1st AUGUST 2020
“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” – 1 John 4:4
As children of God, it is very important that we understand clearly the powers and forces that rule over our life. Unfortunately, so many believers are like ships on the sea without a rudder. So rather than being stable on the sea, for instance, they are continuously drifted by turbulent waves towards no destination in particular. However, if they were to move steadily with a rudder, they will move steadily towards an assured destination. That the world is pervaded by known and unknown forces is a fact already established since the beginning. But the outstanding issue is how to deal with these forces. We know that there are forces of evil and the forces of good. We also know for sure that we are constantly under the influence of the spirit of temptation which is brought about by the forces of evil. How do we overcome and achieve the desired breakthrough in the presence of these forces? The word of today is telling us that God, who dwells in our hearts, and by whose strength and grace alone we have been enabled to achieve this victory, is mightier than all the forces of evil combined. The Apostles achieved victory because Christ was with them and they could reach Him from within. Therefore, He who dwells in our hearts is infinitely mightier than the one who is in the world and can make transformation possible in our life. In his conflicts with sin, temptation, and error, a believer in Christ should never despair, for God will ensure his victory. How do we key to this power within us?
1. Develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and be focused on receiving the Holy Spirit into your life. The Holy Spirit is the game changer and the great enabler. It is He who generates in us the power to live the kind of life that God has planned for us. But the Holy Spirit dwells in a repentant heart ready to change and actually making efforts to change.
2. Talk to God through the scriptures and meditate on His power of transformation.
3. Embrace your Spiritual Identity as a true believer who has direct access to the power within; try to picture new positive things happening to you by virtue of this great power.
4. Remember, sin is always a barrier. “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth” (1 John 1:8). We cannot expect to experience God’s power in our life when we choose to sin. Sin always short-circuits the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
5. Endeavor to pay great attention to the little things you can do to serve the glory of God on earth, e.g. making sacrifices for the need of others.
6. Also, live by faith; your knowledge of God must move from your head to your heart in the form of conviction that impacts your behavior. Remember, without faith, it is impossible to please God.
7. Reduce doubts and fears. Believe that God is supreme, and He is watching over you and protecting everything that is yours. NOTHING CAN HAPPEN TO YOU.
8. Follow Jesus and His commandments. Forgive freely, give love where there exists pain and sorrow. Free your mind of anger, envy, jealousy, hatred, unholy gossips, outright wickedness, etc. Take no vengeance on anyone. Just follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
PRAYER
Father in the name of Jesus Christ, I hold onto righteousness in Christ Jesus. Father, bring me in perfect union and alignment with thy mightiest power. I declare that from this day onward, thy Spirit in me shall motivate all my actions as well as transform my life for good. AMEN.
FURTHER READING: 1 John 5:14; Colossian 1:26-27