More Power.

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:22

In the popular TV series Star Trek, which originally aired from 1964 to 1969, Captain Kirk was a commander of the starship Enterprise. The mission of the Enterprise was to explore the galaxy. As the ship encountered hostile beings in space or on other planets, the crew would fight to survive and protect the ship from destruction. Always cool under pressure, Captain Kirk would tell his Chief Engineer Scotty: “We need more power!” Scotty would invariably announce: “Captain, I’m giving her all she’s got!” As Christians, we are familiar with this situation. In the midst of our storms, we look to God for help us persevere and overcome.

Much of the New Testament can be viewed as an exploration of our weaknesses as human beings and our need to find power greater than our own. Jesus heals people of their afflictions, feeds them and comforts them in their anguish over death… even raising people from the dead. The Apostle Paul and James write extensively of our inability to overcome our tendencies and our war with the flesh. As we go about our daily lives we witness firsthand the struggles of this world: We wrestle with our finances, our diets, our relationships and more. The pull to be selfish or to yield to temptation is always present. Yet Jesus tells his disciples about the power of faith and assures them that if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. None of us has arrived to the point where we have the faith to take care of whatever we need through prayer but there is a great lesson in the words of Jesus that we should not fail to learn. Jesus was single-mindedly about his Father’s business. When our focus is on God and He is the center of attention and will be glorified by any benefit we gain; our prayer for more power will surely be heard.

My prayer for you today is that you have the power you need and some left over to share.

Deacon Larry Woodard