Overwhelming Joy of His Power!

Ephesians 1: 18-22 ~ I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for those who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realm.

Paul is reminding the Ephesians that they walk with the power of the Holy Spirit. This same verse reminds me that when we pray, we do not pray in our own strength but we pray with all the power and might of the Holy Spirit. Do you believe it? I mean, do you REALLY believe it? Our previous devotion focused on praying with expectation. This verse tells me why I should have such great expectations. It’s because I pray in the name of Jesus, who gave to me the power of the Holy Spirit on the day of my salvation.

This power is the same power that raised Christ from the dead. Do I hear an AMEN! This power is like no other power I can imagine. This power is the same power that created the universe and all that lives in it. This power is the same power that told the ocean how far it could go and the sun when to rise and set. This power is the same power that picked me up and turned me around to walk a path led by Him.

And I claim it every day when I pray, saying “and I pray all these things in the name of Jesus. Amen”.

Oh, if I was there with you, you’d see me jumping up and down, telling of His power with great excitement and joy in my voice! But let me pause here and confess to you that while I believe this with all my heart, my heart loses sight of it sometimes. Does yours?

I can think of many times that I prayed ‘in the name of Jesus’ but without the excitement and energy that pours from me like it did as I wrote the words of this devotional. I confess that there are days that I am so beaten down by the tasks, pressures and challenges of life that when I lift up my prayers, I think more about the daunting work ahead and forget that I am praying in the name of Jesus who gives to me the same power that rose His dead body from a grave and seated Him at the right hand of God.

I have an old friend that used to tell people, “she really is excited about this. She is turning cartwheels on the inside!”. You see, I am very reserved and quiet most of the time. That is my comfort zone as an introvert. However, I am also a singer and one who loves to sing about the power of God more than anything. When I do, you’d never know that I am shy and quiet. Sometimes our church choir is so big we have to add another front row. This row has to stay seated so the row behind them can see the director. When this happens, if I am on that front row, I am like a 2 year old in the last half of an hour long service…I just can’t sit still!

There is one song our choir sings that I just can’t sing sitting down! It’s called Mountain Mover and the chorus goes like this:

My God is a mountain mover
My God’s gonna’ make a way.
Can’t count all the times He’s proven
We can trust Him just have faith
Take a hopeless situation
Watch Him turn it all around
Nothing is impossible
I can’t hold back I’ve gotta’ shout
My God
My God
My God
Is a mountain mover!

My soul is moved to overwhelming excitement just writing these words, tears flowing with the thought of such power given to me through my Savior Jesus Christ. And then I am convicted when I think of those times when I pray with anything less than such overwhelming excitement of seeing Him work in my life and the life of those I pray for. It doesn’t mean I should pray on my feet with my hands in the air, jumping around with the excitement of expectation every time I go to the Lord (although…there are times you might catch me in the prayer closet doing just that!). Many times it is falling on my knees in submission to this mighty power overwhelmed by the realization that I can let go and let God’s power take over! Tears may flow as I am overcome with the joy of knowing He gave me this power through the blood He shed on the cross.

Paul prayed for the Ephesians that the eyes of their hearts may be enlightened in order that they may know His incomparably great power. My prayer for us is the same!

PRAYER:
Mighty God! My God! You are a mountain mover. You have shown me so many times how Your power prevails over all. I thank You for opening my eyes to be reminded of how mighty that power is and for reminding me that this power is the power given to me by the authority of Jesus Christ; given to me the day I submitted my life to You. Thank You for reminding me that there is no such thing as a hopeless situation. I know that You always make a way. I confess that I often stumble through trying to make my own way, and I thank You that when I get tired of stumbling You step in a make the way for me. Lord, as I meditate on this word today, I must shout with joy! I can’t hold back! I praise Your name with song and lifted hands. I praise Your name with a glad heart in a hopeless situation. I praise Your name with excitement and great expectation of seeing what You are going to do. I praise You Lord, with all my heart. Amen.