Focus: Fresh Energy

Text: Isa.41:1

"Let the people renew their strength."

We live in days when there is much talk about renewable energy, clean and sustainable power, and we are aware of solar power, wind power, hydroelectric power, tidal power, bioenergy, and other sources of natural power. Renewable energy has been defined as "energy that comes from a source that won't run out." This energy is further described as being purely "natural and self-replenishing." In a similar vein, the believer's strength is renewable and it is connected to an infinite source, a source that never runs out.

Paul describes the believer's power as "the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe," and he says God is "able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think according the power that works in us." So we can't afford to be disconnected from our source of power (God Himself) or we would see ourselves become void of power. A contrast exists though between natural and spiritual powers, which is that while natural power is self-replenishing, spiritual power is only renewable by the believer's dependence on the Holy Spirit and on his constant practice of the presence of God.

It is important to know that your strength is your wealth. God given you power to make wealth, power to serve Him, power to work and become productive, power to bear witness for Christ, power to help people of feeble hands and feeble knees, power to help the needy and the helpless, power to love people, power to forgive others, power to endure and persevere amid pressure, power to be victorious, power to live above the level of mediocrity, and power to do righteousness. The believer's power is incredible, touching every aspect of life.

In this world where the prince of the power of the air operates, you can't afford to live without the power of God. We have it on the authority of Scripture that the Lord Jesus Christ gave His disciples "power and authority OVER all devils, and to cure diseases" (Lk.9:1). In Luke 10:19, Jesus says, "Behold, I give unto you power to TREAD on serpents and scorpions, and OVER all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

God has given you sufficient power for and power over or against, and now He wants you to renew that power for greater good, greater impact, greater productivity, greater industry, greater creativity, greater effectiveness, greater efficiency, and greater usefulness. You need new energy for each new day and new grace for daily use.

All power belongs to God, and for you to operate in power, you need to engage the source of all power - God Himself. Get alone with God. Give God your attention and time. Read and meditate on the word of God. Determine to live a life of obedience to God. Use God's power for what it is meant for.

It is time for you to renew your strength, and you do so through prayer and waiting on God. Feed your soul with the word of God. Converse and commune with your God. Seek Him with passion and determine to do whatever He tells you to do. Stay daily in touch with the Lord and let Him saturate your being with His life and light. Those who wait on the Lord shall have their strength renewed or exchanged. God's power in your life is an unquantifiable, intangible asset to live out the life of Christ and achieve the divine destiny.

To rightly begin the year, we are waiting on the Lord in prayer and studying the Scriptures for 14 days, and I encourage you to be part of it. We are starting the fast and prayer from today. Let us get God's unction to function as the Lord requires of us this year - "let the people renew their strength." 

by Bishop Moses E. Peter