Dave’s Monday Blast – August 8, 2016
A group of men, young and old(er), spent last Saturday afternoon white water rafting on the American River. Throughout the day I was reminded of the awesome power of God as still water transitioned fifteen times into Class Two and Class Three rapids. Although by most standards those are not difficult rapids to navigate, they were exciting enough for me. The power of the water is something that cannot be controlled. But with the right person at the helm it can be successfully navigated. Fortunately, we had a river guide. Ivan was this really interesting guy from Peru. He was an expert on this river. He knew how to approach every rapid, how to properly assign the raft so it could safely make it through without loss of life or limb. Without Ivan at the helm…well…I would not be writing this blog. At one point I asked him what it was like to navigate a Class Five rapid. He laughed and said, “You know you are alive because your heart is beating wildly in your chest as you approach; you hope you survive so that it will keep beating.”
I was reminded of Psalm 73:26, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” He is the giver and sustainer of life. The story of God’s people is one of God’s strength covering our weaknesses. Our heavenly Father is our guide. He takes our problems, sins, fears, and feebleness and uses them as opportunities to demonstrate the overwhelming power of His love. He takes those the world deems to be the weakest and uses them to accomplish incredible, powerful works. Isaiah 40:28-31 says in part, “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength…”
Pastor Craig Denison says, “Our God knows our frame. He knows that our bodies have come from dust and will one day return to their original form. We know that without His help we accomplish nothing. But Paul’s declaration in Philippians 4:13 is just as true for you and me as it was for Him: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” We can do all things through the anointing and power of our heavenly Father. We can tackle any obstacle that stands in our way because our God is perfectly strong in our weakness.”
So I ask you my brothers, where do you need the strength of God today? Where do you feel weak, powerless, weary or in need of guidance? Your lot is not to go through life living solely by your own power, without the guidance of His Word and the Spirit of God. You’ve been given a new identity as a son or daughter of the Most High God who desperately wants to clothe you with strength and teach you how to use the authority given to you by Jesus.
Denison goes on to say, “In God you can defeat the powers of sin and darkness that have held you back. In God you can accomplish the tasks set before you with joy, energy, and strength. And in God you can love and be loved to such a capacity that your attitude, outlook, and emotions transform into reflections of your heavenly Father’s.”
So friends…INTENTIONALLY spend time today in prayer receiving the strength and guidance that only comes from God alone. Allow Him to fill you and guide you with a fresh vision and align your perspective with His.
