We have far more power available to us

We’re sitting here in another World Race training conference in Georgia. We’re challenging the naturalistic worldview
that young people get by osmosis growing up in the American culture. Ron Walborn just told the story of a witch who became a Jesus-follower and came into his church.

She told him about how she could see people’s auras or spirits. “You Christians,” she said, “have such power radiating from you. I can see a Christian coming from a long way off. But what’s amazing is how little power you actually use.”

Several months ago I was on my jogging route, the sweat rolling off of me. I saw my neighbor sitting in his parked jeep in front of his house and prayed for him as I passed by. I don’t know much about the man other than the fact that he likes to hunt. I knew next to nothing about his personal life.

As I prayed, a thought entered my mind about his lifestyle. As I so often do, I dismissed the thought as my own thought, not giving God credit. I rounded the bend and noticed my neighbor running after me, looking distraught. I paused and waited for him.

As he came up, he was at a loss for words. He struggled, and finally all he could gasp out was, “I felt the power coming off of you as you ran by.” Then he began to confess his sin to me. He had accused his wife of something she didn’t do. He had accused her of being involved with another neighbor and had gone so far as to confront the neighbor.

He asked his wife to come over to us and began to cry as I prayed for them both. He was so sorry and wanted to show his wife that she could trust him. And since that time, I think he has begun to re-establish trust.

My response to the whole exchange was to give God thanks for using me, and at the same time feeling abashed that I don’t allow him to use me like that more. I want to press into God and allow the kingdom of heaven to intersect with my everyday reality all the time.

Power – you’ve got more of it than you realize. Do the demons know your name? Are you a threat to the enemy? You can be. Jesus gave you all the authority you need, but it’s up to you to use it.