Beyond My Strength

His Name - My Family

His Riches - My Hope

His Spirit - My Strength

First world problems. Living in a country that has been blessed can create an entitlement mentality. I complain too much about little things. My cell phone doesn't get good reception, my internet is too slow, the traffic is backed up, or my TV isn't big or flat enough. The electricity flickered yesterday (once) and we wondered what we would do if it went out for a whole day.

We blow out of proportion the inconveniences of our lives while war rages in Gaza, ISIS slaughters Christians, Ebola virus ravages Africa, children are abducted and sold into slavery, and the poverty in other countries have them scavenging for food in trash dumps. Even in our own country people go to bed hungry, scared, and abused. 

Yet, whatever our pain, real or perceived, it draws our attention to God. Our greatest need directs our prayers for relief from the Almighty. So, when the Apostle Paul finds access to the throne of God what does he boldly, and with confidence, spend his energy praying? He asks the God of all glory to strengthen our inner being in order comprehend the depth of God's love. 

When we come to Christ we are given a new identity, a new name, and a new family. We belong to another kingdom that is not of this earth and our cares are redirected to a heavenly purpose. 

In Christ we receive the riches of God's glory manifested in His grace, mercy, and redemption. The riches of God are not good and silver, they are not fame, they are not power and prestige. They are humility and service, forgiveness and kindness. The riches of God is a good consciences rooted in the holiness of God.

In Christ the Spirit of God indwells us, seals us, strengthens us, comforts us, convicts us, and leads us, and he does this not for his own glory but for the glory the Father. 

We need to be strengthened because the wisdom of God is foolishness to the world and our hearts are constantly drawn back into the darkness. We need strength because the answers we have in Christ don't always take away our pain. We need strength because anti God, anti religion, and anti Christ philosophies twist truth and reasonably draw us from God. We need strength because the faults of the church push people out the door where false religions and gods greet them with open arms and a door to hell. We need strength because the lure of the world is strong and its empty promises enticing. We need strength to comprehend the depth of God's love because it doesn't require anything from me, and that doesn't make any sense.

Strength is found in the glorious riches of God, and the abundance of God's glorious riches are ours in Christ. May God grant us the strength to comprehend it before the world's cares overwhelm us and draw us away from Him. I'm just saying...

 Eph. 3;14-16 "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,"