that he knows you by name? Those sons were caught up in the actions of the crowd. Don’t be moved simply because it’s the popular thing right now.  Move by the leading of the Spirit of God.  Never go into battle ill-equipped! 

So, what happened?

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Speak the Word Only

The Manna Chef

Let me ask you something, do you really believe the Word of God?  Do you believe that God is Who He says He is and that He will do what He said He will do?

God led me to a very familiar passage to remind me of just how effective His Word is in my life:  Matthew 8:5-13.  (I’m going to share with you a few verses at a time to paint the picture that He revealed to me.)

Verses 5-6: Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”

This Roman officer approached Jesus and pleaded with Him.  “Jesus, my servant is at home sick, paralyzed in terrible pain.”  He explained the condition to Jesus because He knew that Jesus could take care of the problem.  (Are we taking our problems to the One who can actually solve them?)

Verse 7: And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”  See, Jesus responded to the man’s request.  He heard the plea and was moved to act.

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Do You Really Know Who You Serve?

The Manna Chef

God has been speaking to me about how little His people truly understand how great He is.  Our limited understanding cannot begin to comprehend His majesty, His sovereignty, or His character. 

Isaiah 40:12-31 gives us a glimpse of:

  • God’s power to create
  • God’s provision to sustain
  • God’s continued Presence to help

God spoke the world into existence.  Your words matter, so speak to life to everything around you.  We carry that creative power on the inside of us.  That’s why we have the power to influence the atmosphere.  Use your authority carefully.

God sustains us like no one else can.  He provides the vision and the provision.  He provides the manna to us each day, a right now word for our lives.  And His help is ever-present.  He’s always there; we just need to get into position.

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