Power for Living

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Power for Living Part 21 - Power Steering

by Gail Rodgers
Her small frame perched on the edge of the seat. The steering wheel was huge, the stick shift old and long! It sputtered and started and moved forward. She only had to drive this old truck across the yard. She began to turn the wheel, suddenly surprised at how awkward and difficult the turn was.

Of course! No power steering. As she made her way across the yard and around buildings her arms began to ache as the big steering wheel took so much effort to turn. She had never driven anything without power steering before.
Mission accomplished she changed her clothes and jumped into her sports car heading to town. Keenly aware of the power behind the steering she let her arms relax, knowing that each decision to make a turn would be accompanied by the power needed to accomplish it. Her tired arms would not have to provide it.
What a picture of the contrasting ways we often negotiate our way through life. We can make a decision to turn to the right or to the left in life. We can use all our best thinking and effort to make the turn, to change course and do what’s right or leave behind some undesired behavior or habits. But using all our own efforts soon leaves us aching and exhausted as we try to negotiate the turns in our own power.
Being a Christian and living by the power of the Holy Spirit does not mean staying in neutral and just assuming God will guide our lives. No. We still make the choices to turn here or go there. But when we make choices that honor God; choices that turn us away from the behaviors that spiral us down, we do not need to try to do it in our own strength. We simply invite the Holy Spirit to be our strength in each choice and His power enables us to make each turn. His Spirit provides the power. That is what makes it possible to go the distance. We choose…He provides the power.

“Now unto Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory… ” Ephesians 3:20

What turn do you need to make in your life today? Don’t try to do it in your own strength. Make the choice and allow His power to be at work in you to do it… in ways you never imagined! Believe it! Act on it! Relax in His power!